Faculty Spotlight
Associate Professor of Music (violin, viola, chamber music)
B.M., the University of Michigan (high distinction); M.M., Indiana University; Ph.D., the University of Michigan
Department:
Music
Biography:
In addition to teaching at Hillsdale, I am a performing violinist/violist and string specialist. As a violist and violinist, I have performed as a member of various orchestras and chamber groups both in the United States and abroad including: the Florida Orchestra (assistant principal viola), American Chamber Orchestra (Chicago), Linden Quartet (Ann Arbor), The Spoleto Festival of the Two Worlds in Italy and Charleston, South Carolina (principal viola), Filharmonica de Caracas, and the Jacksonville Symphony (CETA artist grant). As a string specialist, I have participated as music director, instructor, chamber music coach, and guest clinician for both public and private teaching institutions at all levels. Additionally, I am presently education consultant for The Toledo Symphony Orchestra and on the faculty at the All-State Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan. I have published in American String Teachers’ Association Journal and Music Education. In 2004, I was profiled in Who’s Who in America.
Research Interests:
Music cognition and perception
Favorite class to teach:
Chamber music
What is your favorite student success story?:
The following story is an example of the versatility of Hillsdale College students.
A freshman student entered the College on a track scholarship with an interest in majoring in business. Four years later, she graduated from Hillsdale College as a music major, concertmistress of the College orchestra and concerto winner (performing a difficult Wieniawski Concerto as solo with the orchestra). In addition, she won a prestigious position in the Rome Festival Orchestra in Italy, the summer between her junior and senior year of college. After spending the summer playing violin in the orchestra in Italy, she decided she wanted to be a dentist. After graduation from Hillsdale, she went on to Ohio State’s School of Dentistry.
A freshman student entered the College on a track scholarship with an interest in majoring in business. Four years later, she graduated from Hillsdale College as a music major, concertmistress of the College orchestra and concerto winner (performing a difficult Wieniawski Concerto as solo with the orchestra). In addition, she won a prestigious position in the Rome Festival Orchestra in Italy, the summer between her junior and senior year of college. After spending the summer playing violin in the orchestra in Italy, she decided she wanted to be a dentist. After graduation from Hillsdale, she went on to Ohio State’s School of Dentistry.
What do you like best about Hillsdale College?:
Hillsdale College encourages a commitment to teaching.
What advice would you give to prospective students?:
I suggest to our prospective violin or viola students to take a lesson with me sometime during their junior or senior year of high school. In addition, I recommend sitting in on a Hillsdale College Orchestra and/or a string quartet rehearsal to discover, for themselves, the high level of technical proficiency and musicianship of the Hillsdale College music students.
What do you like best about the students at Hillsdale?:
Hillsdale College students typically demonstrate an enthusiasm and curiosity for learning that presents a stimulating environment for the faculty.
E-mail Address:
33 East College St.
Hillsdale,
MI
49242
• Tel: +1 517 437-7341 • Fax: +1 517 437-3923
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