Doris Lederer serves as Professor of Viola and Chamber Music and Director of Chamber Music at Shenandoah Conservatory. A core member of the Audubon Quartet since 1976, she maintains an extensive international performance and masterclass schedule at institutions including Cleveland Institute of Music, Eastman School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, and Yale School of Music. Her discography includes four critically acclaimed solo albums of 20th-century English viola music on the Centaur label, alongside ensemble recordings for RCA, Telarc, Centaur, Orion and Opus One. She has performed with the Marlboro Music Festival and appeared as soloist with Seattle Symphony, Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, and Albuquerque Chamber Orchestra.
Donovan Stokes is Professor of Bass and Coordinator of Strings at Shenandoah University Conservatory. An internationally performing bassist and composer, his recording 'Gadaha' received JPF Music Awards for Best Album and Best Instrumental Song. Specializes in jazz/classical bass performance and historical performance practices. Holds performance degrees from Vanderbilt University (BM), Indiana University (MM, DM). Research interests encompass bass repertoire development, extended techniques, and pedagogical methods. Leads the Bass Coalition workshop for advanced bassists and maintains active performance schedule.
Fred Cohen is Professor and Chair of the School of Music and Dance at San José State University. He holds a Ph.D. and D.M.A. from Cornell University where he studied composition. His creative work spans orchestral, chamber, and vocal music with commissions from Chamber Music America, Richmond Symphony, and ensembles including Shanghai String Quartet. Notable compositions include a Piano Concerto commemorating a Steinway piano donation and 'Curls of Motion' for trumpet/wind ensemble premiered by New York Philharmonic's Principal Trumpet. His research explores cross-genre composition techniques and contemporary performance practices.
Katie Youn is a cellist and lecturer at Santa Clara University's Department of Music within the College of Arts and Sciences. She has performed internationally across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, including prestigious venues like Boston’s Symphony Hall and St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Founder of Shoreline Piano Trio (San Francisco, 2019) Collaborated with ensembles like Cleveland Quartet, Borromeo Quartet, and musicians including Daniel Phillips Active in outreach programs through Boston String Project and Sound Impact Katie earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Boston University in 2013, with a thesis on Balinese influences in Benjamin Britten’s cello suite. She studied under renowned mentors such as Yeesun Kim and Aldo Parisot. Her research interests span cello performance , cross-cultural musical influences , and community music education . She plays a 1935 Oreste Martini cello and a 2019 Benoit Rolland bow.
Hyun Soo Lim is an artist faculty member at the Westminster Conservatory of Music, Rider University, since 2009, with extensive performance experience as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestra member across the Midwestern United States, Korea, France, and the Czech Republic. Education: Doctor of Musical Arts in Violin Performance, Michigan State University Master of Music, Roosevelt University Certified in Gordon Method for Early Childhood and Elementary String Education Certified in Suzuki Violin Research and Artistic Interests: Specializing in violin performance pedagogy, she focuses on string education methodologies including Suzuki and Gordon approaches, early childhood music development, chamber ensemble training, and cross-cultural integration of Western and Oriental musical traditions through performance and composition. Scientific Awards and Honors: Catholic University Festival Chamber Competition Winner Catholic University Festival Soloist Competition Winner Roosevelt University Scholarship Michigan State University Scholarship Teaching and Advising: Maintains a private violin studio since 1994 across Seoul, Korea; Michigan; Illinois; and New Jersey, complementing her conservatory faculty role with personalized instruction for students of all ages and proficiency levels, emphasizing technical mastery and expressive interpretation. Orchestral Affiliations: Former principal violinist of the Catholic University Orchestra with ongoing memberships in Romance Orchestra, New Seoul Symphony Orchestra, Pilsen Orchestra, and En-Gedi ensemble, demonstrating sustained professional engagement in diverse ensemble settings.
Judith Morse is a Lecturer at Rider University's Westminster Conservatory of Music with degrees from Manhattan School of Music (BM) and Columbia University (MA, EdM). Trained in the Russian violin tradition through Leopold Auer methods, she studied with Raphael Bronstein and Samuel Applebaum. As Music Director of the Edison Symphony Orchestra since 2000, she has conducted ensembles recognized as Grammy Signature Finalists for four consecutive years. Her performance career spans Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and international venues with artists including Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, and the Irish Philharmonic. Conducting Training: Musin technique with Leonid Korchmar (Kirov Ballet) Diploma from Vienna Conservatory
Yeeun Heo serves as faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM), teaching Chamber Music within the Pre-College program and affiliated with the String and Piano Chamber Music department. Her pedagogical focus centers on ensemble development for pre-college musicians through specialized chamber music instruction. Her academic credentials include: Graduation from Seoul National University Master's degree with distinction from Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln under Nicolas Altstaedt and Johannes Moser Master's in chamber music from Musikhochschule Hannover under Oliver Wille Current Konzertexamen candidate at Hochschule für Musik Hannover under Leonid Gorokhov Artistically, Heo specializes in string quartet performance and collaborative piano repertoire, emphasizing interpretative depth and technical precision. Her educational approach integrates historical performance practices with contemporary ensemble techniques, particularly for developing musicians in pre-college settings. As a founding member of the Esmé Quartet, she maintains an active performance career alongside her teaching responsibilities. Her pedagogical work focuses on nurturing ensemble cohesion and musical maturity in young chamber groups through structured coaching in the Pre-College division.
Richard Savino is Professor of Guitar and Historical Plucked Strings at San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he teaches guitar literature and historic performance practices. As director of ensemble El Mundo, he specializes in early music interpretation. Education: DMA, State University of New York, Stony Brook MM, State University of New York, Stony Brook Performance Certificate, Conservatoire de Musique, Geneva His research reconstructs historical performance techniques for plucked string instruments. Recent projects include the Grammy-nominated album 'Archivo de Guatemala' featuring music from Guatemalan cathedral archives. Honors include Grammy nominations for ensemble direction and winning the Artists International Carnegie Recital Hall Competition. Performs with Santa Fe Opera and Ars Lyrica Houston.
David Auerbach is an Adjunct Professor of Viola at the University of St. Thomas in the College of Arts and Sciences. He maintains an active performing career as principal violist of the Minnesota Opera Orchestra and collaborates with ensembles like the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, and Boston-based A Far Cry. His teaching includes private viola lessons and ensemble coaching. Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA), Stony Brook University (2007) Master's Degree, Juilliard School Bachelor of Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison (Music Performance & Molecular Biology) As a dedicated chamber musician, Auerbach has participated in prestigious festivals including Ravinia, Kneisel Hall, and Norfolk, and performed at Carnegie Hall's Weill and Zankel Recital Halls. His current roles at St. Thomas involve teaching applied viola lessons (30' and 50' lesson formats) and directing string ensembles through audition-based membership.
Allison Ostrander serves as Adjunct Professor of Violin and String Ensembles in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of St. Thomas. An active performer, she holds positions as concertmaster of the Minnesota Opera and member of the IRIS Orchestra, while regularly performing with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Minnesota Orchestra. Her performance career includes recordings on Naxos and Lifescapes labels, featuring works by Steven Hartke and J.S. Bach. She teaches applied violin studies at both undergraduate and graduate levels, covering performance techniques and ensemble repertoire.
Lainie Fefferman is an Assistant Professor of Music & Technology at Stevens Institute of Technology and Core Faculty in the MFA in Music Composition program at Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA). She holds a PhD from Princeton University and is a performing member of the Princeton Laptop Ensemble (Sideband). Her work spans experimental composition, multimedia opera, and community-driven music initiatives. Education: PhD, Music Composition – Princeton University (2015) MA, Music Composition – Princeton University (2009) BA, Music Composition & Near Eastern Languages – Yale University (2004) Research & Practice: Fefferman explores idiosyncratic music-making, feminist midrash (e.g., White Fire ), and interdisciplinary collaborations. She co-founded Exapno (a Brooklyn music space), the New Music Gathering, and leads the New Music Bake Sale. Recent Trends in Works: Her compositions often blend live electronics, vocal processing, and narrative storytelling. Recent projects like White Fire reimagine biblical texts through a feminist lens, while Here I Am merges multimedia elements with ensemble performance. Awards & Residencies: LABA Fellow (2015–2016), HARP Residency (2015–2016) Nokia Bell Labs EAT Residency (2018–2019) Jerome Foundation Residency (2013–2014) Teaching & Community: Advises students in VCFA’s MFA program and teaches courses at Stevens. Leads Sideband, a laptop ensemble performing globally. Her work in community-building includes organizing national conferences like the New Music Gathering. Labs/Teams: Co-founder of Exapno, Sideband, and the New Music Gathering; collaborates with ensembles like JACK Quartet and Sō Percussion.
Jonathan Bailey Holland is Faculty Chair of the low-residency Music Composition program at Vermont College of Fine Arts and Chair of Composition, Theory and History at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. An acclaimed composer, his orchestral works have been performed by ensembles including the Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Detroit Symphonies. Major compositions include Equality (narrator/orchestra) for Cincinnati Symphony and String Quartet No. 2: Forged Sanctuaries for the National Park Service centennial. Honors include a 2015 Fromm Foundation Commission and awards from ASCAP, American Academy of Arts & Letters, and Presser Foundation.
Roger Zahab is a Teaching Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, where he directs the Orchestra and Undergraduate Studies. He is also a core faculty member and co-chair of the MFA in Music Composition program at Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA). Zahab holds a BM in Violin Performance from the University of Akron and an MM in Violin Performance from SUNY Stony Brook, with additional mentorship in composition from Tison Street, Ursula Mamlok, and John Cage. His work spans composition, violin/viola performance, conducting, and interdisciplinary collaborations in dance, theater, and video. Research interests focus on complex musical interactions and music’s societal role. Zahab has premiered over 200 works, including editions of Julia Perry’s violin concerto and orchestral pieces like wild woods and Intarsia . His recordings, such as the 2023 album Roger Zahab – at the piano , highlight his compositional versatility. He has led ensembles like the University of Akron’s New Music Group and founded the Daedalus series. Zahab’s awards and grants include collaborations with institutions like the MacDowell Colony and the Mary Flagler Cary Trust. His academic roles emphasize mentorship in low-residency programs and contemporary music advocacy. Notable works include Magna Mysteria (2009), Shadow Rhymes (2024), and film scores like Orson Rehearsed .
Fabiola Amorim is a Violin/Viola Faculty member at MacEwan University Conservatory of Music, Mount Royal Conservatory of Music, and an active concert violist. She holds a Doctor of Music from the University of Alberta (Canada), a Master of Music and Artist Certificate from Azusa Pacific University (USA), and a Bachelor of Music from Universidade Federal da Paraíba (Brazil). Her doctoral thesis on Brazilian nationalist music for viola (2018) is a key reference in the field. Research focuses on Brazilian music history, chamber music performance, and viola repertoire. She performs with orchestras and ensembles like the Vaughan String Quartet, debuting recordings in 2018. Awards include scholarships and participation in festivals including the Starling-Delay Symposium at Juilliard. Teaching spans violin/viola instruction across multiple institutions. Performance highlights include principal viola roles and solo engagements in North America and Europe. Active in music education and adjudication for Alberta festivals/competitions.
Olena Kilchyk is a faculty member at the Conservatory at Mount Royal University, serving in both the Strings and Early Childhood Strings departments. A native of Odessa, Ukraine, she holds a Master of Music in Cello Performance from the University of Calgary, following diplomas from the Odessa State Music College and Odessa State Conservatory. Her roles include Off-Campus Instructor, complementing her active involvement in professional orchestras and chamber ensembles. Education: Dip. Mus. from Odessa State Music College M.Mus. from Odessa State Conservatory Master of Music in Cello Performance from University of Calgary Research & Performance Interests: Ms. Kilchyk's career focuses on cello performance, chamber music collaboration, and early childhood music education. She has performed with prestigious ensembles such as the Academia Odessa Chamber Orchestra and Calgary Philharmonic, emphasizing classical and baroque repertoire. Her pedagogical work integrates innovative teaching methods for young learners, leveraging her extensive performance experience to nurture future musicians. Ensembles & Collaborations: She co-founded the Sempre la Musica Chamber Ensemble, Helia Chamber Ensemble, Denali Duo, and Bel Canto Strings. Her performances have been broadcast internationally on CBC and other networks, reflecting her commitment to accessible music advocacy. Teaching & Affiliations: Maintaining a busy teaching studio, she balances academic instruction with off-campus engagements. Her contributions to music education extend to professional development workshops and programs, though no grants or specific advisory milestones are explicitly detailed.
