Violin with Aubrey H.

"...a warm sound, and much joy...vivacious" -The Strad Aubrey was a founding member of the Heimat Quartet (2014-2020), which gave their Carnegie Hall Debut in 2019. In the fall of the same year, they joined the faculty at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA (2019-2020) giving their final recital as an ensemble in February 2020 before disbanding after six years together. Before the quartet, Aubrey was based in Boston, Massachusetts, where he was a principal player in Symphony Nova, a chamber music ensemble based in Boston. In addition, he played with MetroWest Opera (Principal 2nd), Symphony Pro Musica (Principal 2nd), Boston Opera Collaborative (Associate Concertmaster), The Cape Ann Symphony (Associate Principal 2nd), Boston Modern Orchestra Project, The Vermont Symphony Orchestra, and The Cape Symphony Orchestra. Aubrey is also the former 1st violinist of the Videri String Quartet based in Boston, which specializes in the performance and recording of video game music. With the formation of the quartet, from 2015-2017 Aubrey lived in Kent, Ohio where they were the graduate quartet-in-residence at Kent State University as well as quartet-in-residence at Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio. From 2017-2019 they were the graduate quartet-in-residence at Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey under the tutelage of the famed Shanghai Quartet. Other notable appearances and engagements include a faculty position at Interlochen Center for the Arts High School Division Advanced String Quartet Seminar (summer sessions 2017) as well as quarter finalist 2017 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and 2019 Joachim International Chamber Music Competition held in Weimar, Germany. The quartet also competed internationally at the 2019 Joachim International Chamber Music Competition held in Weimar, Germany, where they also finished as quarter finalists. Other international appearances include the International Mendelssohn Festival in Hamburg, Germany, The Esmeraldas International Music Festival held in Quito, Ecuador, and the Lunenberg Academy of Music (LAMP) in Lunenberg, Nova Scotia. His primary mentors have included Dr. Blanka Bednarz, Dr. Irina Muresanu, Cathy Meng Robinson, and Daniel Kurganov, as well as members of the Miami String Quartet, Shanghai Quartet, and the Audubon Quartet. Currently, Aubrey is living and working in the Hudson Valley area of New York. -Teaching Philosophy- FUNDAMENTALS. ROUTINE. SOUND. THE “BEL CANTO.” The central tenet of my teaching philosophy and pedagogy is the achievement of a beautiful sound in the bel canto style. What constitutes a beautiful sound is on some levels subjective and is dependent upon a myriad of different factors both in music and otherwise. My approach begins with applying two general principles: Firstly, understanding the need for a fundamental command of the instrument and utilizing select exercises, etudes, scales, and appropriate repertoire to help achieve this. Second, introducing problem solving methods and solution seeking ways of thinking because ultimately, I believe our job as educators and mentors is in teaching someone how to teach themselves. It is important to note that this applies not only to younger students and career-track professional musicians, but to amateur musicians of all ages as well. Lastly, I believe in instilling a good and healthy work ethic through routine: Although factors such as inspiration and motivation can play a role in the development and progress of a student, they are more often only short-term solutions, waning as the days, weeks, months, and years progress. When one brushes their teeth in the morning, they don’t constantly ask themselves why they are doing so. Even if there is an obvious answer at hand, one does it because it is something habitual, reasonable, and is something they’ve done their entire life. The routine (noting carefully, not the process) of practicing can be applied in much the same way. This is key to not only progressing, but in building and maintaining a structure that will serve the artist well throughout their career.