Violin with Christine S.

I hold dual master’s degrees in violin performance and chamber music from the University of Michigan where I studied with Danielle Belen, winner of the 2008 Sphinx Competition and former teaching assistant to Robert Lipsett at the Colburn School. I earned my bachelor’s degree in violin performance from Oberlin Conservatory with David Bowlin, winner of the 2003 Washington International Competition and founding member of the International Contemporary Ensemble. In addition to teaching private violin lessons since I was in high school, I have experience working with elementary students as a Sphinx Overture teacher in Flint, MI, and with high schoolers and young adults as a faculty member of SA’OAXACA International Music Festival in Oaxaca, Mexico. Not only have I witnessed great teaching up close as I’ve had the privilege to study with the most incredible violin teachers, but I’ve also gained so much teaching wisdom over my entire life from my mom, who is an absolute superstar elementary school teacher. As a performer, I received numerous honors as a student at Oberlin and the University of Michigan, and was a prizewinner in the 2020 William C. Byrd Competition. I’m most frequently complimented for my sound, vibrato, and bow arm. After performances, I’ve been told by accomplished musicians: “You made magic,” “You’re a rockstar,” and “You have one of the most beautiful vibratos I’ve ever heard.” Over the years, I’ve taken a plethora of classes in Alexander Technique, yoga, and general wellness classes for musicians. Additionally, I took Beyond Practicing, an online course taught by Juilliard alum and professor Noa Kageyama, which covers topics ranging from how to practice more effectively to tackling performance anxiety. I’m on a quest to keep finding ways to incorporate what I’ve learned into my teaching to help my students practice and perform with more ease, efficiency, and joy, which will in turn reduce the risk of injury in addition to making it all more enjoyable!