Faculty

Strings

BARBARA BERG - Suzuki String Department Coordinator, Violin, Suzuki Violin, Chamber Music
B.M., M.M., Eastman; M.A.T., Lehman; postgraduate study, Juilliard; Suzuki Teacher Certification, former faculty, School for Strings. Performed with Brooklyn Philharmonic, American Ballet Theatre, Radio City Music Hall. Performs: Chautauqua Symphony. Faculty: Queens College, Edgemont Public Schools.

CHI-CHI LIN BESTMANN - Viola, Violin
B.M., Orchestral Conducting; M.M., P.S.D., Viola, Mannes College of Music. Studied: Michael Charry, Karen Ritscher. Chamber coaches: Felix Galimir, Daniel Phillips, Todd Phillips, Hiroko Yajima. Festivals: International Musician's Seminar, Prussia Cove. Former faculty: The Children's Orchestra Society. Faculty: Mannes College of Music Extension Division.

CLAIRE BRIGHT - Violin, Suzuki Violin
B.M., M.M., Juilliard. Studied with Hamao Fujiwara, Joseph Fuchs, Burton Kaplan. Suzuki Teacher Certification, School for Strings. Performs with The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, Long Island Philharmonic.

LANI KING CHANG - Violin, Viola, Chamber Music
B.M., M.M., San Francisco Conservatory of Music; New England Conservatory of Music with chamber music distinctions. Violin studies with Delay, Melikian, Abel. International Musicians Seminar, Prussia Cove. Prizewinner, Coleman National Chamber Music Competition. Member, San Francisco Opera Orchestra 1980-1996; Apollo Chamber Players, London; Guest Concertmaster Taipei National Symphony, Taiwan; Concertmaster and soloist, San Francisco Concerto Orchestra. Suzuki Pedagogy, Ithaca College; Dalcroze Eurhythmics training. Faculty: Usdan Center for the Performing and Cultural Arts, S.F. Conservatory. Performer: New York metropolitan area orchestras.

LOIS COLIN - Harp
B.M., Manhattan School of Music; M.A.T., Lehman College. Studied: Lucile Lawrence; Institute for Advanced Musical Studies - Montreux, Switzerland; Interlochen Arts Academy. Piano studies: Emilie Harris, Mannes Institute; Dewey Owens, composer and harp teacher, Vassar. Director: Westchester Harp Ensemble since 2004. Performances: New York City Ballet Orchestra; Festival of Two Worlds, Spoleto Italy; Orchestra de Camera Intere, Venice, Italy; Institute for Advanced Musical Studies, Montreux, Switzerland; Manhattan School Of Music Orchestra; Orchestral Society of Westchester; Festival Orchestra of Waterloo, New Jersey; Filharmonica de Caracas, Venezuela; Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra; Bronx Symphony Orchestra; Westchester Symphony Orchestra. Performance credits: Records, Jingles, Film scores, Shows, Ships, and Hotels. Membership Affiliations: Local 802 A F of M (American Federation of Musicians), Scottish Harp Society of America, American Harp Society, Westchester Musicians Guild, Folk Harp Society. Harp Music Publishing: eight books arranged for classic pedal and folk/lever harp. President, Colin Harp Music Publications. Former Faculty Member: Northern Westchester Center for the Arts.

MICHAEL FINCKEL - Cello, Chamber Music
Concert artist U.S. and abroad. Founding member: Cabrini Quartet, Trio of the Americas. Member: Ensemble 21, Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, Ysaye String Quartet, Finckel Cello Quartet, Brooklyn Philharmonic. Director: Sage City Symphony. Recordings: CRI, Vanguard, Vox/Candide, ECM/Warner Bros. Faculty: Chamber Music Conference and Composers Forum of the East, Bennington; Composers Conference and Chamber Music Center, Wellesley College; Princeton; Cornell; Bennington.

NELL FLANDERS - Violin, Chamber Music
B.M., Oberlin Conservatory of Music; M.M. University of Akron. Studied: Marilyn McDonald, Alan Bodman, Roland Vamos, Brian Finlayson. Performed: Chicago Civic Orchestra, Akron Symphony, Canton Symphony, Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Corky Siegel's Chamber Blues, Baroque Band, Musica Maris, Pocket Opera Players, Chicago Opera Theater. Former instructor, violin and chamber music: Utah State University, University of Chicago, VanderCook College of Music. Suzuki training: Edward Kreitman, Nancy Jackson. Additional instruments: viola, piano, bass. Fluent: Italian, French, German, Dutch, Spanish.

SUZANNE M. FLEISHAKER - String Bass
B.A., Sarah Lawrence; studies at Oberlin Conservatory; M.A., NYU. Studied with Messing, Portnoi, Mensch. Participant: Tanglewood Music Festival. Orchestral performances in New York metropolitan area and Europe.

APRIL JOHNSON - Violin, Suzuki Violin, Chamber Music
B.M. Oberlin; Advanced studies at Brooklyn College Conservatory. Studied: Kaplan, Kawasaki, Gabora, Clapp. Performed for Perlman, Rosenberg, Buswell. Former Concertmaster: Jupiter Symphony, Canton Ohio Symphony, Galatea Ensemble, Queens Oratorio. Associate Concertmaster: Norwalk Symphony. Current Member: New York Chamber Soloists, Oracle Trio. Recordings: Dorian, Lyrichord. HBMS faculty since 1993.

NICOLE JOHNSON - Cello, Suzuki Cello
B.M., Cleveland Institute of Music; M.M. Juilliard. Studied: Alan Harris, Andres Diaz, Christoph Henkel, Joel Krosnick. Suzuki training: Nancy Hair, Alice Vierra, Barbara Wampner, Carol Tarr. Former member: Avanti Ensemble, Cleveland Chamber Orchestra. Former faculty: Renaissance Music Academy—cello and chamber music. Cellist: Cassatt String Quartet. Faculty: Special Music School, Manhattan; Westchester Suzuki Institute. Director: Cushing Cello Camp.

RENÉE JOLLES - Violin
B.M.; M.M., Juilliard. Juilliard Teaching Fellow: Juilliard String Quartet. Graduation Recipient: William Schuman Prize. Studied: Lewis Kaplan; Felix Galimir; members of Juilliard, Tokyo, American String Quartets. American premiere: Schnittke's Violin Concerto No. 2, Alice Tully Hall. Concertos: Orpheus Chamber Ensemble, Philharmonic Orchestra of New Jersey, Salisbury Symphony, Cape May Festival Orchestra. World Premieres: featured soloist, Orpheus New Brandenburg Commissions. Member: Jolles Duo, Continuum, Intimate Voices, New York Chamber Ensemble. Festivals: Marlboro, Cape May, Manchester, Rockport, Norfolk, Taos, Riverrun, The Chamber Music and Composers' Forum of the East. Concertmaster: Orpheus Chamber Ensemble. Recordings: soloist and chamber artist, Cambria, CRI, North/South Recordings, Albany, and New World record labels. Faculty: Juilliard Pre-College Division, Mannes School of Music, Preparatory Division; Bowdoin International Music Festival.

CHRISTINA KHIMM - Violin, Chamber Music
B.A., Sarah Lawrence. Studied with: Delay, Bronstein, Ricci, Magnes, Rosand. Winner: Young Concert Artist Competition. Soloist: Korean National, Manhattan School of Music, Sarah Lawrence Orchestra, Pusan Philharmonic of Korea. Former concertmistress: Allegro Chamber Ensemble, Korean Symphony Orchestra of NY. Aaron Rosand Intensive Program Director, Summit Music Festival. Faculty: Mannes College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Music Conservatory of Westchester.

PEGGY KLINGER - Violin
Licentiate, Trinity College of London. Scholarship to further studies in London. Performed extensively in South Africa and England. Former member: London Chamber Orchestra, Morley String Trio, London Mozart Players. Master Classes: Lima Conservatory. Former faculty: London College of Music, Music Conservatory of Westchester.

GARY KOSLOSKI - Violin, Chamber Music
D.Mus., Indiana University, principal teacher Josef Gingold. Additional studies: Franco Gulli, Tadeusz Wronski, Max Rostal. Chamber music studies: William Primrose, Menahem Pressler, György Sebök, Janos Starker. Founding violinist: Elysian Trio. Former concertmaster Ohio Chamber Orchestra, Cleveland Chamber Symphony. First violins: Detroit Symphony. Former chamber music coordinator: Music Academy of the West, Lucca Festival, Oberlin-in-Italy (Urbania). Articles: Strad, Strings and ASTA Journal. Translator: The Violin Within (Le violon intérieur by Dominique Hoppenot). Board Member: Madeline Bruser's Golden Key Music Institute; Former violin faculty: Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory, University of Oklahoma, Florida State University.

DAVID KRIEGER - Cello
Rubin Academy of Music, Tel Aviv University, full scholarship student. First prize: cello competition. M.M., Peabody Conservatory. Further studies: M.M.A., Yale University with Aldo Parisot; D.M.A., Indiana University with Janos Starker. Former solo/principal cellist, Israel Orchestra of the Kibbutzim; Westchester Philharmonic. Founding member: Emelin Trio. Director: Summit Music Festival. Adjunct professor: Fordham University. Former faculty: Columbia University, Purchase College Conservatory.

ELEKTRA KURTIS-STEWART - Violin, Suzuki Violin
B.M., Sibelius Academy of Music (Helsinki), degree in performance and pedagogy. School for Strings Suzuki Program. Studied with Arai-Kimanen, Ignatius, Piorkowski, Behrend. Performance: Kapyla Chamber Orchestra, Sibelius Academy String Ensemble, Kirkkonummi Chamber Orchestra, Opera Orchestra of the Great Theatre (Warsaw). Leader, world jazz quintet Ensemble Elektra; Leader, Elektra Kurtis String Trio. Faculty: Harlem School of the Arts.

MARK KUSHNIR - Violin, Suzuki Violin, Viola, Chamber Music
B.M., Cleveland Inst. of Music; M.F.A., Sarah Lawrence; Suzuki Pedagogy, School for Strings. Studied with Delay, Gingold, Dubinsky, Kawasaki, Behrend. Member: Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, Hudson Highlands String Quartet. Former member: Laurentian String Quartet.

MAXINE NEUMAN - Cello, Chamber Music, Suzuki Cello
B.M., M.M., Manhattan School of Music. Solo recitals, North America, South America, Europe, Japan. Three-time Grammy winner. "Who's Who in the World." Grant recipient, Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundations, National Endowment for the Arts. Performs: Belmont Trio, Claremont Duo, Crescent String Quartet, Duo Cellissimo, Por el Tango, Orchestra of St. Luke's, American Composers Orchestra, Westchester Philharmonic. Montreux Jazz Festival, Metallica. Solo and chamber recordings: Deutsche Grammophon, Columbia, Angel, EMI, Austrophon, Nonesuch, Biddulph, CRI, Orion, Leonarda, Argo, Opus One, SONY/Virgin, AMC, Thorofon, Vanguard, Musical Heritage, Albany, Northeastern, CBS World Records. American premiere, G. B. Viotti Cello Concerto (Town Hall). Judge: international competitions. Faculty: School for Strings, Bennington Chamber Music Conference. Former faculty: Bennington College, Williams College, C.W. Post University.

ANCA NICOLAU - Violin, Suzuki Violin, Chamber Music
B.M., Juilliard; M.M., Manhattan School of Music; M.A., M. Phil., Columbia University; Suzuki Teacher Cert., School for Strings. Studied: Galamian, Bronstein, Ricci, Behrend. Finalist: George Enescu Competition. Winner: Roumanian National Competition, Silverstein Award. Participant: Tanglewood, Spoleto, Caramoor, Drottningholm, The Proms, Edinburgh Festivals. Member: Orchestra of St. Luke's; The Bach Ensemble, Drottningholm Ensemble, the Loma Mar String Quartet. Recording: E.M.I. Label, Loma Mar String Quartet - number one on classical music charts - 1999. Former Faculty: Manhattan School of Music, Pre-College Department, Music Conservatory of Westchester, Amati Conservatory. Former faculty: Brixen Academy for Early Music, Italy.

NAOMI GRAF ROOKS - Viola, Viola Club, Coordinator, Chamber Music Program, Chamber Music, Suzuki Viola
B.M., Juilliard School of Music; M.M.,Yale School of Music. Studied: Lillian Fuchs, Paul Kantor, Donald McInnes. Former faculty, New Haven Suzuki School, All-Newton Music School, MA., Waldorf School, Ithaca. Active performer, area orchestras, chamber ensembles.

ERIKO SATO - Violin
Juilliard. Studied with Delay, Grumiaux in Brussels. International prize winner and recitalist. Soloist: Tokyo Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, San Francisco Chamber Orchestra. Co-concertmaster: St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble, Orpheus. Member: Elysium Chamber Ensemble, Strathmere Chamber Ensemble, American Chamber Ensemble. Recordings: CD with David Oei, piano; Prestissimo label, Music Masters, Deutsche Grammophon, Vanguard, ESSAY, Delos, Grenadilla. Radio and TV appearances, including CBS News Sunday Morning. Faculty: Mannes College of Music, Bennington Chamber Music Conference, ACMA/OSL.

ROBERT SCHWARTZ - Cello, Young People's Symphonette, Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Music
B.A., Montclair State; M.A., Teacher's College; M.F.A., Sarah Lawrence. Studied with Janigro, Ricci, Borodin Piano Trio. Cofounder, former cellist: Laurentian String Quartet, Aspen Music Festival. Faculty: Lakeland School District.

PETER SEIDENBERG - Cello, Suzuki Cello
B.M., Eastman School of Music; M.M., New England Conservatory; Artist Diploma, Cleveland Institute of Music. Studied: Nell Novak, Marc Johnson, Paul Katz, Bernard Greenhouse, Larry Lesser, Alan Harris, Ron Leonard, Burton Kaplan. Solo work: Chicago Symphony (age 18), Eastman Philharmonia, DePaul Chamber Orchestra, Century Orchestra Osaka. Festivals: Marlboro, Norfolk, Aspen, Meadowmount. Current member: Elements Quartet, Queens Chamber Band.

FREDERICK ZLOTKIN - Cello
B.M., M.S., D.M.A., Juilliard. Studied with Piatigorsky, Rose, Robbins. Recitals and concerts throughout Europe and the U.S. Soloist: Minnesota Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Aspen Festival Orchestra. Principal Cello, New York City Ballet Orchestra; Substitute, New York Philharmonic. Guest Artist: The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Former Artist-in-Residence, Aspen Music Festival, Waterloo Music Festival. Member: Lyric Piano Quartet. Faculty, Manhattan School of Music, Queens College, Brooklyn College.