Faculty

Jennifer John, Violin and Viola

Jennifer John is the Director of String Chamber Music at the Greenville, SC Fine Arts Center.  She is the former Violin Teacher and Director of the Concertato Strings at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, a residential high school for the artistically talented. She was also Professor of Violin at the University of Colorado at Boulder and Faculty Emeritus at the Aspen Music Festival and School. She has also been a member of the faculty at the Rocky Ridge Institute of Music in Estes Park, CO, and the 2017 Wintergreen Music Academy. Jennifer has been awarded Level III Teaching Endorsement by the Paul Rolland Society.She has also studied the Suzuki, Books 1-5 with William Starr, who was

mentored by Mr. Suzuki himself. 

Jennifer was previously Concertmaster of the Wichita Symphony, Prague International Chamber Orchestra, Great Lakes Music Festival, National Repertory Orchestra and the Flint Michigan Symphony. She was also Associate Concertmaster of the Aspen Chamber Symphony for many years. In addition she was Professor of Violin at Wichita State University and First violinist of the Fairmount String Quartet as well as one of the founding members of the Ceruti Quartet in residence at the University of Memphis.

Ms. John has been a member of the faculty of the Prague International Chamber Music Festival and the Ameropa Chamber Music Festival. Other teaching positions include The University of Memphis. St. Olaf College, Carleton College, the University of Memphis and the Flint Institute of Music. In addition, she was also a guest faculmember at the University of Houston, Texas Music Festival.

Ms. John received her Masters degree with Paul Kantor at the University of Michigan. She earned her Bachelor's degree with Dorothy Delay and Kurt Sassmannshaus at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. Other education includes Postgraduate study at Yale University, Lausanne Switzerland. Other teachers include Lawrence Maves and Fransesca Koscielny at the University of Oregon. Ms. John has also studied the Suzuki method with William Starr in Boulder, CO to enhance her knowledge as a pedagogue.

Ms. John has appeared as a soloist with orchestras around the country. The GCYO, Young Artist Orchestra, the Concerto Strings, Governor’s School, The Oregon Symphony, Oregon Mozart Players, Prague International Chamber Orchestra, Wichita Symphony, Aurora Symphony, National Repertory Orchestra, Boulder Bach Festival, University of Colorado Symphony, Wichita State University Orchestra and Youth Orchestra, Cincinnati Chamber Players and the Timberline Symphony (CO).

Ms. John has published an article on Pilates/Ron Fletcher Work in the American String Teachers National String Journal and presented solo recitals, chamber music recitals, and workshops around the country including the 2018 Music Teachers National Association in Orlando, FL, and the  2016, American String Teachers Association, (ASTA) in Tampa, Fl., College Music Society National Convention, San Francisco, ASTA, University of Indiana, Midwest Orchestra and Band Clinic, Chicago, MENC, Phoenix, and ASTA, Columbus OH and Denver, CO. Examples of master classes include The New England Conservatory, University of Kansas City, Conservatory of Music, Arizona State University, University of Wisconsin, University of Oklahoma, Medicine Hat College, Canada, Texas Tech University, Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of Portland, OR, Eugene Youth Symphony, Omaha Conservatory of Music and the Interlochen Arts Academy.

Professor Hal Grossman, Violin

http://www.halgrossman.com

Matthew Lipinski, Viola

Matthew Lipinski, a native of Michigan, has a great passion for teaching. He holds a bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University, and two master’s degrees from the University of Memphis, and the University of Wyoming. While at the University of Wyoming, Matt was the Administrative Assistant and teacher for the University’s String Project Program. This program was an after-school program designed for children in grades 4-12 that provided students with opportunities to take group classes, orchestra classes, and private lessons. Matt has also worked at Interlochen, Center for the Arts summer program for 5 years as a studio teacher, coaching chamber music, and giving masterclasses. His teachers include David Holland, Leonard Schranze, and James Przygocki. 

Dr. Jonathan Simmons, cello

https://jonathansimmonscello.com

Emily Busby, Bass

Emily Busby graduated from the  Eastman School of Music, where she earned her Masters Degree in Double Bass Performance, Music Theory, and Instrumental Music Education. She is currently in the studio of Professor James VanDemark, and in the past, she has also studied with Brett Shurtliffe (Buffalo Philharmonic) and Nate White (Montclair State University). Her other advisors at Eastman are Dr. William Marvin and Dr. Lisa Caravan.

A New Jersey native, Emily remains an active member of the NJ music scene, performing as a double bassist with the FEA Symphony and serving as double bass faculty at the New Jersey Youth Symphony Summer Orchestral Camp. Outside of her studies in classical music, she also enjoys cats, cooking, and alternative rock.