Priscilla Arasaki is in her fourth year of pursuing her Bachelor of Music in music studies at the University of Texas at Austin. She began playing the violin at the age of 10 with Strelsa Burks in Austin, Texas and piano at the age of 4 at the Yamaha Music School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She currently studies with Dr. Eugene Gratovich and is a member of the UT Symphony Orchestra. She has received teacher training certification through the Suzuki method with Christie Felsing and Susan Baer and enjoys teaching in the UT String Project.

Currently pursuing a D.M.A. in Doublebass Performance at the University of Texas at Austin, David Ballam is an active musician and educator.  Mr. Ballam recently completed a master’s degree at Northwestern University in doublebass performance & string pedagogy under the instruction of Peter Lloyd and DaXun Zhang, his current teacher.  David’s past studies also include performing in masterclasses for doublebassists Tim Cobb, Joseph Guastafeste, Paul Ellison, and Francois Rabbath as well as private studies in violone and baroque performance practices with Jerry Fuller.
Recently Mr. Ballam has performed in the Chicago area with the Elmhurst Symphony, Dupage Symphony Orchestra, Wheaton Summer Symphony, Skokie Valley Symphony, and the Music Institute of Chicago.  Also a 2006 graduate of the Wheaton College (IL) Conservatory of Music, Mr. Ballam has earned two bachelor’s degrees; one in music education the other in doublebass performance under Virginia Dixon.
David is happily married to his wife, Suzanne, an Austin-based freelance harpist and private harp instructor.

Connor Bell began playing the violin at the age of twelve. He is a sophomore currently pursuing his Bachelor of Music in music studies at The University of Texas Music and Human Learning Program. This is his second year working with String Project but his first year as an official staff member. Originally from College Park, Maryland, Connor performed in his school’s orchestra as well as the Prince George’s Philharmonic and two quartets. He also participated in summer institutes including McDaniel Orchestra Camp on violin and the National Philharmonic Summer String Institute on viola. This summer Connor became certified to teach Suzuki Violin Book 1 and plans to continue certification next summer.

Born and raised in Chicago, IL, Yvonne Davila began her violin studies at age five at the Music Conservatory of Chicago. She received her B.M. in Music Business and Violin Performance at DePaul University under Joseph Genualdi of the Chicago Chamber Musicians. During her studies at DePaul, she substituted for the Chicago Civic Symphony Orchestra. She received her M.M. in Violin Performance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison under Vartan Manoogian. Yvonne has soloed at the AIMS Music Festival in Solsona, Spain and Rural Musicians Forum in Spring Green, WI. While in Wisconsin, she was a member of the Rockford (Illinois) Symphony Orchestra, substitute with the Madison Symphony Orchestra, Adjunct Instructor at Ripon College, and a Certified Suzuki teacher, under Pat D'Ercole, with a private studio in Madison and Spring Green, WI. Yvonne is currently a Ph.D. student in Music and Human Learning and Assistant Director of the University of Texas String Project.

Jessica Embach began her musical studies at age 5 with Stephanie Preucil of Chicago, Illinois. She received her BA in Russian and Music at the University of Iowa. While completing her undergraduate studies Jessica maintained a private studio and held positions with the Dubuque Symphony and Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony. Currently Jessica is pursuing her Masters of Music while studying under John Largess of the Miro string quartet. She is also obtaining her Suzuki training during the summers. As an active performer in Austin area, Jessica plays with Austin Pops, Viola By Choice and Round Rock Symphony. She has also served as a substitute for the Austin Lyric Opera. Besides teaching for String Project, Jessica is helping launch a Suzuki program at a private school in Fredericksburg, Texas.

Rachel Emery began her studies in violin at the age of 5 through Suzuki Talent Education of Appalachia. In addition to her traditional studies, she toured internationally with the band Celtic Air, and was featured on NPRs From the Top radio show in 2003. Rachael received her B.M. in Violin Performance under Jeffrey Z. Flaniken at Samford University, where she was a winner of the 2007 Concerto-Aria Competition. She spent a year volunteering as a violin teacher at K.I.D.S. non-profit music center in Birmingham, AL, and is in the process of receiving Suzuki violin teacher training. Rachael is an alumna of the MasterWorks Festival, and a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Delta Omicron, Suzuki Association of the Americas, and Music Teachers National Association. She is currently pursuing her master's degree in Music and Human Learning at the University of Texas at Austin.

Shana Essma is a Suzuki violin educator with over twelve years experience in both the private and group lesson settings. She currently maintains a private studio of more than thirty violin students and serves as the director of both the Monarch Suzuki Academy in Austin, Texas and the Community Music Academy at Texas Lutheran University. From 2004-2007, Shana taught Suzuki violin and orchestra in an elementary school in the Parkway school district in St Louis, Missouri. In 2004, she completed her Masters degree in Music and Human Learning at the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied violin with Brian Lewis and music education and research with Dr. Robert Duke, Dr. Laurie Scott, and Dr. Eugenia Costa-Giomi. Shana received her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and completed her long-term Suzuki teacher training with Carol Dallinger at the University of Evansville. Shana is a registered teacher for violin books one through eight and early childhood education with the Suzuki Association of the Americas.

Janet Grohovac is currently completing her Master's Degree in Guitar Performance at the University of Texas under the tutelage of Adam Holzman. Janet is originally from Victoria, British Columbia in Canada, where she completed her Bachelor of Music with distinction at the University of Victoria studying under Dr. Alexander Dunn. Prior to her university training, Janet was enrolled in an intensive performance and teacher training program at the Victoria Conservatory of Music which led her to obtain her AVCM diplomas in guitar pedagogy and performance. Janet enjoys attending music festivals throughout North America and has played for world-renowned artists such as Pepe Romero, Roland Dyens and Eliot Fisk.

Janet is an experienced teacher and has been involved in creating and organizing curriculum for children's summer guitar workshops as well as instructing group and private lessons in classical and folk guitar. Janet enjoys teaching students of all levels and is excited to instruct in the newly launched guitar project at the University of Texas at Austin.

Amy Harris s currently attending the University of Texas at Austin pursuing a Doctoral degree in Violin performance, as well as teaching as a member of the String Project. She graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a BM in violin performance, and from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with a MM in violin performance. She was a member of several orchestras in the Denver area including the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, the Greeley Philharmonic and the Boulder Philharmonic. She is a member of Delta Omicron international music fraternity, and has played for the triennial conference as a guest soloist. She is also a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda honorary music fraternity, and has won the Angie Southard Convocation award. She has also attended festivals like National Repertory Orchestra, the Henry Mancini Institute, the Bowdoin Music Festival, and the Brevard Music Festival.

Barrett Ashley Johnson holds a Ph.D. in Music Composition and Minor Area Study in Music Education from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge. Dr. Johnson is both composer and music educator, having previously taught music theory/class piano at the University of Arkansas.
As a composer Dr. Johnson writes music in a wide variety of media including large orchestra, chamber ensembles, solo works, & electroacoustic works. His electroacoustic works have been combined with animation in such art film shorts as Time-Varying Travel in a Time-Varying Transport and Les Acrobaties, being featured in the inaugural season of the Red Stick Animation Festival.
Dr. Johnson’s monograph portion of his dissertation, titled A Comparative Study Between the Pedagogical Methodologies of Arnold Schoenberg and Nadia Boulanger Regarding Training the Composer, reveals the teaching materials and methods of these two famous twentieth-century musicians in light of the philosophies of music educators David Elliott and Bennet Reimer.
Dr. Johnson will be teaching Musicianship IV as part of this year’s University of Texas String Project. While at the University of Texas, Austin, Dr. Johnson is pursuing his Teachers’ Certificate, leading to directing a secondary strings & orchestra/comprehensive musicianship program.

Jay Kacherski received his Master's Degree in Guitar Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York where he studied under the tutelage of Dr. Nicholas Goluses. Prior to that, he completed his undergraduate studies with Dr. Mark Switzer, a distinguished pupil of Pepe Romero, at Florida Southern College where he graduated with honors. His recent performances include concerts at the Taxco International Guitar Festival in Mexico, the Guest Artist Concert Series at McNeese State University, the Sala Xochipili (UNAM) in Mexico City, the Atlas Performing Arts Center and the Music at Midday Concert Series at the National Christian City Church both in Washington D.C. During the fall semester of 2007, Mr. Kacherski was a member of the guitar faculty at the Escuela Nacional de Música, the music conservatory for the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México (UNAM). Mr. Kacherski has been a performer in master classes with Manuel Barrueco, Sharon Isbin, Eliot Fisk, and the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet among others. Mr. Kacherski has just returned to the United States from a year long stay in Mexico City as a Fulbright Scholar researching and performing contemporary classical guitar music of Mexico. His guide and teacher for his Fulbright work was the world-renowned Mexican guitarist Juan Carlos Laguna. Mr. Kacherski is currently a doctoral student at the University of Texas studying under the tutelage of Adam Holzman.  

Szee-Won Lee Szee-won Lee began her musical studies at the age of 4 on the piano. She started on the violin when she was 9 years old and switched to the viola two years later. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Viola Performance from East Carolina University. While there, she had the privilege of studying with Ara Gregorian, Emanuel Gruber, Dr. Jorge Richter, and Melissa Reardon, among others. Ms. Lee has also performed in many masterclasses with Walter Verdehr, Hsin-Yun Huang, Mischa Amory, Nicholas Chords, Pei-Chun Tsai, Danielle Farina, Jeremy Denk, Tom Sauer, and the Miro Quartet. She studied string pedagogy with Dr. Gregory Hurley and received Suzuki certification through Joanne Bath.
 
Currently a student of Roger Myers, Ms. Lee is pursuing a Master of Music degree in Viola Performance at the University of Texas at Austin. She holds a position as the Viola Teaching Assistant and teaches in the UT String Project, while also studying string pedagogy with Dr. Laurie Scott. She has active memberships in many musical and teaching organizations, such as Pi Kappa Lambda, the American String TeacherÕs Association, the Suzuki Association of the Americas, and the Music EducatorÕs National Conference. Upon graduation, Ms. Lee plans to return to her home state of North Carolina to pursue her career as a violist and public school music educator.

Karen Lin is the Office Manager for the University of Texas String project.

Jordan Loveland is in her fourth year at the University of Texas at Austin, currently pursuing a B.M. in Music Business as well as receiving a certificate in Double Bass Performance. At the age of twelve, Jordan began playing the double bass and taking lessons with Zlatan Redzic of the San Antonio Symphony. She has also studied under double bass pedagogues such as Yuan Xiong Lu, Paul Sharpe, Jack Unzicker and DaXun Zhang, whom she is currently studying with. Jordan has been a member of the University of Texas Symphony Orchestra for the past two years and has also performed with the UT Bach Cantata Project, the Austin Pops Summer Orchestra, and other various ensembles.

Annalise Ohse played for Mark O'Connor last year.

Sarah Pizzichemi is a senior at the University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music where she is pursuing her BM in Violin Performance with Brian Lewis and the Miro Quartet. She has been a section leader of the UT Symphony Orchestra and a member of the UT New Music Ensemble, as well as participating in many other ensembles at UT. Last fall, Sarah participated in the Miro Quartet's Intensive Mendelssohn Chamber Music Seminar and competition, and won the position to perform the Mendelssohn Octet with the Miro Quartet in February 2009. She is currently a distinguished honors scholar at the University of Texas for an exemplary academic record, and was nominated for a presidential scholarship in the spring of 2009. Sarah has studied extensively with the Penderecki String Quartet the last four summers in Casalmaggiore, Italy, and at Quartetfest in Waterloo, Ontario. She attended The Quartet Program in Fredonia, NY in the summer of 2009. Sarah has substituted for the Waco Symphony Orchestra. Sarah made her debut with orchestra with the Seattle Symphony in May 2004 as part of their Discover Music! concert series in Benaroya Hall. She received her Suzuki Book 1 certification and training from Pat D’Ercole. She began violin at the age of 8 and her previous teachers include Kent Coleman, Cecilia Archuleta, Jan Coleman, and Margaret Warren. Sarah also enjoys art history, Hindustani music, foreign language, and the culinary arts.

Rachel Ringeisen is a violin student in Music and Human Learning (M.M.) studying with Anne Akiko Meyers. She received a B.M. in violin performance and pedagogy from the Wheaton College Conservatory (IL). Certified in Suzuki violin and viola, Rachel has received training from Rebecca Sandrok and Alice Joy Lewis. She has built and maintained private studios and was an intern teacher with Wheaton's Community School of the Arts. Rachel has studied with Elizabeth Suh-Lane, Dr. Lee Joiner, and Paul Zafer; as part of her undergraduate coursework in pedagogy, Rachel team-taught with Julie Maura and gained experience with various methods of teaching, including Musikgarten, Orff, and music for special learners.

Nellie Schrantz grew up in mid-Michigan, where she studied classical violin from a young age at the Michigan State University Community Music School. Nellie received her undergraduate degree from Denison University in Granville Ohio, where she studied with a major in violin and a minor in environmental studies. She has also studied many fiddle styles including French Canadian, Bluegrass and Irish. Nellie competes regionally and nationally in traditional Irish music and dance. Nellie has performed and taught workshops at several festivals around the mid-west, including The Saline Celtic Fest, The National Folk Festival, The Great Lakes Folk Festival and Wheatland Music Festival. Her Irish band Freshwater has opened for the Grammy nominated group The Duhks, and her bluegrass band The Granvillbillies has opened for the Grammy wining group Cherry Holmes. Nellie has completed her Suzuki teacher training at institutes at Capitol University, Blue Lake Suzuki Institute and Chicago Suzuki Institute. Nellie is currently a masters student in the Music and Human Learning program at UT.

Jun Seo started playing cello at the age 13 and he soon attended Seoul Arts High School where he won the 1st prize from the Seoul Young Artist Chamber Music Competition. During his high school year, he came to the United States to study abroad and attended the Walnuthill School in Natick, MA. He received the 2nd prize from the International Chamber Music Society in Boston. He recently received a Bachelor of Music Degree from the New England Conservatory School of Music in Boston. Mr. Seo received full scholarship to attend the Heifetz Summer Music Festival(2004), StonyBrook Summer Music Festival(2004), Killington Music Festival(2006) and Colorado College Music Festival(2008). Mr. Seo studied cello with Jin-kyung Chee, Hee-song Song, Laura Blustein, and Yeesun-Kim. He also played in Cello Masterclasses for Laurence Lesser, Alexander Baillie, Ralph Kirshbaum, Peter Wispelwey, and Anner Bylsma. Mr. Seo has performed Chamber, Orchestral and Solo music in many well known Halls around the world. Some of these Halls are: Keiter Hall (WHS), Boswell Hall(WHS), Jordan Hall(NEC), Williams Hall(NEC), Brown Hall(NEC), Boston Symphony Hall, Lincoln Center, and San Paulo Concert Hall(Brazil). In the summer of 2009, Mr. Seo toured several European countries such as Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria. He gave concerts alongside the Cappella Choir of Seoul Theological University.

Andy Strietelmeier is currently a doctoral student in Music And Human Learning at the University of Texas at Austin as well as a freelance violinist and studio teacher in Austin, Texas. Andy served as the Assistant Director of The University of Texas String Project, from 2007 to 2009.

After beginning the study of violin at age five under Betty Gehring, Andy continued training with June DeForest at Valparaiso University, where he completed a bachelor's degree in music education and was a 2001 winner of the Valparaiso Concerto Competition. He holds a master's degree in violin performance from the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied with Vincent Frittelli. Additional teachers include David Neely, Tatiana Verobieva at Meadowmount, and William Terwilliger at the Brevard Music Center, where Andrew was a scholarship student in the Advanced Chamber Music Program. Andrew's chamber music coaches have included Dennis Friesen-Carper, Daniel Morgenstern, Brian Lewis, and Wayman Chin, as well as members of the Diaz Trio, the Miro String Quartet, and Innuendo. Andy is a member of The Suzuki Association of the Americas, the Texas Music Educators Association, and The American String Teachers Association and has been a presenter at two of ASTA's national conferences. He maintains a private studio in Austin and performs frequently in Austin and central Texas in chamber music and new music recitals. Additionally he is the violinist of the folk fusion band Infinite Partials and appears on the group's recent CD, End of Begin.

Robert Volentine comes from Round Rock.

Yi-Hui Wu is from Tainan City, Taiwan, started her cello studies at the age of nine, and received a Masters in Music from the University of Texas at Austin. Yi-Hui has played in numerous professional and student ensembles. Ms. Wu has appeared in several masterclasses with Aldo Parisot, Leon Fleischer, Eugene Osadchy, Marion Feldman, Rhonda Rider, Boris Andrianov, and Nina Kotova. She is the recipient of the Helen Margaret Flinn Memorial Scholarship and the Effie Potts Sibley Endowed Scholarship. Currently, Yi-Hui is a doctoral music student at the University of Texas at Austin studying under Bion Tsang, and is a third year faculty member in the UT String Project. Several of her students have been selected for all-region orchestras. She is also the principal cellist of the Round Rock Symphony. Yi-Hui is also adept at playing the piano, teaches at a local Chinese school on the weekends and in her spare time enjoys playing with her orange tabby, Jasper.

Originally from St. Louis, MO, Aurora Zenfell began playing the violin in her school program in 3rd grade, switching to viola in 4th grade. Her wide musical interests expanded in high school by playing percussion in the marching and concert bands, viola in the orchestra, flute in the pep band, and singing in the chorus, in addition to performing on viola and percussion in numerous ensembles in the St. Louis area. While earning a Bachelor of Music Education degree from The Florida State University, Ms. Zenfell performed as a percussionist with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra and played viola and percussion in several university ensembles, as well as tenor and bass viola da gamba in early music ensembles, tenor pan in the steel band, a multitude of instruments in the African drumming ensemble, and trumpet in the Campus Band. Following an internship in band and orchestra, Ms. Zenfell taught middle school orchestra and elementary strings in Orlando, FL. She continued her professional playing in Central Florida as a violist and percussionist with the Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra. Currently Ms. Zenfell is pursuing a masters degree in Music and Human Learning with emphasis on strings, and performs on viola with the UT Middle Eastern Ensemble, Bereket.