Kathleen Bowman, Saratoga Springs NY
instrument(s): Cello
Style: Classical
Teaches Suzuki Method
Student type: beginners, intermediate, advanced, children
Contact email: BowmanCello@gmail.com
Website: www.BowmanCello.com
Contact phone: 518-728-5412

About
Kathleen Bowman is a professional cellist and teacher, passionate about the joy of music making, and helping students develop their musical potential. A life-long learner, Kathleen completeed a Master's degree in cello performance from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her deep interest in teaching has led her to pursue Suzuki cello pedagogy training, and in 2012, she completed all Suzuki teacher training courses related to cello. She was awarded a prestigious Pedagogy Fellowship with the Heifetz International Music Institute in 2010. Desiring to serve the needs of young cellists, Ms. Bowman initiated a Suzuki Cello program with the Tennessee Cello Workshop in 2009, creating a multi-dimensional learning experience for students. Mrs. Bowman teaches through discovery learning, and her ability to establish rapport and engage students has initiated the opportunity for her to appear as a guest artist and clinician for the Levine Mu sic School in Washington, D.C., the Birmingham Young Artists' Program, the East Tennessee String Workshop, and the annual Tennessee Cello Workshop. She attended the Bowdoin, Maine, and Hot Springs, Arkansas music festivals, and played with the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra until 2012. Kathleen enjoys communicating with her cello through creative musical projects, performing solo recitals and chamber music.

Kathleen is a member of the American String Teachers' Association and the Suzuki Association of the Americas, and has been teaching children the cello for ten years. She recently relocated with her husband Matt to Saratoga Springs, NY, where she is eager to share her love of the cello and passion for excellence with students of upstate New York.

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Travis Carpenter, Yorktown Heights NY
Instrument(s): Violin, Viola, Cello
Style: Classical, Fiddle
Student type: beginners, intermediate, advanced, children, adults
Contact email: travisjcarpenter@gmail.com
Contact phone: (315) 212-4281

Professional Credentials

• Bachelor's of Music in Music Education from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam
• Taught elementary and middle school orchestra in the Whitesboro, NY school district from 2007-2012
• Has performed with the Utica Symphony, Catskill Symphony, Burlington Civic Symphony, and ME/2 orchestra

Teacher Comments:
I teach at the Cortlandt School of Performing Arts, which has locations in Croton and Mohegan Lake, and also the Northern Westchester Music School in Yorktown Heights. I teach students of all ages and am growing a fantastic studio in the Hudson Valley!​

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Samantha Fusco, Kingston NY
Instrument(s): Violin, Viola
Style: Classical, Fiddle, Other
Student type: beginners, intermediate, advanced, children
Contact email: samiam8989@aol.com
Contact phone: 845-901-9855

Professional Credentials
Samantha Fusco is an active singer, musician, and teacher throughout the Hudson Valley. She specializes in singing lyric coloratura arias, but she has also been playing the violin since she was eight years old, and is a very fine violinist. Samantha holds a B.S. in Classical Voice Performance from SUNY New Paltz. Throughout her time in college, she sang in numerous voice recitals and was a soloist with many college choirs. She also performed the role of "Mrs. Gobineau" and covered the role of "Monica" in Gian Carlo Menotti's The Medium. Throughout college, she also founded the Opera Club at SUNY New Paltz, continued to play violin with five local orchestras, and played chamber music with the River Ensemble.

Samantha is very passionate about teaching music. She finds great joy in contributing to the continuation of music education, and takes pride in her students' successes and musical enjoyment. She has taught voice and violin at Jacob's Music Center in Highland NY, New Windsor Music Academy, and privately. She is currently a faculty member at Dutchess Community College Music School.

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Akiko Kamigawara, Rhinebeck NY
Instrument(s): Violin
Style: Classical
Student type: beginners, intermediate, advanced, children
Contact email: akiko.kamigawara@gmail.com
Website: http://www.akikokamigawara.com
Contact phone: 845-901-5741

Professional Credentials
-Started playing the violin at the age of three
-Toho Gakuen School of Music for Children
-Toho Music High School
-Royal Conservatory of Brussels

Laureate of All Japan Student Competition, Andrea Postachini International Competition and other.
Based in United States since 2014, has performed as soloist, chamber music player and Orchestra player through out upstate NY.

Teacher Comments:
Hello!  My name is Akiko - I am international performing soloist, and have been studying the violin since I was 3 years old. I've trained with notable teachers in Japan, Switzerland, and throughout Europe, and have competed in many international competitions.
You can learn a bit more about me from this article in the Woodstock Times: http://www.woodstockx.com/2014/10/05/bach-on-the-streets/
I have been teaching violin for many years, and would love to work with you or your child on improving your skills on the violin. I enjoy working with young children as well as adults, and I am comfortable teaching at all skill levels. Recreational players who enjoy the violin in their spare time as well as aspiring professionals can benefit from my instruction.

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Nicole Moody, Wappingers Falls NY
Instrument(s): Violin, Cello
Style: Classical, Fiddle
Student type: beginners, intermediate, advanced, children, adults
Contact email: Nicole.Moody46r@Gmail.com
Website: http://nicolemoodycellist.weebly.com/
Contact phone: 518-345-3809

Professional Credentials:
Nicole Moody holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Drake University.  She has participated in prestigious masterclasses under the guidance of artists such as Clive Greensmith from the Tokyo String Quartet and soloist Amit Peled, among others.  She has studied under Dr. Angelo LaMariana, Dr. Ann Alton and Dr. Ashley Sidon.  Nicole has experience performing in Italy, states throughout the Midwest, and in NY. She is a recipient of a German cello from the Carlsen Cello Foundation and a first place prizewinner of the James and Katherine Andrews Young Artist Competition.  Nicole is following her passion for music through teaching and performing in NY.

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Jean Vilkelis, Poughkeepsie and Red Hook NY
Instrument(s): Cello, Violin
Style: Classical
Student type: beginners, intermediate, advanced, children, adults
Contact email: jevcello@aol.com 
Contact phone: (845) 453-0400

Teacher Comments:
Jean has been teaching cello since 2005 and violin since 2010.
As a member of the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra and occasionally plays with Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra, she is involved in the Hudson Valley string community. She is alumna of The Stringendo Orchestra School and former counsellor at Summer Strings Stringendo.

​Her love of cello and the communicative power of music is the basis for all her teaching.

Jean is active in preparing her students for all levels of NYSSMA, and her work with Stamell Stringed Instruments informs her assisting students with instrument selection and maintenance. Many of Jean’s former students are pursuing musical careers at various colleges and beyond.

Jean currently teaches at Dutchess Community College and her private studios in Poughkeepsie and Red Hook, NY.