Find a Teacher

Ilia is an experienced and professional violinist with a diverse background in performing as an orchestra musician and a wide variety of teaching and training children as well as adults. His credentials include a master's degree in violin performance from Boston University School for the Arts, a Performance Diploma from Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio, a degree from Moscow State Conservatory in Moscow, Russia, and an Orchestra Performance and Violin Teaching Diploma from Moscow State. He has been an active teacher since 1998 and is currently part of the active core Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

Isa Beard is a violin and piano instructor. He lives in Sevierville with his wife and four kids. His primary instrument is violin. He started playing violin at the age of four, when his grandmother bought him his first violin. Since then, Isa has continued his love for music. Isa immersed himself in music at a young age and was classically trained at Cadek Conservatory at UTC growing up. He was apart of the middle and high school orchestra of Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences where he won several orchestral competitions as concert master. He participated in Chattanooga Youth Symphony Orchestra from 7th -12th grade. Isa minored in violin performance at the University of Tennessee under Dr. Miroslav Hristov. He was apart UTSO for several years while attending UTK. 

Now, Isa serves as associate pastor/ youth pastor at The Pursuit Church. He plays his violin on the worship team and from time to time, he'll play with other worship bands and small gigs. In his spare time, he likes to study, practice, rock climb and relax. He continues his love for music by teaching violin and music theory. Realizing, there was a need for violin teachers, Isa has opened his own studio where he hopes to teach others his love for violin and piano.

‍

Cynthia Mueller received her B.M. in Music Education from Ohio University, where her principal instrument was double-bass, and her minors were viola and composition. She also has an M.M. in Strings Pedagogy from The University of Michigan, where her principal instrument was again double-bass, and she minored in cello. She is retired from the San Antonio (TX) I.S.D., where she taught middle school and high school orchestra. Also, she was previously on the faculties of UVA Wise, Milligan U., and ETSU. She currently teaches viola, cello, and bass privately at her home in Kingsport. She is principal bass in the Johnson City Symphony, and has also performed in the Symphony of the Mountains, the San Antonio Symphony, The Texas Bach Choir Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, Corpus Christi Symphony, and many other groups. Her other interests include Bible study, hiking, and spending time with her husband, Larry, and their Great Pyrenees mix, Chief.

Karine Stone works passionately to share music in hercommunity through innovative performances and unique teaching approaches. Shebegan her violin study at the age of two with Joan Reuning and many earlyteachers of the Suzuki Method, including Shinichi Suzuki. Throughout herpre-professional and college studies (Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from theEastman School of Music), she was privileged to study with Nel Gotkovsky,Charles Castleman, Illya Kahler, Glen Dicterow and Lisa Kim.

Karine’s performance career spans work on three continents,including professional positions in the Syracuse Symphony, the RochesterPhilharmonic, the Heidelberg Schlossfestspiele Orchester, the Santo DomingoMusic Festival Orchestra, the Todi Opera Orchestra and Greater Buffalo Opera.She performed frequently at the Skeneateles Chamber Music Festival, theScranton Bach Festival and Bravo Colorado.

Throughout thirty-plus years of teaching, Karine brought herskills, knowledge and experience - adapting to the needs of each student.Karine served as the Music Director of the Eastman Youth Chamber Soloists,Principal Guest Conductor of the Finger Lakes Symphony, Music Director of theNew Horizons String and Symphonic Orchestras and a conducting fellow of theBaltimore Chamber Orchestra.

Please visit Music Lessons At Hillside on Facebook for moreinformation.

‍

Reanna Myers Franklin has been active as a violinist/vocalist and Suzuki teacher for more than 20 years. She completed Suzuki training with Linda and Roger Stieg in OH. Reanna has a B.M. in Music Education from Maryville College, Masters Degree in Instructional Leadership from Bryan College and Educational Specialist Degree from Lincoln Memorial University. Reanna enjoys directing ensembles, teaching in Sevier County and participating in UT School of Music Violin Symposium and Suzuki Workshop. For the past 20 years, she has been the Artistic Director and chief violin teacher at Blue Sapphire Violin Studio in Knoxville with students performing in Knoxville Junior Symphony.

‍

Rachael Szewc earned an M.M. inViola Performance from Southern Illinois University and a B.M. in MusicEducation and Violin Performance from the University of Maine. She is an activeeducator and has taught privately, coached chamber groups and directed multipleyouth orchestras. Rachael is also passionate about collaborating withother musicians through orchestra and chamber music. She seeks tocultivate a lifelong enjoyment of music in students of all ages and levels.

‍

Ruth Bacon Edewards has played the violin for as long as she can remember. Growing up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as a student of Suzuki teacher trainer Susan Kempter, she remembers well the joys and struggles of the Suzuki journey. Ruth fell in love with performing in middle school, hearing the Mendelssohn Octet performed by older kids, and she knew that she wanted to be able to play like that. She earned her Bachelor’s of Music at the University of New Mexico, where she also completed her Suzuki long term training under the direction of her first violin teacher, Susan Kempter. She went on to pursue a Master’s degree in Violin Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying with members of the Cleveland Orchestra. Starting in undergrad, Ruth has played with orchestras across the country, from the New Mexico Symphony to the Richmond Symphony, and she toured internationally with Star Wars in Concert in 2009 and 2010.

Sarah began teaching Suzuki violin lessons in 1999 at the University of TN Chattanooga’s Cadek Conservatory. While there, she received teacher training through book 6 at Suzuki Institutes, taught monthly group classes, directed a Summer Suzuki Violin Camp, and grew her studio to 45 students. She went on to earn a Master’s degree in Violin Performance with an emphasis in Suzuki Pedagogy from the Hartt School in Hartford, CT, studying with Katie Lansdale and Teri Einfeldt. Throughout her time in graduate school she maintained a private teaching studio, and after graduating, taught for the Hartt School Community Division for two years.

Before moving to Knoxville, in addition to maintaining a private studio, Sarah taught on the college level, running performance classes, coaching chamber music groups, and teaching the violin studio at Covenant College, Lookout Mtn. GA, for four years. During the same time she also taught music theory and string techniques classes at Lee University in Cleveland, TN.

She has served as a guest clinician at the Girls Preparatory School Summer String Camp, the Residential Summer Strings Camp in Tasmania, Australia, and the Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra String Camp.

‍

Stephanie graduated Judson University with a music performance degree concentrating in violin. She has since played in various settings and has been teaching since her sophomore year in high school. She is bilingual, speaking both English as well as Spanish and teaches many other instruments; she is passionate about stringed instruments and teaching at any level to anyone wanting to learn.

Knoxville, Tennessee-based violinist Evie Andrus has played the violin for most of her life, in fact she and her brother Wild Hands bassist Joe Andrus grew up playing in the family bluegrass band. She has earned the title of being one of the most popular fiddle player in town and has her hand in many bluegrass outreach organizations.

Lin is from Taipei, Taiwan. She began studying piano and violin at age 5. She acquired a Bachelor of Music in 2009 and Master of Music in 2012 from National Taiwan Normal University where she studied with Nanette Chin-Horng Chen. After graduation, she moved to the United States to study with Alexander Kerr at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and received her Performers Diploma in 2013. She has studied with a variety of people across the United States and is a member of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra.

Ms. Collins is a graduate of Arizona State University where she received her Bacehlors in Violin Performance and Masters in Performance and Pedagogy while studying under Danwen Jiang. While at ASU, she was a lead teacher for both private lessons and group classes in the String Project, a program to further music education through the Phoenix area, and was the graduate teaching assistant for violin during her Masters. She has performed in halls across the United States and Europe, including Carnegie Hall, and has been a substitute violinist for the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra since 2019. As a teacher, Ms. Collins has experience teaching all ages, levels, and diverse goals. Her students have participated in youth orchestras, competitions, and college auditions with much success and all have an appreciation and love of music.

Susan studied viola performance at Temple University in Philadelphia, and while she loves playing orchestral music and performing, she considers her first vocational love to be teaching children. Susan plays in the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra and teaches violin as well as viola.

​After playing for the Seoul Philharmonic and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, she came to the U.S. to continue her study at Ohio University as a graduate assistant, where she was principal violist with the University’s Symphony Orchestra. She attended the Bayview Music Festival in Michigan on a full scholarship and later also participated in the Spoleto Festival in Italy. After earning her Master’s Degree at Ohio, she played with the Omaha Symphony, Lincoln Symphony, Nebraska Chamber Orchestra, Pensacola Symphony, and finally joined the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra in 1985, where she has held the position of assistant principal violist since 1986. As of August 2015, she graduated from Music for Healing and Transition Program (MHTP).

She is passionate about serving as a Certified Music Practitioner (CMP) and sharing the benefits of therapeutic music with newborn infants as well as patients in hospitals, and nursing homes.

​Having grown up as a Suzuki student playing the violin, Helen developed a love for violin and teaching at an early age. After graduating Smith College in Northhampton, MA, she was accepted into the New England Conservatory where she was immediately asked to be concertmaster. She eventually transferred to the University of Tennessee where she changed the focus of her masters degree to Suzuki Pedagogy. She is concertmaster of the Johnson City Symphony and has a wide range of students. Having had three children who have also completed Suzuki, she has been student, teacher, as well as parent in the triangle of the Suzuki method.

Cody Bauer has played with a variety of bands over the years, and in addition to playing at the Grand Ole Opry with Ralph Stanley (his last Opry show), Cody has garnered first place in multiple band contests including the Rocky Grass (2024), Neo-Traditional Band Contest at Clifftop (2024), and SPBGMA International Bluegrass Band Contest (2016). He has toured internationally, and garnered a number of individual ribbon wins at various fiddle contests in both bluegrass and old time fiddle. He studied under acclaimed fiddler Hunter Berry and has taught at Trinity Arts Center in Johnson City, TN, online, and from his home in Knoxville, TN. Cody holds a B.S. in Education and a M.A. in Religion. With 18 years playing fiddle and 10 years teaching, he has the experience to help a beginner gain basic skills or an advanced student analyze bowing patterns, moving double stops, building authentic solos, etc. From the student who is picking up the fiddle for the first time to the fiddler who’s been playing their whole life.

‍

Ms. Pulgar is a member of the first violin section of the Knoxville Symphony. Prior to moving to Tennessee, she played with several professional orchestras including Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Ballet Orchestra, Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra and Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. She has also played on a regular basis with Greater Lansing, Saginaw, Altoona and Youngstown Symphony Orchestras.

Since 2009, Mr. Pulgar has been Principal Second Violin of the Knoxville Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, and a member of the Knoxville Symphony’s Principal String Quartet. He has a long list of qualifications and is also a moving force as instructor at Carson Newman College.

ClaireSchneider loves the cello and wants to share and show its beauty to others. Sheis currently training under Alicia Randisi-Hooker in Knoxville. She has alsoattended the Virginia Suzuki Institute two times and has taken a Suzuki teachertraining course instructed by Dr. Beth Cantrell during both of her times there.Claire has also played in the Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra for two years.She is a Suzuki teacher willing to teach those who want to play and make music.

‍

Sarah Miller Senn has been a core cellist in the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra since 2021. Educated at the Manhattan School of Music and the Cleveland Institute of Music, Sarah has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Cello Performance, and complete Suzuki Pedagogy certification. Sarah won the first prize of the Tennessee Cello Workshop’s collegiate competition in 2017,and was the prizewinner of the 2019 “Getting to Carnegie” competition. Sarah is the co-founder of Knox Music Box, a chamber music society nonprofit in Knoxville. 

‍

Stacy Nickell has been playing with the KSO core since 2001 , and performs regularly with the KSO's Music and Wellness String Quartet. 

She has been teaching cello and strings for over 35 years, both in a private studio and in classrooms. She has received recognition for teaching by Governor Lee in 2021, and also has a Music Practitioner certification for musical service in the hospitals (patient care). Her education and experience includes her Teaching Certification (UT), Masters of Music (Ohio University)and Bachelor of Music (Trinity University San Antonio).

Prior to moving to Knoxville, she was assistant principal cello in the West Virginia Symphony and taught strings in the pubic schools at University of Charleston in W.V. for over a decade. Her students have made notable achievements, and she is comfortable helping young musicians to reach their full potential as well as taking on adult students wanting to improve their playing or simply start something new.

‍

Cynthia Mueller received her B.M. in Music Education from Ohio University, where her principal instrument was double-bass, and her minors were viola and composition. She also has an M.M. in Strings Pedagogy from The University of Michigan, where her principal instrument was again double-bass, and she minored in cello. She is retired from the San Antonio (TX) I.S.D., where she taught middle school and high school orchestra. Also, she was previously on the faculties of UVA Wise, Milligan U., and ETSU. She currently teaches viola, cello, and bass privately at her home in Kingsport. She is principal bass in the Johnson City Symphony, and has also performed in the Symphony of the Mountains, the San Antonio Symphony, The Texas Bach Choir Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, Corpus Christi Symphony, and many other groups. Her other interests include Bible study, hiking, and spending time with her husband, Larry, and their Great Pyrenees mix, Chief.

Audrey Altonen is a musician and educator based in Johnson City, TN. She has worked with a wide range of cellists, teaching at her home studio as well as Blair Academy for the Arts. Audrey has been a section cellist in the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra for over fifteen years. In addition to performing masterworks, educational, and pops cycles each season, she is frequently involved with fundraising and public outreach events for the JCSO. Audrey has served as a faculty collaborator, arranger, and performer for East Tennessee Cello Day(s) since its inception in 2011. This now multi-day event, brings together dozens of cellists of varying backgrounds/ ages/ skill levels for technique classes, ensemble experience, master classes, and a grand finale concert. In recent years, numerous students of hers have been recognized at the state, regional, and national level in performance based assessments such as RCM and NFMC. Many of these same students have been section and principal cellists in their school orchestras, participated in All East/Al lState Orchestra, and earned admission to regional chamber music festivals.

Kristiana McCombs Arnwine is an East Knoxville based pianist, cellist, and vocalist. She offers private music lessons out of her home studio and performs for a wide range of events in genres including classical, sacred, folk, and bluegrass. An experienced and enthusiastic musician, Kristiana brings creativity and care to each lesson and performance. She has won numerous musical awards and scholarships and has served as principal cellist for a number of orchestras and ensembles. Her studio has been home to young children and adults alike, and she is inspired by Suzuki, Orff, and Kodaly methodologies in her teaching. Kristiana grew up in Illinois and enjoyed private musical training, orchestra ,and choir opportunities there, but moved south in 2013 to receive her Bachelor's of Music Education and Bachelor's of Cello Performance at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. She fell in love with the beautiful scenery and culture of Tennessee, and after a few years of teaching in Toronto, she is now thrilled to be back, performing and teaching music lessons in East Knoxville. 

‍

Alicia Randisi-Hooker has been active as a cellist and Suzuki teacher for more than 30 years. She completed long term Suzuki training with Annette Costanzi (UK), and has taken many additional units of teacher training including ECC, ECM, Practicum and Group Class Techniques. She served as ensembles coordinator at the 2004 SAA conference in Minneapolis and as president of the Greater Knoxville Suzuki String Association, now the Knoxville Area Suzuki Cooperative. Alicia enjoys teaching at SAA Institutes,workshops and summer programs around the US, and is a faculty member at the annual Tennessee Cello Workshop. For ten years, she was Artistic Director and chief cello teacher at the Academy of Children’s Music in suburban Philadelphia, maintaining private studios in Pennsylvania and Texas prior to moving to Tennessee, where she presently directs Cello LEAP Studio. She engages in community outreach through concerts, recitals, workshops, and as an adjunct professor at Maryville College.

Cellist Livingston Cheney is an instructor at Knoxville Suzuki Academy, of cello and bass classes. He performs throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Poland as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral musician. Livi has performed as a guest artist at the National Cello Institute in California, the Intermountain Suzuki String Institute, the Chicago Suzuki Institute, the National Arts Centre of Canada, the Gore Bay Museum, the Ottawa Pops Orchestra, the Festival Los Cedros in Mexico City, and the Sinfonietta Polonia in Poland.

Born to two Suzuki cello teachers, Carey and Elliott Cheney, Livi grew up a Suzuki student, beginning to play cello at the age of 3. He received his Suzuki teacher training in all 10 volumes by the age of 20, the youngest cellist ever to do so. Livi has completed Suzuki training with the renowned teachers David Evenchick, Jean Dexter, Pamela Devenport, Carey Cheney, and Avi Friedlander. Livi is continuously repeating teacher training to get the insights of other teachers as well. An excellent Suzuki instructor, Livi teaches both cello and bass classes at the Knoxville Suzuki Academy.

‍

Clara Cowan is a cello instructor for the Knoxville Suzuki Academy. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Tennessee in 2019 with a degree in cello performance and was given the title as the outstanding graduate in Strings. She was also chosen as the student performer for the Arts and Sciences graduation for which she played her own composition, a meditation on the Tennessee Waltz. She has had Suzuki teacher training with Avi Friedlander and Carey Cheney. Clara has been honored with the JoshuaHenry Bow Prize at the Tennessee Cello Workshop Competitions, a fellowship at Fresno Summer Orchestra Academy, and being a member of the honors string quartet at Wintergreen Summer Music Academy. She has had the privilege to lead the Brevard Orchestra cello section as principal cellist, has professionally assisted the University of Tennessee cello section in multiple rehearsals and performances, and has worked as a volunteer cello teacher at the Joy of Music School. While all of these honors have been gratefully and humbly received, Clara’s true musical joy comes from simply sitting down and playing her cello. Whether it be by herself, with friends, at church, or for those in difficult places who truly need music, the joy that a simple tune can bring to the eye of a small child or an elderly person will always supply enough reason to continue teaching this beautiful craft. Clara’s mission is to share the spark of music with her students and anyone willing to learn and to pass the torch of this skill on to future generations of teachers and students.

Cellist Wesley Baldwin is a co-director of the Knoxville Suzuki Academy. Initially taught cello classes in the Suzuki method as a child, Dr. Baldwin has been active teaching his own cello classes for more than three decades. His Suzuki teacher training has been with Melissa Kraut. Wesley holds a BA, cum laude, from Yale College, a Master of Music degree (with honors) from the New England Conservatory, and a DMA in cello performance from the University of Maryland.

A passionate teacher, Wesley has taught at the University of Maryland and Florida International University, where he was artist-in-residence with the Plymouth Quartet. He serves now as the Professor of Cello at the University of Tennessee, where he received the Chancellor’s Award for Professional Promise. His former students play and teach throughout the United States.

Dr. Baldwin founded and directs the Tennessee Cello Workshop, an annual three-day gathering of more than 170 cellists of all ages from throughout the United States held each February. His interest in education has also led him to serve as Conductor of the Knoxville Youth Chamber Orchestra from 2006 to 2018.

‍

Alexia Pantanizopoulos has taught private cello lessons in East Tennessee for over 20 years to both children and adults.
Alexia is a member of several regional orchestras and is the cellist/manager of her weddings and special events ensemble - AP Strings.

Jeanine Wilkinson is an active performer, teacher, and administrator involved in many different musical endeavors throughout East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Since taking up residence in Knoxville in 2005 she performs regularly with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Symphony of the Mountains, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Oak Ridge Symphony, and the Bryan Symphony. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon and a Master’s degree from the University of Tennessee.

​As an advocate and supporter of music education, Jeanine teaches a thriving studio of young cellists. Her students consistently win chairs in the Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestras, East TN Jr. and Sr. Clinics, as well as TNMEA All State Orchestra.

Andy holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Hartt School of Music and has studied post grad at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He has played in many settings and is now the principal cellist of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra which he has held since 1999. Andy  also serves as adjunct faculty to Carson Newman College in Jefferson City. In addition to this, he plays in a gypsy, jazz ensemble known worldwide for its instrumentation and scope.

Stephanie graduated Judson University with a music performance degree concentrating in violin. She has since played in various settings and has been teaching since her sophomore year in high school. She is bilingual, speaking both English as well as Spanish and teaches many other instruments; she is passionate about stringed instruments and teaching at any level to anyone wanting to learn.

Cynthia Mueller received her B.M. in Music Education from Ohio University, where her principal instrument was double-bass, and her minors were viola and composition. She also has an M.M. in Strings Pedagogy from The University of Michigan, where her principal instrument was again double-bass, and she minored in cello. She is retired from the San Antonio (TX) I.S.D., where she taught middle school and high school orchestra. Also, she was previously on the faculties of UVA Wise, Milligan U., and ETSU. She currently teaches viola, cello, and bass privately at her home in Kingsport. She is principal bass in the Johnson City Symphony, and has also performed in the Symphony of the Mountains, the San Antonio Symphony, The Texas Bach Choir Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, Corpus Christi Symphony, and many other groups. Her other interests include Bible study, hiking, and spending time with her husband, Larry, and their Great Pyrenees mix, Chief.

Rusty Holloway is a well respected bass player and teacher willing to teach all styles of bass.