Middle School

A Bay Area native, Nicola Gruen performed for several years as a violinist in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and freelanced with the Halle Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony and English National Ballet. She is recorded on numerous film soundtracks, including "Moulin Rouge," and she played regularly in the award winning musical "Martin Guerre." An alumna of The Crowden School, Nicola's mentors have been Anne Crowden, Colin Hampton, Virginia Baker and Emanuel Hurwitz.

My goals as a teacher are twofold: to instill and support a love of making music in each student, and to successfully teach every student while honoring each individual's learning style. My many years as a journeyman singer, a piano player, a choir director and as a parent uniquely qualify me to teach. I teach beginning pianists of any age over 5 years, and singers at any level from the age of 10. My teaching style is warm and unintimidating but my standards are high and I am very serious about what I do.

I have played in professional orchestras and jazz combos for the last fifteen years. For the past six years I have been living in Germany, playing in the Bass section of the Deutsche Oper Berlin (German State Opera.) Since my return to the Bay Area I have been performing with Opera San Jose, the Modesto, Berkeley, and Pacific Symphonies, the Stockton Chorale, as well as the Sacramento Philharmonic and San Jose Chamber Orchestra, among others. I am enthusiastic about working with students of all levels and ages. The initial lesson is free to see if the chemistry is right.

Joseph Lewis began his double bass studies at the age of nine, and holds bachelor of music and master of music with academic honors degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied double bass with Donald Palma and Lawrence Wolfe, and chamber music with Eugene Lehner and John Heiss. Mr. Lewis has had additional training with Stephen Tramontozzi, Cindy Browne, and Curtis Burris. Mr. Lewis has performed across North America and Europe, and has won several competitions in concerto performance, jazz performance, and composition. Mr.

I enjoy working with students of all levels and aspirations. My students range from beginners of all ages, to successful amateurs playing in local orchestras and chamber groups, to full-fledged professionals. Many of my students have gone on to major conservatories and now enjoy artistic lives in major orchestras, ensembles, or as soloists.

http://www.allegrofuoco.com
 

http://www.percussionplayer.com

I love teaching enthusiastic students of all ages! Many of my students have won prestigious awards and competitions and have been principal cellists in youth orchestras. All gain a thorough appreciation of cello. I have an adult cello ensemble - part chamber music, part "cello therapy" - and a summer workshop for intermediate to advanced level youth. For ten years I was a member of Santa Rosa Symphony, Sacramento Symphony, Women's Philharmonic, and Modesto Symphony, and I have performed with many local orchestras and chamber ensembles.