Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Rebecca began her study of piano and violin at the early age of two. She obtained her Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin Conservatory in both piano performance and vocal accompanying and began her Masters degree on a full scholarship in accompanying at the University of Miami. While in Miami, she was on faculty at the New World School of the Arts as staff vocal accompanist/coach. She has been in attendance at the Aspen Music Festival and School, the Bowdoin International Music Festival, and the Oberlin in Italy program in addition to receiving various awards at competitions including the Kingsville International Competition, New York Piano Competition, and the Oberlin International Piano Competition and is currently a member of the Music Teacher's National Association (MTNA) and Massachusetts Music Teacher Association (MMTA). Rebecca is a Yamaha Education Specialist for Yamaha Corporation of America and a national teacher trainer who has been a faculty member at the Yamaha Music School of Boston since 2008 and presently Education Supervisor, participating in Yamaha World Teacher Forums in Tokyo, Japan in 2011 and 2014 and a special project for Yamaha Music Foundation in 2015. In her free time she enjoys experiencing international cultures, music and cuisine while traveling with her husband and three teacup shih tzus, Simba, Nala and Mosi.
Professional Experience
Yamaha Corporate School, Lexington, MA - Education Supervisor, Specialist and Teacher Trainer – September 2008-present
Yamaha Music Foundation Special Project - 2015-16
Yamaha World Teacher Forum, Tokyo, Japan - 2011, 2014
MMTA Judges Coordinator, Bay State Contest - 2011-2013
Sharon School of Music, Sharon, MA – September 2008-June 2009
Staff Vocal Coach/Accompanist, New World School of the Arts, Miami, FL – January 2008-August 2008
Director of Music School, North Miami Beach, FL – February 2008 - June 2008
Piano Instructor, Musika – December 2007-July 2008
Piano Instructor, Avon Lake School of Music, Avon Lake, OH – October 2004-June 2007
Choral Accompanist, Oberlin Choristers, Oberlin, OH – September 2003- May 2006
Training
Piano
B.M. - Oberlin Conservatory of Music – graduated May 2006
Yamaha National Concert, guest performer - October 2010
Oberlin In Italy Opera Training Program – Summer 2005
Bowdoin International Music Festival – Summer 2004
Aspen Music Festival and School – Summer 2000
Piano Academy at Indiana University – 1998, 1999, and 2001 (Peer Counselor 2001)
Member of Several Award-Winning Chamber Music Ensembles
Suzuki Method – 1987 to 2002
Student of Meme Tunnell – 1995 to 2002
Suzuki Summer Institutes at the University of Louisville – 1987 to 1995
Louisville Youth Orchestra – 1998 to 2002
Master Classes and Private Instructors: Robert Shannon, Gabriel Chodos, Robert McDonald,
John Nauman, Frank Weinstock, Constance Keene, Lee Luvisi, Karen Shaw, Amy Dorfman, Read Gainsford, Karen Taylor, Christopher Harding, Ruth Morrow, Lorna Griffit-Beledlian, Doris Bickel, Alice Rybak, Daniel Schene, Richard Cass, Marvin Blickenstaff, Victor Rosenbaum, Jean-Louis Haguenauer, Max Levinson, Peter Takacs, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Monique Duphil, Paul Schenly, Philip Highfill, James Howsmon
Violin
Student of Peter McHugh – 1998 to 2000
Student of John Chisholm – 1995 to 1998
Suzuki Method – 1990 to 1995
Suzuki Summer Institutes at the University of Louisville – 1992 to 1998
Louisville Youth Orchestra – 1992 to 2000
Quartet Rouge and Kamerade Trio – 1995 to 2000
Conductor Assistant with LYO – July 1999
Dance
Norma Hellmueller School of Dance – 1994 to 1997 ballet, pointe, and tap
Awards Received
Recipient of Elizabeth Davies Scholarship, Oberlin Conservatory 9/2005
Recipient of Dean's Award Merit Scholarship, Oberlin Conservatory 2002-2006
Who's Who Among American High School Students (2001-2002) 6/2002
New York Piano Competition – Stecher and Horowitz Foundation 6/2002
Finalist, Whittenberg Scholarship, Fund for the Arts, Louisville, KY 5/2002
Winner, Outstanding Performance of a Twentieth Century Work Scholarship Competition (KMTA) 5/2002
Winner, Senior High Division, KMTA Piano Technician's Guild Scholarship Competition 5/2002
Kingsville International Young Performers Competition – Isabel Scionti Competition 4/2002
Featured Performer, Lunchtime Classics, WUOL Louisville, KY 3/2002
Winner, Senior High Division, MacDowell Music Club Competition 3/2002
Winner, Paducah Symphony Young Artist Concerto Competition 1/2002
Music Merit Award, National ARTS Talent Search 12/2001
Oberlin International Piano Competition, Semi-Finalist 7/2001
Honorable Mention, Senior High Division, MTNA Yamaha Competition for Kentucky 10/2001
Honorable Mention, Senior High Division, KMTA Piano Technician's Guild Scholarship Competition 5/2001
Second Place, Nathaniel Patch Competition, Lexington, KY 4/2001
Winner, Senior High Division, McCauley Chamber Music Competition 3/2001
Winner, Senior High Division, Bluegrass Piano Competition 10/2000
Honorable Mention, Senior High Division, KMTA Piano Technician's Guild Scholarship Competition 5/2000
Soloist, Louisville Youth Orchestra Symphony Division Concerto Competition 3/2000
Winner, Senior High Division, MacDowell Music Club Competition 3/2000
Winner, member of Leanara Trio – McCauley Chamber Music Competition (Sr. High Division) 3/2000
Winner, member of Kamarade Trio – McCauley Chamber Music Competition (Jr. High Division) 3/2000
Alternate Winner, MTNA Yamaha Senior High Piano Competition for Kentucky 10/1999
Finalist, Louisville Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Competition 10/1999
Winner, Louisville Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition 10/1999
Honors Recital, Indiana University Piano Academy 7/1999
Third Place, Corneille Overstreet Competition (Piano) Senior High Division 6/1999
Superior Plus Rating at Kentucky Music Teachers' Association 5/1999
Honorable Mention, Southern Division MTNA Junior High Strings Competition 1/1999
Alternate Winner of State of Kentucky MTNA Junior High Piano Competition 10/1998
Winner of State of Kentucky MTNA Junior High Strings Competition 10/1998
Winner, Outstanding Performance of a Twentieth Century Work (KMTA) 5/1998
Honorable Mention, Piano Technician's Guild Scholarship Competition (KMTA) 5/1998
Winner, Bluegrass Junior High Piano Competition 10/1997
Overall Performance Winner, Corneille Overstreet Competition (Piano) 6/1997
Principal Second Violin, Symphony Level, Louisville Youth Orchestra 1997-98
Concerto Competition Winner (violin), Repertory Division, LYO 1995-96
Concertmistress, Repertory Division, Louisville Youth Orchestra 1994-95
Concerto Competition Merit Award Winner, Repertory Division, LYO 9/1994
Concerto Competition Winner (piano), Concert Division, LYO 4/1994
Concertmistress, Concert Division, LYO 1993-94
Piano Soloist with Chamber Music Quartet at Suzuki Strings Institute 6/1993
Violin Soloist on Honors Recital at Suzuki Summer Strings Institute 1993-95
Piano Soloist with the Suzuki Summer Institute Orchestra 6/1992
Honors Recital at the University of Louisville on Piano and Violin 1990-93
Arts Club of Louisville Corneille Overstreet Competition
Piano – First Place 1993/97
Violin – Honorable Mention 1993/95
Piano – Honorable Mention 1991/95
Piano (High School Division) 6/1999
