Community Music School - faculty page 3

Teachers (page 3 of 5)

Strings


James D. Craig (Piano, Guitar, Double Bass)	(See bio under Piano)

Linda L. Kistler (Violin)
	Linda Louise Kistler, violin, maintains a busy concert schedule playing both modern and Baroque violin. She has appeared as soloist and concertmaster with the Bethlehem Bach Festival Orchestra, the Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra, both of which she is currently a member, and with the former LVCO. In addition, she serves as concertmaster of the Savoy Opera Company of Philadelphia, and plays with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, and Vox Amadeus Ensemble of Philadelphia, which performs many of their concerts on period instruments. Ms. Kistler has performed recent solo recitals at Moravian College and at the Bethlehem PA Musikfest. Her chamber music engagements have included the Moravian String Quartet, and guest artist appearances with the Gabriel Ensemble of Schuylkill Company, PA and, on Baroque violin, with Melomanie of Wilmington, DE. As an educator, Ms. Kistler has served on the faculty of Lehigh University, Cedar Crest College, Kutztown University, and the Lehigh Valley Charter School for the Performing Arts. Currently, she is a member of Community Music School's faculty, is an artist-lecturer at Moravian College, and maintains a private studio. Ms. Kistler was trained at the Oberlin College Conservatory (Bachelor of Music), and at the Juilliard School (Master of Music), where her principal teachers were Andor Toth and Ivan Galamian. She has studied Baroque repertoire with Nancy Wilson, Princeton, New Jersey, and Stanley Ritchie.

Robert Kuntz (violin, viola)
	Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance, Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland, Ohio. Teachers: Ann Rylands, Stephen Majeske, Ron Gorevic. Robert is a frequent performer in the Lehigh Valley. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Sinfonia and Reading Symphony Orchestra and has also performed with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra and the former Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra. In addition, he often can be found in the pit for musical productions with the theatre departments of Muhlenberg College and DeSales University.

Dr. Richard Metzger (Guitar)
	Dr. Metzger received his Ph.D. in Musicology from Rutgers, State University of New Jersey; M.A. in Musicology, from Marywood College; B.F.A. in String Performance, Pennsylvania State University. Private studies include work with William Matthews, Alice, Artzt, and Michael Newman. Dr. Metzger’s professional activities include teaching positions with (current) Lehigh Carbon Community College; (current) New York University; (current) Rutgers University; (current) Richard’s performance activity has included classical guitar, lute, and jazz guitar performances in venues throughout the northeastern United States including museums, libraries, art galleries, arts festivals, and university recital halls including Johns Hopkins University, Pennsylvania State University, Lehigh University, and Rutgers University as well as performances on concert programs produced by National Public Radio affiliate WVIA, ABC, and CBS television network affiliate stations. Dr. Metzger has authored several books; recorded The Willoughby Lute Book; and composed, conducted, and performed the music for “The Once and Future City” a PBS documentary film aired throughout the eastern United States. CMS warmly welcomes Dr. Richard Metzger to the faculty of Community Music School effective January 2006.

David Moulton (Cello)
	David Moulton received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in performance from the University of Michigan where he was a student of Jerome Jelinek and Samuel Mayes. He studied chamber music with Eugene Bossart. David spent three seasons as a Fellowship holder at the Aspen Music Festival serving as Principal Cellist of the Aspen Chamber Symphony while continuing his studies with Robert Gardner and Yehuda Hanani. David’s orchestral career has included serving as Associate Principal Cellist in the Toledo Symphony and Symphony Nova Scotia, and Principal Cellist with the Honolulu Symphony, where he performed both orchestral and chamber music concerts on all the Hawaiian Islands. Summer festival performances have included the Colorado Music Festival in Boulder, and the Spoleto Festival in Italy. Currently, Mr. Moulton is a member of the Opera Company of Philadelphia Orchestra and is Principal Cellist for the Allentown Symphony Orchestra. He performs regularly with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic. Chamber music work includes frequent performances with the Lukens Piano Trio; the Moravian String Quartet, and the mixed strings and winds ensemble, SATORI. David is an Artist-Lecturer at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Stefan Xhori (violin)
	Stefan was born and raised in Albania. There he completed his training in the Professional High School of Music; earned a Diploma in Violin Performance and Violin Technique at the National Conservatory of Music. Stefan served as violin instructor and concertmaster for the Gjirokaster Symphony Orchestra. Currently, Mr. Xhori is teaching violin at the Delaware Music School and at Community Music School Lehigh Valley, while performing with regional symphony ensembles including Reading, Pottstown, and Kennett orchestras. Stefan is the assistant concertmaster for the Allentown Symphony Orchestra.

Sumer Bleu Ketron (violin, viola)
	Master of Music Performance and Bachelor of Music, University South Florida, Tampa, Florida. Ms. Sumer studied with Dr. Carolyn Stuart specializing in violin performance. While at the University, Sumer performed with the University Symphony Orchestra conducted by Dr. William Weidrich. Music Festivals and Teaching Programs have included attending Master Classes with: Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, Rhonda Rider, Chin Kim, Katie Lansdale, Janice Martin, John Gilbert, Stephen Clapp, more. Suzuki Workshops with Ronda Cole and Martha Shackford; Starling-Delay Symposium at Juilliard and the Killington Summer Music Festival. Previous teaching positions have included conducting sectionals, and chamber coaching for the Patel Conservatory Youth Orchestra and private and group lessons, The Patel Conservatory, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

Raymond J. Taylor (violin & piano)
	Education: Masters degree-Ester Boyer College of Music-Temple University, Violin Performance. Principal teacher: Helen Kwalwasser. Artist Diploma-Violin Performance-Toronto University. Principal teacher: Albert Pratz. Violin studies at The Meadowmount Music School with Dorothy DeLay and Ivan Galamian. Chamber music with Josef Gingold. Graduate studies in Violin Performance at Northwestern University. Principal teachers: Angel Reyes and Steven Staryk. Graduate studies at Northern Illinois University. Principal violin teacher: Schmuel Ashkenazy. Suzuki Method teacher training at The School for Strings, Louise Behrend-New York City. Scholarships and Awards: Royal College of Music, London, England (violin, piano & orchestra). Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (violin, piano & orchestra). Principal teacher, Albert Pratz. Chamber music with Laszlo Varga. Winner of "String Congress Award" sponsored by A.F of M for advanced studies of violin and orchestral repertoire at the Inter-American University in St. Germain, Puerto Rico. Roy Harris, Director. Studies with Louis Krasner. More. Performing Experience: Concert-master and soloist with The Royal Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, Toronto. Music Director, Boyd Neal. Soloist with the Toronto Symphony and CBC Symphony Orchestras. Recitals on tour for The Community Concert’s Association. Radio and TV recitals for Canadian Broadcast Company (CBC). Member of The Music Center of The North Shore Symphony Orchestra directed by Herbert Zipper. Winnetka, Illinois. Free lance violinist: The Chicago Chamber Orchestra; Chicago String Quartet; Chicago Sinfonia; Chicago Lyric Opera: The Waukeshaw Symphony Orchestra, Wisconsin. Plus, commercial work: "Caberet" at The Schubert Theatre, The TV Emmy Awards Orchestra on CBS with Dick Cavett, MC, The Tony Bennet Show at The Palmer House with Ben Arden’s orchestra; a member of The Latin Casino Orchestra in Cherry Hill, New Jersey working with such famous entertainers as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Orlando, Lou Rawls, Paul Anka, Natalie Cole. Ray has also worked with The Sante Fe Opera Orchestra; The Reading Symphony Orchestra; The Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra, and much more. Teaching Experience: Head of the String Department at The Music Center of the North Shore, Wennetka, Illinois; Teaching associate, full-time, Northwestern University – School of Music Department of Preparatory Strings. Both were Suzuki Method and traditional violin. Much more. Professional Review: "Raymond Taylor once again led the strings with the kind of style that looks effortless and rarely is." Welcomat – Tom Purdom. CMS is pleased to once again welcome Raymond Taylor to the faculty.

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Community Music School · 23 North Sixth Street · 2nd Floor · Allentown, PA · 18101
610-435-7725