Who We Are...
Get to know the people of CMC - Award-winning faculty and instructors
Associated Faculty
CMC’s associated faculty comprises the area’s best professional chamber and orchestral musicians and educators, including members of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, CMC established alumni as well as professors from the Ohio Wesleyan, Ohio University, The Ohio State University School of Music, Denison University and Otterbein College.
Luis Bellorín
Viola - Guest Artist Summer 2022Violist Luis Bellorín comes from a family devoted to the arts in Caracas, Venezuela. His playing has been praised for its warmth of sound and for having an “impossibly sweet tone” by The San Francisco Classical Voice.
Norman Cardwell-Murri
Viola and ViolinNorman started CMC as a volunteer and quickly moved into the onsite manager position. After 8 years as the onsite manager, Norman ``retired``, and has stayed with CMC as an Associate Faculty member. He studied viola at the Ohio State University.
Lane Champa
Violin and ViolaLane Champa is a violinist and violist from Delaware, Ohio. He is an active performer in the New Albany Symphony Orchestra, Opera Project Columbus Chamber Orchestra, McConnell Arts Center Chamber Orchestra and Westerville Symphony Orchestra. Lane is an alum of CMC and was the onsite manager for 5 years.
Janice Cook
Piano and ViolinJanice Cook, Nationally Certified Teacher of Music, is a cum laude graduate of the Ohio State University School of Music. She was named Ohio Music Teacher’s Association’s first “Music Teacher of the Year” and is a past recipient of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra’s Community Music Educator award.
Catherine Cosbey
Violin, Cavani QuartetViolinist Catherine Cosbey, violin, of the Cavani String Quartet, leads an adventurous career as both a vibrant performer and presenter of chamber music. Catherine’s international performing career has taken her throughout the US and abroad.
Jill Wright Crist
CelloJill Wright Crist is cello professor at Otterbein University and Columbus Cello School, LLC, as well as an ensemble coach for Chamber Music Connection. Jill is also a member of the Bryden String Quartet. She received her Master’s in Music from the Ohio State University in 2009, and Bachelor of Music in cello performance in 2002 from the University of Northern Colorado.
Christopher Durrenberger
PianoChristopher Durrenberger, award winning pianist, has earned top prizes at major national and international competitions including the Coleman and Carmel Chamber Music Competitions, the Los Angeles Etude Musical Club Piano Competition, the Young Keyboard Artists Association International Piano Competition. His two children, violinist Isabelle and pianist Leon, are alumni of CMC.
Robert Firdman
ViolinRobert Firdman graduated from the Eastman School of Music with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in performance and literature, and studied with Donald Weilerstein and Charles Castleman. Before joining the Columbus Symphony, he was an associate member of the Rochester Philharmonic under the direction of David Zinman.
Annie Fullard
Violin, Cavani QuartetViolinist Annie Fullard joyfully celebrates a life devoted to the performance of chamber music and to the collaborative bonds with students and colleagues developed in more than 30 years as first violinist of the Cavani String Quartet. A leader in the field of chamber music advocacy and education, Ms. Fullard recognizes the empathy and connectivity of chamber music as a metaphor for the kind of communication that we should strive for between cultures and nations.
Hanna Hurwitz
ViolinPlaying with ``live-wire splendor`` (The New York Times) violinist, Hanna Hurwitz, comes from a family of literary and performing artists. As a musician who equally enjoys performing classics of the repertoire as well as new music of our time, Hanna’s recent activities have included performances with Ensemble Dal Niente, Argento Chamber Ensemble, and Mivos Quartet. Hanna is the Assistant Professor of Music and Coordinator of String Studies at Denison University.
Spencer Ingersoll
ViolaSpencer Ingersoll graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM), where he received his master’s degree under the guidance of Robert Vernon. Mr. Ingersoll was also part of the Intensive String Quartet Seminar at CIM. His quartet, the Onyx String Quartet, won the senior division of the WDAV Young Chamber Musicians Competition at Davidson College in North Carolina.
Sun Min Kim
PianoSouth Korean pianist Dr. Sun Min Kim serves as Coordinator of Keyboard Studies and Assistant Professor of Music at Denison University. He made his début with the Ulsan Symphony Orchestra at age 13, performing Grieg’s Piano Concerto. He has frequently performed solo and chamber music at festivals such as Aspen Music Festival, Banff Center, Brevard Music Center, Piano Texas, Prague International Piano Masterclass, Quartet Program, and École Redaille in Belgium.
Paula Korak
ViolinPaula Korak is a violinist and teacher originally from St. Louis. She grew up in a family of professional musicians and began her violin studies at the age of 3. As a child, she was surrounded by music and spent several years living in Germany as the family pursued their musical studies and careers.
Christine Lee
CelloCellist Christine Lee currently performs and teaches in Columbus, Ohio. The daughter of a musician, Christine was steeped in music from the very beginning of her life. She began her formal musical studies with the piano at the age of 6, but fell in love with the cello several years later, taking lessons from Mary Davis Fetherstone.
Andy Liang
Violin, KASA QuartetAndy Liang is currently in the First Violin Section of the Seattle Symphony. After making his solo debut with the Oregon Symphony at the age of 11, Andy performed in Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center and Jordan Hall by the age of 15.
Douglas Locke
ViolinArtistic/executive director, founder and violin teacher for Suzuki Music Columbus. Maintains a full teaching studio of Suzuki violin students and co-directs the Suzuki Music Columbus Tour Group. Adjunct Faculty at Otterbein University. Active in chamber music, particularly violin-duo literature with his wife Susan.
Susan Locke
Violin and ViolaArtistic/executive director, founder and violin/viola teacher for Suzuki Music Columbus. Maintains a full teaching studio of Suzuki students and co-directs the Suzuki Music Columbus Tour Group. Adjunct Faculty at Otterbein College. Active in chamber music, particularly violin-duo literature with husband Doug.
David Nesmith
French Horn, Alexander Technique and Body MappingDavid Nesmith had his first Alexander Technique lesson on April Fools’ Day, 1995. He immediately experienced the benefits of practicing The Alexander Technique, immersing himself in what would become a tremendous transformation. “I can change” became the mantra that propelled David from a realm of harmful habit and discomfort to one of discovery and expansiveness.
Suzanne Newcomb
PianoSuzanne Newcomb, pianist, received her graduate degrees in piano performance from The Peabody Conservatory: a Master of Music and then a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree, studying piano under Leon Fleisher. She completed her Bachelor of Music Degree at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Karen Pfeifer
OboeKaren Pfeifer is an oboe specialist, educator, and active chamber musician and soloist. Ms Pfeifer holds the Principal Oboe chairs in both the New Albany Symphony Orchestra and the Central Ohio Symphony and has been a featured soloist in both.
Kyle Price
Cello, Cavani Quartet & KASA QuartetKyle Price, cellist, and member of the Cavani and KASA Quartets, is nationally recognized for his multi-faceted musical career, innovative leadership style, and his advocacy for collaborative programing in the arts and humanities.
Deborah ``Debbie`` Price
Founder & Artistic Director, Viola and ViolinDeborah Price, better known by all as ``Debbie``, founded CMC in 1992. Outside of CMC, Debbie teaches viola and chamber music at Denison University and runs a private viola and violin studio in Worthington.
Stephanie Price-Wong
Assistant Artistic Director, KASA Quartet, Viola, Violin, and PianoStephanie Price-Wong is nationally recognized for her genre-busting concerts, dynamic teaching style, progressive administrative work, advocacy in chamber music pedagogy, and leadership in training the next generation of music entrepreneurs. She is a founding member of the award winning KASA Quartet and is the Adjunct Viola Professor at Ohio University.
Alix Raspé
HarpAlix Raspé Gray, professionally known as Alix Raspé, is an award-winning solo and orchestral harpist, chamber musician, educator and musical entrepreneur. Ms. Raspé currently serves as Adjunct Harp Professor for Phillips Academy Andover, as an Associate Harpist for Columbus Symphony and as Principal Harpist of the Lima Symphony Orchestra.
Ann Schnapp
Viola and ViolinAnn Schnapp has been a member of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra since 1975. A native of Dayton, Ohio, she received Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts degrees from The Ohio State University, studying with Robert Culver and Martin Kelly. She has been teaching violin and viola throughout Central Ohio for thirty-eight years, coaching students in area schools, and judging at regional music competitions.
Aaron Schwartz
ViolinAaron Schwartz is an award-winning classical violinist and chamber musician, as well as being an accomplished fiddler and jazz musician. Aaron creates chamber music arrangements and performs regularly with the Caroga Lake Music Festival, Sounds Like Purple, and the KASA Quartet.
Jonah Tugaoen
Violin and Viola/AlumJonah was CMC's Onsite Manager for the 21-22 Season. As an alum of the program, he continues to stay connected with CMC as a volunteer. Jonah is currently attending Medical School at OSU. He graduated from Capital University where he was named to the President's List for the spring 2019 semester.
Julian Tugaoen
Viola, Violin, Alum/VolunteerJulian is an alum of CMC. When he was a participant in the program, he was a founding member of the award winning DAJJ Quartet. As a soloist, he was featured on From The Top Radio Show in 2020. He frequently volunteers at CMC. He currently attends Capital University.
David Wong
Violin and CMC Jazz/Improv TeacherDavid Wong has been called a “Rock Star” in the violin world. Using both electric and acoustic violins, and sometimes his voice, he arranges rock, pop, and other top 40 hits into improvisation filled orchestrations.
Eric Wong
Viola, Cavani QuartetCelebrated for a “tone like toasted caramel. Amazing.” (Musical Toronto), Eric Wong is the violist of the Cavani Quartet. He was also a member of the JUNO-nominated Afiara Quartet and the Linden String Quartet, first prize winners of the Fischoff, Coleman, and Concert Artist Guild competitions.