I began playing the violin when I was 9 years old in the school orchestra in Bloomington, Minnesota. I later majored in violin at the University of Minnesota where I studied with Richard Adams, who was associate concertmaster of the Minneapolis Symphony (now the Minnesota Orchestra).

I began teaching private violin lessons in 1994 in Decorah, Iowa. There, I played with the Dorian Opera Theatre Orchestra for 10 seasons, and with the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra.

While in Iowa, I continued my violin studies for 12 years with Allen Ohmes, Professor Emeritus of violin at the University of Iowa, and concertmaster of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra in Davenport, Iowa. My pedagogical approach was formed primarily through my studies with him.

• Sangerfest (Norwegian Singers Association of America), David Judisch, conductor
   Luther College, Decorah, Iowa
• St. John Passion Orchestra, Weston Noble, conductor, Luther College
• Dorian Opera Theatre, Jessica Paul, conductor, Luther College
   Barber of Seville, La Boheme, Music Man, Merry Wives of Windsor, The Marriage of Figaro,
   Fiddler on the Roof, La Traviata, Don Pasquale, Carousel, Song of Norway
• Dubuque Symphony Orchestra (substitute), William Intriligator, conductor, Dubuque, Iowa
• New Minowa Players, Decorah, Iowa
• La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, Amy Mills, conductor, La Crosse, Wisconsin
• University of Minnesota Symphony Orchestra, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Jenson-Noble Recital Hall, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa
Porter House Museum, Decorah, Iowa
Owatonna Arts Center, Owatonna, Minnesota
Center for Faith and Life, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa
Upper Iowa Music Teachers’ Association, Postville, Iowa
Czech Days, St. Wenceslas Church, Spillville, Iowa
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Bakken Museum, Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Allen Ohmes, Professor Emeritus, University of Iowa; Concertmaster, Quad City Symphony Orchestra.
• Philip Wharton, B.M. and M.M., Eastman School of Music; Advanced Solo Studies Certificate, Guildhall School of Music and Drama; M.M. and D.M.A., Juilliard School; student of Charles Castleman.
• Julia Wharton, B.M., University of Miami; M.M., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; student of Thomas Moore.
• Richard Massmann, Former Chair and Professor Emeritus, String Department, University of Minnesota.
• John Tartaglia, Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota; Former Principal Violist, Minneapolis Symphony (now Minnesota Orchestra).
• Richard Adams, Former Associate Concertmaster, Minneapolis Symphony; Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota.
• Violin major, University of Minnesota