Hi, I'm Deborah and I'm a violinist, teacher, wife, mother, and amateur runner.
My ongoing love affair with the violin began at four years old when my non-musician parents enrolled me in a local Suzuki program--and the rest is history! I'm always interested in how people learn and what makes each individual tick--which was the catalyst for my love of teaching. I also love to share music with other people and musicians as a performer. Please see below for my formal biography or about my teaching!
My ongoing love affair with the violin began at four years old when my non-musician parents enrolled me in a local Suzuki program--and the rest is history! I'm always interested in how people learn and what makes each individual tick--which was the catalyst for my love of teaching. I also love to share music with other people and musicians as a performer. Please see below for my formal biography or about my teaching!

Formal Bio
Deborah is an active freelancer and educator currently based in New York City. A keen ensemble player, she performs in various ensembles in the area and has subbed in the Chamber Orchestra of New York and in the Grammy-winning Albany Symphony. She has served as concertmaster of the Blue Hill Troupe, Bronx Opera, and the New Amsterdam Symphony and has appeared twice as soloist with the Chelsea Symphony. Also a dedicated educator, she runs a private studio in Brooklyn Heights and is on faculty at Riverside Music Studios.
During the initial year of COVID-19 pandemic, Deborah ran a virtual lunchtime live concert series on YouTube from her living room called Live@Lunchtime. Each short concert connected and supported the community in live music and needed aid through a chosen national or local charity.
Originally from Peoria, Illinois, Deborah began playing the violin at age four. She first came to NYC to study with Naoko Tanaka at NYU Steinhardt, where she completed a B.M. in Violin Performance (magna cum laude) with a minor in British Literature. Her graduate studies took her to the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester, England where she earned a M.Mus in Solo Performance studying with James Clark and Benedict Holland. While at the RNCM, she enjoyed performing in the 2013 RNCM Chamber Music Festival and the RNCM Friday Chamber Series in collaboration with the late Peter Cropper (Lindsays Quartet), as well as performing in the RNCM Orchestra for its residency in the Cantiere Internazionale d'Arte in Montepuciano, Italy. She also performed in solo masterclasses for Gérard Poulet, Yair Kless, Gina McCormack, Pavel Fischer, and Leland Chen. Summer studies included the Aspen Music Festival and the Künstlerhaus Boswil (Switzerland).
Deborah is an active freelancer and educator currently based in New York City. A keen ensemble player, she performs in various ensembles in the area and has subbed in the Chamber Orchestra of New York and in the Grammy-winning Albany Symphony. She has served as concertmaster of the Blue Hill Troupe, Bronx Opera, and the New Amsterdam Symphony and has appeared twice as soloist with the Chelsea Symphony. Also a dedicated educator, she runs a private studio in Brooklyn Heights and is on faculty at Riverside Music Studios.
During the initial year of COVID-19 pandemic, Deborah ran a virtual lunchtime live concert series on YouTube from her living room called Live@Lunchtime. Each short concert connected and supported the community in live music and needed aid through a chosen national or local charity.
Originally from Peoria, Illinois, Deborah began playing the violin at age four. She first came to NYC to study with Naoko Tanaka at NYU Steinhardt, where she completed a B.M. in Violin Performance (magna cum laude) with a minor in British Literature. Her graduate studies took her to the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester, England where she earned a M.Mus in Solo Performance studying with James Clark and Benedict Holland. While at the RNCM, she enjoyed performing in the 2013 RNCM Chamber Music Festival and the RNCM Friday Chamber Series in collaboration with the late Peter Cropper (Lindsays Quartet), as well as performing in the RNCM Orchestra for its residency in the Cantiere Internazionale d'Arte in Montepuciano, Italy. She also performed in solo masterclasses for Gérard Poulet, Yair Kless, Gina McCormack, Pavel Fischer, and Leland Chen. Summer studies included the Aspen Music Festival and the Künstlerhaus Boswil (Switzerland).
Teaching
Ever since I was 6 years old, I have held an interest in teaching violin. I love to connect with different people and figure out their personal learning styles. I started violin in a local Suzuki program and have since returned to my roots through Suzuki teacher certification. I am currently building my dream studio in Brooklyn Heights, which includes private lessons and group classes.
I provide a supportive environment to build confident performers by encouraging students' inquiry and exploration of the violin and music. For all levels of playing, I revisit and recalibrate foundational work to ensure physical comfort and technical ease of expression.
For more beginning level students, I foster continued excitement and interest by nurturing their curiosity of sound and making sound on a real violin from the first lesson. While I expect listening and development of playing by ear, I also teach the basics of note-reading from the early stages as appropriate for the student's age to create a well-rounded musician.
Ever since I was 6 years old, I have held an interest in teaching violin. I love to connect with different people and figure out their personal learning styles. I started violin in a local Suzuki program and have since returned to my roots through Suzuki teacher certification. I am currently building my dream studio in Brooklyn Heights, which includes private lessons and group classes.
I provide a supportive environment to build confident performers by encouraging students' inquiry and exploration of the violin and music. For all levels of playing, I revisit and recalibrate foundational work to ensure physical comfort and technical ease of expression.
For more beginning level students, I foster continued excitement and interest by nurturing their curiosity of sound and making sound on a real violin from the first lesson. While I expect listening and development of playing by ear, I also teach the basics of note-reading from the early stages as appropriate for the student's age to create a well-rounded musician.