- JOAN MOLLOY :: Violin & Viola
Founder and Director of HeartsStrings Studio, Joan Molloy studied at
Bowling Green State University in Ohio and at the University of
Minnesota, where she received a Bachelor of Music Degree in
Performance. She went on to study Suzuki Method pedagogy and has
completed Suzuki Teacher Development Units 1 through 8, Teacher
Practicum, and many Overview and Teacher Enrichment Courses.
HeartsStrings Studio embodies Shinichi's Suzuki's belief that talent can
be nurtured in every child and that every child can learn to play well
and express themselves musically. In concert with Suzuki's philosophy
Joan believes that the skills and abilities that are developed through
this positive and joyful approach serve students throughout their lives.
Joan's teachers and influences include Alice Joy Lewis, Ronda Cole,
Nancy Lokken, Mimi Zweig, Alex Shum, Aaron Janse, Edmund Sprunger
String Instructor at the St. Croix Preparatory Academy in Stillwater Minnesota. In the summers she's taught
at the Ottawa Suzuki Institute in Ottawa Kansas, the Chizibii Insttiute in Bemidji, Minnesota, and the String
Retreat in Rapid City, South Dakota.
A passionate performer and chamber musician, Joan is currently on hiatus from orchestral work. Past
experiences include performing as a violinist in a Minneapolis-based string quartet, as assistant principal
violinist in the Duluth Symphony orchestra, as concertmaster and soloist with the Eau Claire Chamber
Orchestra, and most recently as co-concertmaster of the Chippewa Valley Symphony.
While Joan brings knowledge and expertise to her craft, what gives her great joy are encounters with
students and their families: witnessing growth, celebrating success and finding joy in the process.
WENDY TANGEN-FOSTER :: Violin
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| 439 West Maple Street |
| River Falls Academy, Suite 212 |
| River Falls, WI 54022 |
| Tel: 715-425-0170 |
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| “Every child grows; everything depends on the teacher.” Shinichi Suzuki |
| HeartStrings Studio River Falls Academy, Suite 212 439 West Maple Street River Falls, WI 54022 Tel: 715-425-0170 |
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Edward Wharton, originally a Suzuki violinist,
transitioned to the viola at the age of 17 after
discovering its rich and amorous tone. Beginning under
the tutelage of Leroy Bauer in his hometown of
Moscow Idaho, Edward went on to study with Tamas
Strasser in St. Paul, Masumi Rostad at the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Ferenc Cseszko at the
University of Idaho.
A dedicated fan of chamber music, Edward had the
pleasure of studying with the Pacifica, Borromeo and
Lafayette String Quartets in addition to the Apple Hill
Chamber Players. He attended and performed at the
Madeline Island Music Festival, Musicorda Music Festival
and the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music.
transitioned to the viola at the age of 17 after
discovering its rich and amorous tone. Beginning under
the tutelage of Leroy Bauer in his hometown of
Moscow Idaho, Edward went on to study with Tamas
Strasser in St. Paul, Masumi Rostad at the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Ferenc Cseszko at the
University of Idaho.
A dedicated fan of chamber music, Edward had the
pleasure of studying with the Pacifica, Borromeo and
Lafayette String Quartets in addition to the Apple Hill
Chamber Players. He attended and performed at the
Madeline Island Music Festival, Musicorda Music Festival
and the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music.
Edward also brings orchestral experience from the University of Idaho Orchestra, the Washington-Idaho
Symphony, Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra.
Edward recently returned to his Suzuki roots. This summer he completed the ECC course with Kathleen
Spring and the Book One Teacher Training with Pat D’Ercole. Edward looks forward to a busy year
teaching at HeartStrings Studio and the St. Paul Conservatory of Music.
Symphony, Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra.
Edward recently returned to his Suzuki roots. This summer he completed the ECC course with Kathleen
Spring and the Book One Teacher Training with Pat D’Ercole. Edward looks forward to a busy year
teaching at HeartStrings Studio and the St. Paul Conservatory of Music.
RACHEL KNIPFER:: Cello
Native of Rochester, Minnesota, Rachel Knipfer graduated in 2007
from the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton,
Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education with
an instrumental emphasis. Rachel began her musical training at the
age of six with the piano, but at the age of ten was introduced to
the alluring study of the cello. Rachel is a student of Janet
Anthony and Hong Wang, but also spent two summers of study with
Tanya Remenikova at the University of Minnesota and a term
studying the Alexander Technique in London, England with cellist
Selma Goken. In 2008, Rachel completed the Every Child Can and
Suzuki Book 1 for cello certification process with Gilda Barston from
the Music Institute of Chicago. Rachel will be beginning her public
school teaching career in September 2008 in the Hudson School
District teaching elementary and secondary strings. In addition to
being passionate about music education and performance, Rachel
enjoys vegetarian cooking, traveling, reading and yoga.
Native of Rochester, Minnesota, Rachel Knipfer graduated in 2007
from the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton,
Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education with
an instrumental emphasis. Rachel began her musical training at the
age of six with the piano, but at the age of ten was introduced to
the alluring study of the cello. Rachel is a student of Janet
Anthony and Hong Wang, but also spent two summers of study with
Tanya Remenikova at the University of Minnesota and a term
studying the Alexander Technique in London, England with cellist
Selma Goken. In 2008, Rachel completed the Every Child Can and
Suzuki Book 1 for cello certification process with Gilda Barston from
the Music Institute of Chicago. Rachel will be beginning her public
school teaching career in September 2008 in the Hudson School
District teaching elementary and secondary strings. In addition to
being passionate about music education and performance, Rachel
enjoys vegetarian cooking, traveling, reading and yoga.
EDWARD WHARTON :: Viola & Violin
Dedicated to the Suzuki Approach, Wendy Tangen-Foster has been
teaching Suzuki private and group lessons for ten years. Beginning on
a “box-violin” at age five, Wendy studied Suzuki Violin with Professor
Emeritus of Strings LeRoy Bauer through high school. She continued
her studies in violin performance at the Lionel Hampton School of
Music in Idaho and went on to receive a B.S. in Music from the
University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Wendy has studied Suzuki Pedagogy with such renowned teachers as
Joanne Bath, Ronda Cole, Alice Joy Lewis, Nancy Lokken, Edmund
Sprunger, and Craig Timmerman. She has completed Suzuki Violin
Teacher Development Units 1 through 5, Violin Practicum, Books 1-4
Overview, Books 1-6 Overview, and Every Child Can. In Idaho, Wendy
taught violin for the Moscow Public Schools, Giant Steps Preschool,
and was a faculty member of the Palouse Suzuki Strings. From 2004-
2006, she ran an after-school violin program for Academia Cesar
Chavez, a charter school in St. Paul.
teaching Suzuki private and group lessons for ten years. Beginning on
a “box-violin” at age five, Wendy studied Suzuki Violin with Professor
Emeritus of Strings LeRoy Bauer through high school. She continued
her studies in violin performance at the Lionel Hampton School of
Music in Idaho and went on to receive a B.S. in Music from the
University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Wendy has studied Suzuki Pedagogy with such renowned teachers as
Joanne Bath, Ronda Cole, Alice Joy Lewis, Nancy Lokken, Edmund
Sprunger, and Craig Timmerman. She has completed Suzuki Violin
Teacher Development Units 1 through 5, Violin Practicum, Books 1-4
Overview, Books 1-6 Overview, and Every Child Can. In Idaho, Wendy
taught violin for the Moscow Public Schools, Giant Steps Preschool,
and was a faculty member of the Palouse Suzuki Strings. From 2004-
2006, she ran an after-school violin program for Academia Cesar
Chavez, a charter school in St. Paul.
An avid performer, Wendy has studied chamber music with the Philadelphia String Quartet, the Lafayette
String Quartet, and the Apple Hill Chamber Players and has performed as a first violinist with the
Washington-Idaho Symphony, the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra, and the Metropolitan Symphony
Orchestra in the Twin Cities. Wendy’s interest and expertise expands beyond classical, having studied jazz
violin and improvisation with Randy Sabien and recently forming a violin-bass-guitar jazz trio called The
LoveCats.
Wendy has enjoyed teaching group and private lessons at HeartStrings since 2003. Currently President of
the Suzuki Association of Minnesota, Wendy lives in St. Paul where she also teaches at the St. Paul
Conservatory of Music and serves as the director of their Suzuki Department. When not teaching, Wendy
can be found performing, arranging, and recording as a freelance musician with her trio and with a
blues/rock/soul band. Wendy’s passion for teaching stems from her love of children and from her love of live
music in many genres.
String Quartet, and the Apple Hill Chamber Players and has performed as a first violinist with the
Washington-Idaho Symphony, the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra, and the Metropolitan Symphony
Orchestra in the Twin Cities. Wendy’s interest and expertise expands beyond classical, having studied jazz
violin and improvisation with Randy Sabien and recently forming a violin-bass-guitar jazz trio called The
LoveCats.
Wendy has enjoyed teaching group and private lessons at HeartStrings since 2003. Currently President of
the Suzuki Association of Minnesota, Wendy lives in St. Paul where she also teaches at the St. Paul
Conservatory of Music and serves as the director of their Suzuki Department. When not teaching, Wendy
can be found performing, arranging, and recording as a freelance musician with her trio and with a
blues/rock/soul band. Wendy’s passion for teaching stems from her love of children and from her love of live
music in many genres.
JASON LUNDGREN:: Guitar
We are happy to welcome Jason Lundgren as our new guitar instructor this year. Jason comes to
HeartStrings with three years of teaching experience. He is a currently in his second year at UWRF and is
pursuing a major n Choral Music Education. Jason is originally from Bloomer Wisconsin.
We are happy to welcome Jason Lundgren as our new guitar instructor this year. Jason comes to
HeartStrings with three years of teaching experience. He is a currently in his second year at UWRF and is
pursuing a major n Choral Music Education. Jason is originally from Bloomer Wisconsin.
and Young Nam Kim. Her students have gone on to study music at Oberlin Conservatory of Music, CalArts
School of Music, University of Michigan and the University of Minnesota.
School of Music, University of Michigan and the University of Minnesota.
KEVIN ROWE:: Bass
Kevin Rowe is a freelance bassist, teacher, performer, and composer in the Twin Cities area. A
Wisconsin native, he completed his bachelor’s in music performance at the University of Wisconsin Eau
Claire. He has performed with great jazz artists such as Benny Green, Maria Schneider, Byron Stripling,
Carl Allen, Stanley Jordan, and Phil Hey, as well as performing with popular artists like Futureman of Bela
Fleck and the Flecktones and Kofi Burbidge of the Derek Trucks Band. Kevin has performed classically
with the UW-Eau Claire Symphony Orchestra, the UW-Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra, and the Chippewa
Valley Symphony Orchestra, jazz with the UW-Eau Claire Jazz I, and toured with the rock group Fat Maw
Rooney. He currently performs with bluegrass wizard Brian Wicklund and the Fiddlepals and the indie
folk group Buffalo Gospel.
Kevin is an experienced educator, teaching professionally for over six years. Along with private lessons,
he has taught master classes at schools across Wisconsin in both classical bass and jazz rhythm section.
He teaches all styles, ages, and experience levels on both the upright and electric bass.
Kevin Rowe is a freelance bassist, teacher, performer, and composer in the Twin Cities area. A
Wisconsin native, he completed his bachelor’s in music performance at the University of Wisconsin Eau
Claire. He has performed with great jazz artists such as Benny Green, Maria Schneider, Byron Stripling,
Carl Allen, Stanley Jordan, and Phil Hey, as well as performing with popular artists like Futureman of Bela
Fleck and the Flecktones and Kofi Burbidge of the Derek Trucks Band. Kevin has performed classically
with the UW-Eau Claire Symphony Orchestra, the UW-Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra, and the Chippewa
Valley Symphony Orchestra, jazz with the UW-Eau Claire Jazz I, and toured with the rock group Fat Maw
Rooney. He currently performs with bluegrass wizard Brian Wicklund and the Fiddlepals and the indie
folk group Buffalo Gospel.
Kevin is an experienced educator, teaching professionally for over six years. Along with private lessons,
he has taught master classes at schools across Wisconsin in both classical bass and jazz rhythm section.
He teaches all styles, ages, and experience levels on both the upright and electric bass.