New York Local Violin Resources

This page is in progress. Please come back often as we are adding every day.

Violin Teachers In New York

Merissa Sobha

Merissa, also known as the Ninja Violinist, is currently a student of Hofstra University with a drive and determination to be the best violinist around. Born March 10, 1990, she's a young talented musician who loves to share the joy of music with everyone. As a child, her family noticed her natural ability and ear for music while she was banging away at an old Casio keyboard. They noted that she was able to make up relatively complex melodies and harmonies at the age of 4.

When she went to school in Queens, she was involved in a highly specialized public school devoted to the fine arts. Among Dance and Choir, she began to study music and the violin intensely. Her love for music propelled her progress in the instrument to extraordinary heights.

She moved at the end of her fourth year in the school to Long Island where she had to wait three years to study her instrument further. In the 7th grade she joined the orchestra, however most of her prowess had been lost in the process of moving. Determined to be a fantastic musician she practiced five hours every night. Until she felt she was back at the level that she was before. She continued to progress and excel under the tutelage of great instructors.

One day, her Global Studies instructor nominated her to play for the Links Organization at Suffolk Community College. This would spark the thought of having a solo career later on. After her stunning classical performance, she was invited a year later to play once more at Suffolk Community College.

At this time, she was the second violin principle in her school orchestra, studying hard and preforming in school concerts. At the second Links event, a freelance photographer and creator of SGIB Magazine Gerard McLeod wanted Merissa to play in his fundraiser. The fundraiser was to help restore an old building on East Main Street. The fundraiser was a pizza eating contest held over the summer time. The Merissa and the coordinators stood outside with signs and talking to people while they were stopped at the light (from the sidewalk of course) and invited them to the event that was sponsored by Papa Johns. Gerard hosted the event and brought in several other artists to entertain the crowd.

Since then she has played in several high caliber orchestras such as the Long Island Senior Symphony Orchestra, Dowling College orchestra and Hofstra University's Symphony Orchestra. She's also been teaching all over Long Island.

I chose this instrument because of my love for music. I love the voice of the violin, it's ability to express exactly what I'm feeling when I'm feeling it as well as it reminds me of my own voice. I believe I'm a great match for students in general because I love what I do. The violin isn't just an instrument to me, it's become my voice and outlet when I need one.

Jobs Wanted

Amos Fayette

Here is my payment rate listing:
Teaching - $75 per hour/$45 per half hour
Wedding Ceremony - $150 per person, negotiable
Cocktail Hour - $150 per person, $100 per person if hired in conjunction with the wedding, negotiable
Corporate Party - $175 per person per hour, negotiable.
Recitals - Rate of pay dependent upon repertoire and time.

Background:
Violinist Amos Fayette began his studies with his mother at the age of 2. After only a short time, he continued lessons with Jo Shifter. Subsequent teachers included Brian Lewis, Lazar Gosman, Naoko Tanaka, Shirley Givens, and Pamela Frank. He is a graduate of the Juilliard School's Pre-College Division as well as the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, MD. Amos is currently enrolled at the Manhattan School of Music Orchestra Performance Program, where he studies with Glenn Dicterow and Lisa Kim.

A versatile musician, Amos has had success in chamber music, solo and orchestral performance. He has played concerti and solo works with the Sound Symphony, Kammergild Chamber Orchestra, Peabody Camerata, Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Island Senior Symphony. He has also worked as a lab soloist to Maestro Gustav Meier's conducting seminar. He is a former member of the Delorean String Quartet, which performed concerts all over the Mid-Atlantic Region. The Delorean String Quartet was also a semifinalist at the 2005 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the youngest group overall with an average age of 20.

As an orchestral musician, Amos has performed with some of the best musicians of that arena. In January of 2009, Amos performed side by side with Glenn Dicterow and Lisa Kim in a special performance by the Manhattan School of Music OP students. He has been guest concertmaster of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed in various leadership roles in the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra.

For the 2009/2010 season, Amos will be performing solo recitals in Toronto, New York City, New Jersey, and Baltimore. He also plans to follow his dream of becoming a professional full-time concertmaster. Amos plays on a violin made by Modenese maker Gian Carlo Guicciardi , dated 2000. This violin has been generously loaned to him by the Sbarro Family of Long Island, NY.