Melody’s viola studies began in Chicago at Northwestern University, after which she continued with the Chicago Symphony’s Principle violist, Milton Preves, until accepting a job with the Orquesta Symphonica de Xalapa in Mexico.
She next studied in NYC at the Manhattan School of Music with eminent violist Paul Doktor and lastly, with Nobuko Imai, another premier violist. Her first years were involved with orchestral performance, freelance work, and teaching. With Chicago Symphony she had the privilege of playing with some of the most talented musicians in the country and in the Chicago Chamber Orchestra she served as Assistant Principle Violist for over a decade while simultaneously maintaining a full roster of Suzuki violin students.
Next, in SC she was a founding board member for the Long Bay Symphony and founder and violist in the Upton String Quartet, a South Carolina Arts Council approved project, where she toured the state introducing young people to classical music. In addition to these activities, she led a busy family life, taught a full roster of students, and played two seasons in Charleston Symphony. She is still passionate about violin and viola education and believes that it is never too late to learn something new. Her students are taught in a warm, supportive, and welcoming environment and she particularly enjoys working with motivated adults or high school students no matter the level.
