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Orchestral Strings Lessons
BESS BARKER — VIOLIN, VIOLA
From a musical family, Bess began violin at the age of ten and has continued playing ever since. She began teaching the violin in 2010. She started performing early on and, when not teaching, enjoys playing as part of a music duo, along with a harpist, for weddings and events. Although she was classically trained, Bess enjoys playing a variety of music including Bluegrass, folk, Celtic fiddling, pop, rock and experimenting with different ethnic styles such as Middle-Eastern, Greek and Mariachi. She has studied with and been influenced by a number of musicians, including instructors from Sac State University, Boston School of Music, UC Davis and some of the top Mariachi groups in the nation, and holds a certification from Berklee College of Music. She has been a member of two string quartets in the Sacramento area and has played with Camellia Symphony Orchestra and Auburn Symphony as well as in musical theater. She is also currently lead violinist and a vocalist for musical group Córima, which brings the traditional music of México to audiences in Northern California.
Bess encourages new students to develop music reading skills and technique, as well as learning ear-training.
Email: bessjo@mojamail.com
NATALIE HAGWOOD — CELLO
Beginning her cello training at age seven, Natalie grew up with the music of the church, sang harmonies with her singer/songwriter father, and was encouraged to further her musical education by her mother. She fell in love with youth symphony in her junior high years, and earned her degree in Cello Performance at the University of Nevada in 2017. A brief post-graduate stint at the University of Washington allowed her to study with UW Professor Sæunn Thorsteinsdóttir and Dr. Kevin Krentz while teaching privately with the Seattle Cello Academy. During her time in Seattle, she won the University of Washington Concerto Competition, soloing with the UW Symphony in 2018. Since moving to Sacramento, she has thrived performing and recording with bands, Dear Darling and Solabel, Sacramento-based ensembles of established jazz, folk, and Broadway talents whose messages of joy, hope, and social justice crosses musical boundaries.
She is passionate about mentoring others through her Concert-Ready Cellist Program. Natalie’s unique curriculum combines one-on-one lessons with a community-based model that encourages playing together in cello choir ensembles. Natalie currently accepts students ages 15 and older.
Please contact Natalie directly for scheduling.
Email: nataliehagwood@gmail.com
PAOLO REYES — VIOLIN, VIOLA
Violinist and conductor Paolo Reyes graduated in 2013 with his Masters degree in music with an emphasis on orchestral conducting from Sacramento State under the tutelage of Leo Eylar. Since then, he has appeared as guest conductor in numerous orchestras in the Northern California Region such as the Sacramento Youth Symphony, Napa Valley Youth Symphony, Rancho Cordova Civic Light Orchestra, and as an assistant conductor for the Lake Tahoe Music Festival in 2015 and 2016. Maestro Reyes is also the Musical Director and Conductor of the Camellia Juniors and Cadets, the youth orchestra division of the Camellia Symphony Orchestra. In the summer of 2016, Reyes conducted Fairfield's Missouri Street Opera Production of The Little Mermaid and will be returning again for their production of Fiddle on the Roof. In addition to actively conducting, Paolo is also an performing violinist in the Camellia Symphony Orchestra, Sacramento State Orchestra, and Camerata Capistrano—the premiere collegiate Baroque ensemble in the Sacramento region. He was also a former Principal Second violin for the Folsom Symphony, and is the Concertmaster for the Elk Grove Strauss Festival since 2016. Reyes studied with violinist Ian Swensen during his undergraduate studies at Sacramento State.
Paolo welcomes students ages ten and up.
Email: paoloreyes85@gmail.com
**All instructors are independent contractors**