Catherine Beck, Violin/Viola
Catherine Beck is a violinist and violist who loves all genres of music. She received her Bachelors of Music in Violin Performance at Texas Christian University where she studied with Ronald Houston and Elisabeth Adkins. Catherine's love of jazz bloomed when Professor Houston introduced her to Stephane Grappelli's jazz violin playing, which led her to study bluegrass and jazz with Grammy-nominted artist Casey Driessen. Catherine is currently pursuing her Masters Degree in Instrument Performance at Southern Methodist University where she continues to study with Ronald Houston.
When not teaching she enjoys studying and performing other styles of music, specifically jazz, Celtic, and fiddle music. Catherine hopes to use these styles in her teaching to encourage her students to explore new creative and fun ways to play music.
Alejandra Ramirez, cello
Alejandra Ramirez was born in Dallas, TX and she is a first generation musician with roots in Mexico and Venezuela. She started to play the cello at the age of eleven through the public school system. With the love and support of her parents she was able to blossom as a cellist. She has performed multiple times as a soloist with the Brookhaven College Choir and has been a member of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, the TCU Symphony Orchestra, and the TCU cello ensemble. In collaboration with the Texas Cellos ensemble she has performed in venues such as the Moody Performance Hall, the Van Cliburn Concert Hall, and PepsiCo Recital Hall. Ramirez has had the opportunity to perform in master classes with Felix Wang, Cornelia Watkins, and Phillip Borter.
She is the founder of "The New View Cello Ensemble" which performed at the 2018 TMEA Convention in San Antonio. In 2020, Alejandra served as the assistant principal cellist for the world premiere of Kevin Day's Tango Obscuro and a performance of Copland's Appalachian Spring, which was showcased in the CODA Virtual Symposium and won third place in the America Prize in Orchestral Performance. Besides playing cello, she also enjoys playing the Viola da Gamba, crocheting, and nurturing plants.
Joseph Fisher, bass
Joseph Fisher is a double bassist with a love for music of all kinds. Graduating from Linda Keefer's final year at Arlington HIgh School, he received a bachelor's degree in Music Media from the University of Texas at Arlington. Throughout college, he followed his heart and diverse interests - taking film scoring, additional upper levels of music theory, taking classical bass lessons from Dr. Jack Unzicker and jazz lessons from Brian Mulholland, playing in rock bands, and even writing and self-publishing a book of short fiction. This widespread curiousity is encouraged with his colleagues, friends, and students.
Approaching collaboration and education, Joseph's biggest priorities are comfort and partnership with the instrument and the environment. He owes this understanding to Dr. Unzicker, as well as to one of the world's most important bass players, Francois Rabbath. Joseph makes it a goal to show his students music that inspires him - music that they may not have heard otherwise.
When not teaching, Joseph continues working in the music industry. He assists with booking and events at the Levitt Pavillion Arlington, producing and performing on albums for other musicians, and leading his own band.
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