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About Us Carol Critelli, cellist, earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Montana, a Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, and a Master of Arts degree in Spanish literature from the University of Houston. She has perfomed with the Antioquian Symphony in South America, the Portland Little Chamber Orchestra in Europe, the Billings Symphony and the Yellowstone Chamber Players. Carol is the founder of the Montana Suzuki Institute, now called the Montana Music Institute. She studied cello with Nancy Critelli, Florence Reynolds, Georges Miquelle, and Ronald Leonard. She now teaches privately in Billings and has had a number of chamber music compositions published. Kathy Haslip Griffin, violinist, is a Helena native. She was a member of the Spokane Symphony while earning a Bachelors in violin performance from Eastern Washington University. During this time Kathy studied with Kelly Farris, had summer study with Camilla Wicks and a summer at the Aspen Music Festival with Stephen Clapp of the Julliard School. She studied with James Maurer while earning a double Masters in violin performance and Suzuki pedagogy. Since then Kathy was the director of Miami Talent Education and a member of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Florida. She returned to Montana in 1995 and teaches privately in Billings and plays in the Billings Symphony and the Yellowstone Chamber Players. Mary LaMonaca, violinist, Concertmaster of the Rimrock Opera Orchestra and former concertmaster of the Billings Symphony, is a Billings native. Mary received her Bachelor's degree in music from Indiana University where she was a student of Harry Farbman. Her Master's degree in violin was earned at the New England Conservatory where she studied with Joseph Silverstein. Summers during these college years were spent on scholarship at Aspen studying with Eudice Shapiro, at Tanglewood studying violin with William Kroll and chamber music with members of the Boston Symphony. At the International Chamber Music Academy in Italy she studied chamber music with Alberto Lysy and at the International Center for Violin in Gstaad, Switzerland, attending master classes of Yehudi Menuhin. Her professional playing years were spent as a member of the Houston Symphony, the Rice University Contemporary Chamber Players, and the Allegri String Quartet of Houston. Ms. LaMonaca was one of the founding members of the Red Lodge Music Festival and the Yellowstone Chamber Players. She is currently on the faculty of the Montana Music Institute and maintains a private violin studio. Amy Letson, viola, is originally from Buffalo, New York, where she studied viola and violin with members of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra until graduating from high school. She received a Bachelor of Music degree in viola performance from Indiana University, where she studied with Georges Janzer. While in Indiana she performed with the Anderson and Muncie Symphonies and the Marion Philharmonic. Currently she is the principal violist of the Billings Symphony and plays in the String Orchestra of the Rockies based in Missoula, Montana. She maintains a private teaching studio in Billings.
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