Nicole Vega is a Chilean violinist and passionate music educator whose work bridges the worlds of performance and pedagogy. Originally from Santiago, she has dedicated her career to nurturing young musicians and expanding access to quality music education.

Nicole’s teaching experience spans private instruction, orchestral leadership, and community outreach. While living in Temuco, Chile, she served as the music coordinator at a local high school, where she taught violin, viola, and conducted the school’s beginner orchestra. Her holistic approach to teaching focused on both individual growth and ensemble collaboration. Later, during her graduate studies at Florida State University, she was a member of the university’s graduate string quartet, which collaborated with Sinfonia Gulf Coast to present interactive educational performances in schools across the Destin area—bringing classical music to life through storytelling and audience engagement.

As a performer, Nicole maintains an active presence in both modern and historical performance circles. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at Montclair State University, studying with Mary Ann Mumm, and her Master’s degree at Florida State University, where she was the teaching assistant to Corinne Stillwell. She has performed in festivals such as Campos do Jordão (Brazil), Brevard Music Center (North Carolina), and was recently selected as a fellow for **Sphinx Ignite 2025**.

Nicole has also developed a strong profile in historical performance practice, studying baroque violin with Theresa Salomon and Karin Cuellar, and performing at festivals including Música Antigua FEMUSC (Brazil), Tafelmusik (Canada), Clarion Collegium Week (NYC), Festival de Música Antigua de Medellín (Colombia), Berwick Academy at the Oregon Bach Festival, the Baroque Performance Institute at Oberlin, and selected as a fellow by ARTEK in NYC in 2025 and 2026. Nicole continues to explore the intersection of education and performance, believing that both are essential to building meaningful, inclusive musical experiences.

Take private lessons with me if…

“You are looking for a way to express yourself other than with words.”

 

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Care O’Leary is a teaching artist in CMSS’ Sonido Musica program. Care is a Hampden county musician who’s been playing violin for over 20 years, After studying music and graduating from Holyoke Community College, they picked up viola and cello as well. While they were classically trained and have played in numerous orchestras and chamber music ensembles over the years, they’ve also branched out into more contemporary music- from folk to avant garde rock to free improvisation. They play in multiple outfits in western MA, and they love to perform, tour and record with their bandmates.

Take private lessons with me if…

If you are curious about violin and all of the different kinds of music you can make with it! I love to explore all genres and collaborate with my students. If you have a song that you love, or an idea of what sort of music you want to try, I can help you with that while we learn our foundational violin techniques and style. We can even write a song!

Care’s Student Testimonials

“Care does an amazing job of picking musical pieces that are right for my skill level but also provide the right amount of challenge.”; “Care helps prioritize what you need to work on to help you grow and learn.”- Ethan Burt

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Gregory Diehl studied violin at the Eastman and Manhattan Schools of Music. He completed long-term Suzuki training at the Hartt School with Teri Einfeldt and Christie Felsing, and short-term training with Ronda Cole and Linda Fiore. He also holds an M.A. in Japanese Language and Literature from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He performs frequently with ensembles in Southern Vermont and Western Massachusetts.

 

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Kavan Rambukwelle received his B.F.A. in Music from SUNY Purchase, Master in Music from the University of Notre Dame. and Post Doc. from Umass Amherst. He studied with Amadeo Liva (late assistant to Ivan Galamian), Dr. Yehudi Wyner (Emeritus Yale Univ.), Charles Treger (Founding Member Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society), and Daniel Phillips (Orion Quartet), A. Markov (Official Soloist Moscow State Phil./Assistant to David Oistrach), the New Approach with Kato Havas in Oxford, UK, Master classes with the Tokyo String Quartet, New World String Quartet, Emanuel Borok (Concert Master Boston Symph.), and Baroque Performance Practice with Anthony Newman.

Kavan’s most notable solo appearances have been for the 50th anniversary celebration of the United Nations (UN) Declaration on Human Rights, ‘Festival for Humanity’ in New York, and the Holocaust Memorial at Temple Beth El in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he performed music from the movie “Schindler’s List.”

Kavan has over 30 years of teaching experience in Violin, viola, and Piano, and is a firm advocate for studying musical instruments to achieve academic excellence and life mastery in general.

Take private lessons with me if…

As the great Juilliard teacher Ivan Galamian said, “Focus on skill building, and the music will take care of itself.” Take private lessons with me if you want to get fluent at playing violin, viola, and/or piano. I help folks gain the knowledge and skills that unlock fluency and freedom in playing. As the old saying goes, “aim for the stars, so you can at least settle on the moon.

Kavan’s Student Testimonials

“Kavan breaks lessons down really well for me so I have a clearer understanding” – Mikayla Harris

“Kavan teaches me how to play piano really well. He provides helpful skills and excersises to help with that.” – Christina Marie Obas

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Eleni is a violinist and music educator with 20 years of teaching experience in public schools and community music schools in Washington DC, NYC, and MA. She has a relaxed approach to vigorous learning that incorporates each student’s personal learning style and preferences. Eleni is the director of Sonido Musica, the instrumental music partnership program between Community Music School of Springfield and the Springfield and Holyoke public schools.

Take private lessons with me if…

If you are enthusiastic about music and flute playing! I take great joy in helping students on their musical journey. You may or may not have aspirations of being a professional musician, but either way, I am going to meet you where you are at! You will get more enjoyment out of playing in your school music program, and I can suggest other enriching opportunities. I provide a safe and supportive environment for growth. Enrich your life with music; it is definitely worth it!

Eleni’s Student Testimonials

“Elaine is kind, helpful and so knowledgeable in her field. She makes me feel like I’m her only student when we are together. She is interested in me, not just my music.I feel important when I’m with her. I will miss her once I graduate. ” –Hayden Carlotto

 

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