CELIA BOURGEAU, viola
Ms. Bourgeau is a native of Grosse Pointe Park, MI and a graduate of Grosse Pointe South High School. She has been studying the viola for nine years and is currently studying with Jim Van Valkenburg as a music performance major at Wayne State. This is her first year as a String Project instructor.
As well as being a member of the Wayne State Orchestra, she is also a member of the Detroit Civic Youth Ensemble, as she has been for the past four years. When she isn't playing her viola, she enjoys writing music for acoustic guitar. Her non-music interests include cooking and experimenting with photography. Ms. Bourgeau wishes to study in Europe in the next few years to further pursue her music career.
DANNY DEROSE, viola
Originally from Lansing (MI), Mr. DeRose has been studying music for fourteen years. Beginning on violin, he found a passion for the sound and repertoire of the viola and made the transition. He is in his third year at Wayne State University, studying viola performance with Caroline Coade. He began teaching for the String Project@Wayne in 2008.
During the summers, Mr DeRose has attended many summer music festivals including the Eastern Music Festival and the New York University String Quartet Institute. His key teachers have included Dr. Takeshi Abo and Dr. Laura Roelofs.
MARITZA GARIBAY, violin
Ms. Garibay graduated from Lakeview High School in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. She is currently a sophomore at WSU, earning her degree in music with a concentration in instrumental music education. She has been playing the violin for almost twelve years and is currently studying with Marian Tanau. This is her first year with the String Project @Wayne.
Ms.Garibay also enjoys riding her bike and performing with her band, Elephantom, which is currently recording their second album.
JENNIFER PALMATIER, violin
Ms. Palmatier is a freshman majoring in instrumental music education at Wayne State University. She is a graduate of Flat Rock Community High School, and has been playing the violin since she was five years old.
In addition to her work as a first-year String Project instructor, Ms. Palmatier enjoys teaching music to children in other settings, and performing with her string quartet.
ANDREW PULLEN, bass
Mr. Pullen began experimenting with instruments in the 3rd grade. Over the course of two years he attempted to play some of his relatives' instruments including trumpet, drums, flute, and violin. He settled on the violin in fifth grade... until he found out there was a double bass in the closet at school and his brother prodded him to play something more "macho". That was enough to get him to switch to bass, which he has now played for twelve years. Working part-time at a local music store has given Mr. Pullen the opportunity to learn much more about all the band and orchestra instruments; he has even learned to perform minor repairs. He also teaches private lessons, where says he actually learns more than the students do. He plans to graduate from Wayne State in 2009 with a degree in instrumental music education.
AMADEUSZ SEPKO, violin
Mr. Sepko came to WSU from Stevenson High School, in Sterling Heights, Michigan. He is currently a violin performance major, studying with Laura Roelofs. This is his second year as an instructor with String Project@Wayne. When not teaching or playing, Mr. Sepko is out bowling with friends, cooking whatever he can think of, and making origami.
TOM SULLIVAN, cello
Mr. Sullivan is a cellist double majoring in music performance and music education at Wayne State. He is a graduate of Troy High School, and has been playing cello since he was eleven years old. His interests include music composition, listening to music of all sorts, and playing wild and crazy music. His other hobbies include anything involving the outdoors, and building model airplanes.
ANDREW TOERING, cello
Mr. Toering has been listening to, playing, and enjoying music since childhood. He started playing the piano by ear at age 4 and soon after started lessons. He began his relationship with brass instruments in middle school with the trumpet, and soon after learned the euphonium. He learned the cello so he could play in the orchestra at Utica High School. After graduating from Utica, Mr. Toering attended Calvin College, where he participated in band, orchestra, and played viola da gamba in the early music ensemble. In addition, he has performed in numerous extracurricular ensembles, including the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Macomb Symphony Orchestra, and Grosse Pointe Symphony. Mr. Toering has given private music lessons for four years, and is looking forward to sharing his love of music with his String Project students.
OLIVIA ZANG, violin
Ms. Zang is currently in her third year at Wayne State University, pursuing a degree in instrumental music education. Originally from Wyandotte, MI, she now lives in Detroit. She has been a String Project instructor since 2008, and also maintains a large class of private violin students at her home and at A&R Music. Ms. Zang is currently studying viola with Dr. Laura Roelofs.