About
Dr. Valissa Willwerth, has performed over 1900 concerts with The Philadelphia Orchestra as a guest musician in both the first and second violin sections. In addition to performing regularly on the subscription series and the summer concerts in Philadelphia and Saratoga, she has joined the orchestra on over a dozen tours including Asia, North and South America, Europe and Puerto Rico. She has also performed many times with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Philly Pops, and the Princeton Symphony. She currently performs regularly as a guest musician with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. Willwerth has taught violin as an Adjunct Faculty member of the Boyer College of Music at Temple University, as faculty of the Strings International Camp in Bryn Mawr, PA, and for seven summers was a faculty member of the University of Michigan All-State Program at Interlochen, Michigan. Other teaching appointments include the Pingry School in New Jersey, the Rutgers Community Music Program, and maintaining a private studio.
She holds a Doctorate in Violin Performance from Rutgers University, where she was awarded a full doctoral fellowship. While at Rutgers she was twice a concerto competition winner and upon graduating she was the first recipient of the Irene Alm Memorial Prize for Excellence in Performance and in Scholarly Research and Writing.
As a soloist and chamber musician, she has performed at music festivals and on concert series throughout the eastern United States and Nova Scotia. Her appearances have included Trinity Church on Wall Street, Musica Trinitatis at the Church of the Holy Trinity in New York City, Oberlin College, Temple University, the Garth Newel Chamber Music Festival, and Music at Southampton.
Dr. Willwerth’s BM and MM degrees in Violin Performance are from The Cleveland Institute of Music. Her teachers include Arnold Steinhardt (Guarneri Quartet), Linda Cerone and concertmasters Martin Chalifour (Los Angeles Philharmonic) and David Kim (Philadelphia Orchestra).
She performs on a 1760 Balestrieri violin.
Teaching Style
All students are welcome including children, teens and adults! Whether you are interested in regular lessons, want some quick help with a particular technique, or have always wanted to play but never got around to it, you are more than welcome to reach out and give it a try.
Valissa's teaching style may best be described as patient and warm-hearted yet extremely knowledgeable, organized, thoughtful and insightful. She is just as at home teaching the very beginning student (young or adult) as she is the very advanced violinist. Every student is welcomed with an atmosphere of support, understanding, respect and graciousness. Her goal is to guide you to your own, individual goals, whether learning first position or tackling a major concerto, learning a new technique or just trying something new, in an environment that best suits your learning style.
*Note* Additional lesson times are often available. Don't hesitate to ask!
Curriculum
The repertoire, exercises, studies, and etudes chosen are highly individualized for each student depending on level, age, goals, and ability. Valissa has studied and performed all the major repertoire and is fluent in understanding what pieces and studies her students are ready for at any given time. She is also highly creative and is often devising exercises on the spot that are perfect for the student she is working with at that moment.