Mentors
Mentors
Outstanding professional musicians and graduate students at the CU College of Music, GBYO Mentors work with the students on a regular basis. For the student musicians of GBYO, working with Mentors has many benefits, as the Mentors provide strong examples of musicianship in every way: the elements of music (rhythm, pitch, dynamics, etc.), rehearsal etiquette, performance practice, and more. The Mentors not only lead sectionals and provide direction for rehearsals, they teach by example.
Joel Schut, violin
Joel Schut is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance where he was awarded the Albert A. Stanley Medal, the school's highest honor. Active as a conductor, educator and violinist, he has served as Music Director of the Livingston Symphony Orchestra and the Detroit Medical Orchestra, performed as a member of the Flint Symphony and taught at Saline High School in Saline, Michigan. Additionally, he has performed as a member of the Aspen Music Festival, National Repertory Orchestra, American Institute of Musical Studies Festival Orchestra in Graz, Austria, and on a Cultures in Harmony American music ambassadorship project in Tunisia. He is currently a master's candidate in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Colorado at Boulder studying with Gary Lewis.
Hannah Leland, violin
Hannah Leland is a graduate student in violin performance at the University of Colorado at Boulder. There she works as a graduate teaching assistant to Lina Bahn, a section mentor for the Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras and a public relations assistant for CU Presents. An avid chamber musician, Miss Leland performs regularly with her string quartet and in collaboration with her colleagues. Miss Leland is also a strong advocate for new music, performing frequently on the Pendulum New Music Series at CU Boulder; highlights from the 2010-11 season include two world premieres and performances of William Bolcom’sOrphee Serenade and Steve Reich’s Violin Phase. Recently, she has begun to experiment in interdisciplinary projects, working as a musician in the worlds of drama, dance, film and technology, most recently in a performance art piece titled Carnivals and Snowstorms.
Alexander Vittal, viola
Alexander Vittal grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, and began studying viola in third grade. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University where he earned a Bachelor of Music in Performance, studying under Nancy Buck. He is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Performance and Pedagogy from University of Colorado in the studio of Erika Eckert. As soloist, Vittal has been invited to perform in masterclasses for legendary violists Samuel Rhodes, Joseph de Pasquale, and Yizhak Schotten. His passion for the intimacy of chamber music has lead to prolonged study with members of such world class ensembles as the St. Lawrence, Juilliard, Brentano, and Takàcs String Quartets.
In addition to coaching the viola section of the Greater Boulder Youth Orchestra and teaching viola and violin privately, Vittal plays with the Orelia String Quartet, the Fedora Trio (flute, harp, viola), and on the viola da gamba at CU with the Early
Psyche Dunkhase, cello
Psyche Cassandra Dunkhase is a dynamic, dedicated and accomplished cellist and cello teacher. With over ten years of experience performing and teaching, Ms. Dunkhase is committed to providing community members unique musical experiences that inspire creativity, nurture self-expression and spark imagination.
Ms. Dunkhase holds a Master's Degree in Cello Performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she studied with Judith Glyde, and Bachelor's Degree in Music from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, where she studied with Dr. Jason Duckles. Widely recognized as a dynamic educator, Ms. Dunkhase has founded such programs as Zwischenspiel: Iowa Summer Music (a day camp for string players ages 8-18), Grammy Award-winning Iowa City High School's highly successful chamber music program, and Starting Smart: Why Music Matters, an early childhood development initiative in collaboration with the United Way of Johnson County. Ms. Dunkhase is a registered Suzuki Cello Teacher and board member of the Suzuki Association of Colorado.
Music Ensembles. He is also active as an Argentine tango dancer, and arranger and composer of Argentine Tango music, making his television debut on “Good Morning Arizona” in November 2007 with the six-piece ensemble he founded in Phoenix, Zapatos Furiosos. In Denver, he is a founding member and arranger of ten-piece tango ensemble Orquesta Tìpica Natural Tango, which plays regularly at the Mercury Cafe. Other musical interests include writing opera aria arrangements for guitar, viola, and voice, and arrangements of popular music for string quartet and other ensembles, including a new, highly acclaimed rendition of nine songs from The Beatles’ Abbey Road.
Diana Sorbo, horn
Diana Sorbo received her Bachelor of Music degree in K-12 Music Education from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. She has studied Horn with Bruce Houglum. As an educator, Sorbo has taught Middle School Band in the Weld Re-1 School District in Weld County, Colorado, and at Discovery Middle School in Fargo, North Dakota. While in North Dakota, Sorbo served as Secretary/Treasurer elect of the North Dakota Band Director’s Association. In 2008 she was guest presenter for the 3rd Annual Young Band Repertoire Reading Clinic.
Sorbo is currently pursuing a Masters of Music in Music Education at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she is a Graduate Assistant in the Music Education department. In her free time she enjoys cooking, reading, cycling, skiing, and spending time with her husband Grant and pet cockatiel, Harold.
Ms. Dunkhase teaches private cello lessons in Boulder, Colorado, is a faculty member at Boulder Suzuki Strings, mentors the Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras, and teaches chamber music at Tara Performing Arts High School. She performs regularly with ensembles including the Orelia String Quartet, as well as Denver-based bands including Laura Goldhamer & the Silvernail and Princess Music.
Jessica Lindsey, clarinet
Jessica Lindsey currently resides in Boulder, Colorado where she is pursuing the Doctorate of Musical Arts in Clarinet Pedagogy and Performance at the University of Colorado. From 2004 to 2010, Ms. Lindsey held adjunct positions in southeastern Nebraska at Concordia University of Nebraska, Doane College, and Nebraska Wesleyan University where she taught applied clarinet and music-related courses. Ms. Lindsey maintains an active schedule as a clinician and performer; since 2004 she has presented clinics, recitals, and chamber music concerts in Alabama, Colorado, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah. Ms. Lindsey completed a Bachelor of Arts in Music (2002) and a Masters of Music (2004) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her primary teachers include Mr. Daniel Silver, Dr. Diane Barger, and Dr. John Klinghammer.
