Boulder local Peter Kennedy teaches violin and viola lessons to people of all ages. He believes that every student has meaningful goals in their musical journey, and he works with each individual to discover what drives their passion for music. In addition to teaching, he performs regularly as a violinist and violist for orchestras, weddings, and other events, and loves to write music and compose. When he isn’t making music, Peter can be found running, hiking, skiing, biking, unicycling, reading, thinking about math, or playing dungeons and dragons.

Suwon Kim is a 25-year-old violinist currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Violin Performance at the University of Colorado Boulder, studying under Professor Alex Gonzalez. She holds degrees from the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University and the Eastman School of Music, where she also earned a Certificate in Arts Leadership.

An active orchestral musician, Suwon has performed with the Milwaukee Symphony, Illinois Symphony, and Peoria Symphony Orchestras. Her previous orchestral tenure includes two seasons with the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, highlighted by performances at Symphony Hall and international tours. Additionally, she has spent summers at premier music festivals, including the National Repertory Orchestra, Aspen Music Festival, and the National Orchestral Institute.

Her competition accolades include third prize at the 2017 American Protégé International Competition—leading to a performance at Carnegie Hall—and multiple honors from the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), including the 2019 State Prize and a 2016 Senior String Competition Alternate placing.

Dedicated to community and mentorship, Suwon teaches private violin and piano lessons and leads high string sectional coaching. Outside the studio, she enjoys playing sudoku, baking desserts, and spending time with friends and family.

Coming soon

Violist Elizabeth “Lizzy” Macintosh, a native of Columbus, OH, began studying the violin at the age three. When she was 14, she began playing the viola in order to form a string quartet with her pre-existing ensemble of three violins and a cello. Lizzy is an alumna of Chamber Music Connection, where she played viola in the Geneva String Quartet. Together they received a number of awards including, 1st prize at Coltman National Chamber Music Competition, Honorable Mention at Saint Paul String Quartet Competition, the Bronze medal at Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, and the opportunity to perform at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. She received a B.M. in Viola Performance from the University of Colorado Boulder with a certificate in Musical Entrepreneurship and minors in Business, Economics, and German Studies. She went on to receive her M.M. in Viola Performance at the Eastman School of Music with Masumi Per Rostad.

Lizzy works full-time as the Director of Artistic Operations for the Caroga Arts Collective in Caroga Lake, NY. Outside of her work with Caroga Arts, she supports the Chamber Music Connection as Development Director and Bookkeeper. She currently lives in Boulder, CO, and enjoys baking, reading, and spending time outdoors.

Erik Okel is pursuing a master’s degree in cello performance at the University of Colorado Boulder and is a recipient of the Chamber Takacs Society-MU Scholarship. His performance interests include the symphonic repertoire and early music, as well as creating arrangements of his favorite popular music. In his free time Erik enjoys cooking, reading bad science-fiction books, and obsessively watching his favorite shows for the hundredth time.

Sasha Nepomnyashy is a graduate student at CU Boulder, having previously attended the Baylor School of Music. Her musical career began in north Texas, where she participated in All-Region and All-State events throughout high school. She is now an active teacher and clinician. Her studio philosophy is based on personalized growth for each student and a priority of injury prevention and healthy playing.

Maggie Greenwood is a clarinetist and multiple woodwinds performer who evolved into an orchestral conductor and is a passionate supporter of public education and gender diversity in classical music. She loves building community through joyful music making and constantly strives to be better as a musician, educator, and human being than she was the day before. Maggie completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Clarinet Performance and Pedagogy from CU Boulder.

Corey Nance is an active musician and educator based in Denver, Colorado. He is currently the Principal Trombone of the Symphony of the Rockies and is pursuing a MM in trombone performance at the University of Colorado Boulder. As an educator, Nance has presented at the Big XII Trombone Conference and International Trombone Festival in 2023 while completing his BM in trombone performance from West Texas A&M University. Nance is a Brass Mentor for the Greater Boulder Youth Orchestra, Vice President of the International Trombone Association Student Council, and a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Ryan Vickrey is a graduate student at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he is pursuing a master's degree in horn performance. He has attended distinguished summer music programs, including the Brevard Music Center College Orchestral Institute and the Texas Music Festival. Before beginning his collegiate studies, Ryan performed with the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Southern California Honors Orchestra.

As an educator, Ryan is committed to helping students develop a strong technical foundation, while nurturing the growth of qualities beyond music. His teaching emphasizes thoughtful preparation, dedication, and expressive artistry, encouraging students to grow as both musicians and individuals.

Chihiro Shibayama is a Juilliard-trained percussionist (B.M. and M.M.) with more than 25 years of performing experience and over 20 years of teaching students of all ages. Originally from Japan, she moved to the U.S. to attend Interlochen Arts Camp & Academy at 16 to chase her dream of becoming a percussionist, and has been sharing her love of rhythm ever since.

Chihiro plays with the Longmont Symphony Orchestra and frequently performs with the Colorado Symphony, including a recent show at Red Rocks. Based in New York for nearly two decades, she performed everything from Broadway musicals to opera to national TV - proof that percussion can take you almost anywhere. She's also a proud alum of Drum Corps International, where she marched as a timpanist with the Glassmen.

At GBYO, Chihiro loves helping young musicians build strong fundamentals, sharpen their ears, and discover how much fun percussion can be. She's a Pearl/Adams and Dragonfly Percussion artist and runs her own private studio in Longmont. Away from the practice room, she loves rock climbing and baking bread, and is a proud mom.

Learn more at www.chihiroshibayama.com or follow her on Instagram @chihiroplayspercussion.