Willine Thoe was raised in Hong Kong and started her musical career studying piano with her mother at the age of three.  Beginning violin at six and viola at eleven, she attended the highly selective Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts Junior Division and attained the LTCL Performance Diploma from the Trinity College London (UK)… Read More

Laurie Kennedy has been principal violist with the Portland Symphony Orchestra since 1981. She was the featured soloist in Berlioz Harold in Italy  for the opening of the newly renovated Merrill Auditorium. Other solo appearances include William Schuman Concerto on Old English Rounds, Hindemith  Der Schwanendreher, Bloch Suite Hebraique  and Mozart Sinfonia Concertante  with violinist/conductor,… Read More

Where did you grow up?  Rainham, a small town in Kent, England. Where do you currently live?  Wakefield, Massachusetts. What instruments do you play?  Violin and Piano. Educational background:  Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, England from 1984 to 1986 (the equivalent of my junior and senior years in an American high school); Royal Northern… Read More

Where did you grow up?  Massachusetts. Where do you currently live?  Cumberland Foreside, ME. What instruments do you play?  Violin. Educational background:  BS Music Education Ithaca College. Family, Pets, Kids:  Husband, member of Portland String Quartet, two daughters, a step daughter and step son. After our long lived beagle died this fall we are left with… Read More

Where did you grow up? Livermore, CA Where do you currently live? Yarmouth, ME What instrument(s) do you play? Violin, Viola, and Piano to accompany my students Educational background: Stanford University, BA 1997 in Music, Science and Technology with a double concentration in composition and violin performance. Fulbright Fellowship to Ankara Turkey 1997-1999. Studied Turkish Folk Music and performed… Read More

Where did you grow up? Long Island, NY Where do you currently live? Portland, ME What instrument do you play? Violin Educational background: BA from SUNY Albany; Suzuki Teacher Training Personal Information (family, pets, kids, etc.): Married to Richard Noyes, cellist; three children, Benjamin Noyes, cellist, recitalist and Suzuki teacher; Rachel Noyes, violinist, chamber musician and Suzuki teacher; Joel Noyes,… Read More

Where did you grow up?  Dayton, Ohio. Where do you currently live?  Lisbon, Maine. What instruments do you play?  Violin, Viola. Educational background:  Arizona State University, Bachelor of Music, Violin Performance 1991; Boston University, Master of Music, Violin Performance, 1994. Family, Pets, Kids:  I have a daughter. Her name is Lily Watras. She plays the viola. How did you… Read More

Where did you grow up? South Portland, Maine Where do you currently live? Moving to Windham on August 3rd What instrument(s) do you play? Violin and viola, some piano Educational background: B.S Magna Cum Laude University of Southern Maine Personal Information (family, pets, kids, etc.): Happily married for 26 years to another wacky musician. Have two cats that we don’t… Read More

Where did you grow up?  Sofia, Bulgaria. Where do you currently live?  Melrose, a town North of Boston. What instruments do you play?  Violin. What non-PSO musical activities do you participate in?  I also perform with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and teach at Manchester Community Music School. What is the question you’re asked most… Read More

Where did you grow up? The “other” Portland, Portland, OR Where do you currently live?Boston, MA What instrument do you play? Violin Educational background: BM Rice University, MM Boston University Personal Information (family, pets, kids, etc.): I am married to cellist Leo Eguchi and we have two amazing and quirky cats, Katya and Max. How did you get started… Read More