Our Faculty for Programs in Chester, CT

Our faculty is comprised of outstanding performing artists who combine concert careers as chamber players with a dedication to teaching. They are passionate about sharing their expertise in an encouraging and supportive manner to help you achieve your individual musical goals. You’ll have the opportunity to hear them collaborate in faculty recitals and, for an additional fee, sign-up for private lessons during the week.

JOHN DEXTER (viola) has been playing quartets since he was 13 years old (which is practically for centuries!). His passion for chamber music is second to none and he is in demand as a teacher and coach. John was a member of the Manhattan String Quartet for 39 years, and has also been an active studio musician in New York and held principal viola positions with the New York City Opera Orchestra, Philharmonia Virtuosi, the Joffrey Ballet Orchestra, the American Symphony Orchestra, the American Composers Orchestra, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic. He has done rather well despite his difficulty with the alto clef!

CAL WIERSMA (violin, viola) has an impressive biography as a soloist and chamber musician that is far too extensive to include here! He was a founding member of the prize-winning Meliora Quartet and was a member of the Manhattan String Quartet for 20 years. Cal maintains an active teaching studio and performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. He is a noted performer of contemporary music and tours extensively with new music ensembles. His teaching and coaching prowess is as legendary as his keen sense of humor.

Kathe Jarka

KATHE JARKA (cello) has performed to critical acclaim in major concert venues across the United States, Canada, and in Europe as a recitalist and chamber musician. She has collaborated with such artists as Yo-Yo Ma, Ruth Laredo, Grant Johannesen, Donald Weilerstein, and the Juilliard Quartet, and has participated in the Marlboro Music Festival.  She has appeared several times as a guest with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. While a member of the Shanghai Quartet, she toured extensively, appearing at the Tanglewood, Norfolk, and Ravinia festivals. She has performed with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and, since 1990, she has been an artist member of the Garden City Chamber Music Society, performing a wide range of repertoire with some of the finest chamber musicians of the day. Kathe has been on the faculties of the University of Richmond, Virginia and the Preparatory Division of the Peabody Conservatory, has served as chamber music assistant to the Juilliard Quartet, and as a coach for the Young Musicians Program of the Education Division of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. A certified teacher of the Alexander Technique, Kathe also served as a member of the faculty of Alexander Technique New York City (ATNYC), a teacher-training school for Alexander Technique, and The Neighborhood Playhouse, a top-ranked drama school in New York City.

Joel Pitchon

JOEL PITCHON (violin) is an active soloist, concertmaster, chamber music player, and Professor of Music at Smith College. Mr. Pitchon studied with Lewis Kaplan, Oscar Shumsky and Joseph Fuchs and received his degrees from The Juilliard School. He has served as the concertmaster for numerous orchestras, including the Orquestra Ciutat de Barcelona (Spain), the EOS Chamber Orchestra (NY), the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (guest), and the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra (guest). As a soloist and collaborator, he frequently performs with the New Baroque Soloists. The New York Times noted his playing in the EOS production of Stravinsky’s L'Histoire du Soldat as “...superb...” He has recorded two CDs for the Gasparo label: Four Sonatas for violin and piano, with the composer Clifton J. Noble, Jr. and New England Legacy, works by Quincy Porter, Walter Piston, and Amy Beach with pianist Jonathan Bass. Sun Threads, the chamber music of Augusta Read Thomas, was recorded with the Walden Chamber Players for ARTCD and New England Trios is his most recent critically acclaimed CD released by Bridge Records. Mr. Pitchon is currently the co-director of the Sage Chamber Music Society at Smith College, a member of the Elm Chamber Ensemble and a frequent performer with the New Baroque Soloists.

Liuh-Wen Ting

LIUH-WEN TING (viola) is a former member of the award-winning Meridian String Quartet and a co-founder of Ensemble Meme, which debuted at Zankel Hall to critical acclaim. She has collaborated with artists across the spectrum, including the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society, the Cassatt Quartet, the Manhattan String Quartet, and most recently as a featured artist on several sold-out North American tours with the renowned Persian vocalist Shahram Nazeri.

​Her festival appearances include the Prague Spring Music Festival, Ostrava Days in Czech Republic, the Warsaw Autumn Music Festival, Primavera en la Habana international electro-acoustic music festival in Cuba. Ms. Ting performs regularly with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, American Composers Orchestra, SEM ensemble, and the Berkshire Bach Ensemble. She was a faculty at the prep division of the Juilliard school for many years and presently teaches at the prep division of the Mannes School of Music.