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1st Chair Strings offers private music lessons for violin, viola, cello, bass, electric bass, guitar and mandolin online, in your home, or at our home studios. Based in Maryland, our six fabulous instructors teach all ages and levels nationwide.
Our customized curriculums enable students to set and achieve their individual goals. Whether a child wants to be 1st chair in their school orchestra, or an adult is interested in dusting off an old bow and beginning to play again, 1st Chair Strings designs a curriculum to meet each student’s specific needs.
In addition to in-person lessons, we are now enrolling nationwide online lessons!
For more information about 1st Chair Strings, please contact 1stChairStrings@gmail.com or call 301-651-1106.
Lauren Rostek is a Strings Specialist with over 20 years experience teaching violin, viola, cello, bass, electric bass and mandolin. Lauren has mentored and assisted with teacher development since expanding 1st Chair Strings in 2016. 1st Chair Strings was formed in 2002 after Lauren graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Music in String Education. Lauren is a sectional coach for some of the top youth orchestras in the area and a member of the American String Teachers Association. Over her musical career, Lauren has enjoyed performing with symphonies, pit and chamber orchestras, jazz combos and rock bands. While Lauren continues to enhance and develop the musical talent of her students, a love of music is an essential part of her own life. In addition to overseeing 1st Chair Strings, Lauren is principal bass of the Frederick Symphony Orchestra and loves playing classic rock with her garage band.
Over the last seven years, Lauren has welcomed exceptional instructors to 1st Chair Strings: Preet Saund (cello), Anna Dye (viola and violin), Katherine Smolen (violin), Howard Sengstack (guitar), and Adrina Anderson (violin).
Preet, Anna, Katherine, Howard, Adrina, and Lauren are experts whose specialized knowledge gives our students an advantage.
Howard Sengstack has over 24 years experience teaching classical, electric and acoustic guitar to students of all ages. Since 2004, Howard has served as lead guitarist in the 9-piece band, Retrospect, who perform at parties, weddings, corporate events and charity galas throughout the DMV and along the east coast. He also performs solo classical guitar, and as part of a classical duo for weddings and other events. Howard earned an AA in music from Montgomery College and a BA in guitar performance from Shepherd University.
In addition to acquiring the fundamentals of music, Howard’s guidance helps students identify and progress toward their musical goals, based on their own stylistic preferences or involvement in bands and other ensembles. Howard’s students have gone on to win Battle of the Bands, major in music, record and play professionally themselves.
Preet Saund is a fantastic cellist and coach who joined 1st Chair Strings in 2018. Preet graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she received her Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance.
Preet has played cello for 16 years and has taught privately and in chamber group settings for 5 years. She has experience coaching youth orchestras and can offer students guidance on the many musical opportunities in the DC/MD/VA area.
Preet has performed in music festivals and with symphonies from California to Italy and is currently principal cellist of the Capital City Orchestra in Washington, D.C.
An enthusiastic and knowledgeable instructor, Preet loves assisting students in honing their musical skills.
Katherine Smolen is a passionate educator and an active violinist in the DC/MD/VA/DE region who has performed on stages throughout the United States and Europe.
A graduate of the University of Maryland, Katherine earned a Bachelor of Music Education as well as a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance under the study of Irina Muresanu, Kimberly Fisher, and Oleg Ryltako. Katherine is currently completing a Master of Music Education at the University of Michigan and is the Director of Orchestras at Loiederman Middle School for the Performing Arts in Silver Spring, MD.
Since her first Suzuki violin lesson at the age of nine, Adrina Anderson has had a passion for expression through music. For both middle and high school, Adrina attended the Las Vegas Academy of Performing Arts, majoring in Orchestra while minoring in Music Theory and Guitar. Adrina started teaching violin professionally in 2003, the same year she began playing viola.
In 2004, Adrina was awarded a violin scholarship to the University of Las Vegas where she studied Music and Nursing while continuing to build her private teaching studio. Adrina transferred to The Art Institute of Las Vegas in 2006 and graduated from The Art Institute of Philadelphia in 2010.
Adrina actively performs with groups spanning the genres of jazz, folk, experimental, classical, and electronic music. Her current bands include The Gypsy Jazz Performers of D.C., Fellowship of the Strings (wedding quartet), Void Vision and the Americana band,Teething Veils. As an active session musician, Adrina maintains memberships in the Screen Actors Guild and The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
Rachel Choi is a performer and educator who graduated from the University of Maryland for Violin Performance and Music Education dual degree. She taught at public schools within Howard County, Montgomery County, and Prince Georges County ranging from Elementary to High School. Playing from the age of 4 years old, Rachel has studied Violin under Wonju Kim, Irina Muresanu and James Stern.
Rachel has made notable achievements such as becoming concert mistress of the UMSO University of Maryland in 2021-2022. She is also a sub at the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and has many experience performing internationally and within the States. She is also involved in MMEA in which she judged the Senior Allstate Maryland Violins in 2022. Rachel is currently teaching Orchestra at a public school within Howard County.
Within her musical journey, Rachel has performed for AIMS in Austria, attended the Berkshires High Peaks Festival in Massachusetts, Aria Music Festival, Interlochen Music Festival in Michigan and more. Teaching and performing is her passion, and she believes in each and one of her students to succeed and find joy in playing music.
Reach us at 1stChairStrings@gmail.com or 301-651-1106.