Evan Courtin is a freelance violinist and instructor from Buffalo, NY, and has been teaching at BSW since September 2014. He graduated from Buffalo State College with a BA in Music, where he studied with Amy Glidden. During his time Buff State, he served as concertmaster of the BSC Philharmonia.

From 2007 to 2013, Evan was a member of local prog group Peanut Brittle Satellite, which received a Buffalo Music Award in 2008 for Best New Original Music. In 2013 he received an All WNY Music Award as an instrumentalist not traditionally found in a rock band. He is currently working with Wooden Cities, a new music chamber ensemble which seeks to bring awareness to contemporary music through unique, educational programs. Additionally, he plays with Little Cake Cover Band and Evolution of the Arm, for whom he also composes.

Evan has been involved in several different aspects of theatrical violin performance, including productions at Lancaster Opera House and Theater of Youth, and with Zodiaque Dance Company. Recent notable performances include marriage proposals, ziplining across Camp Centerland in his debut as a stunt violinist, and three shows with Buffalo’s own Goo Goo Dolls.

Violist Leanne Darling is a performer, composer and teacher who is comfortable in the concert hall, the nightclub, community center, and art space. Leanne holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Cleveland Institute of Music and has held principal and assistant principal positions in the Florida West Coast Symphony and the Missouri Chamber Orchestra. Specializing in Classical Arabic music as well as Jazz and European Classical music, she combines styles to create repertoire for solo viola and loops generating layers of sound that simulates a whole room full of musicians. Leanne previously taught at Buffalo String Works from 2016-2019 and currently teaches viola, violin and chamber music at University at Buffalo and leads workshops in music improvisation in the Buffalo area.

Brian DeJesus was born and raised in Buffalo, NY, growing up in the neighborhood where Buffalo String Works would eventually take its roots. He started played electric bass when he was 12, upright bass at 18, and studied music at Villa Maria College. A versatile musician, Brian has quickly become a ubiquitous presence on the thriving Buffalo music scene and beyond, and can be found playing in groups that span a variety of sounds and styles from around the world. Current groups include Fredtown Stompers, BPD Trio (Baczkowski/Padmanabha/DeJesus), and John Victor's Divi Romi. DeJesus has also performed with Cages, Buffalo Jazz Octet, Western New York Chamber Orchestra, El Batey of Buffalo, NY, Carol McLaughlin, and many more. Brian is honored to be able to give back to the neighborhood he grew up in by showing music to the students of BSW.

Amy Kelly is a violist/violinist from East Aurora, NY. She began her studies with the Suzuki Method at the age of 7, and continues to play and discover music every day. After receiving a BA and MA in Russian Studies from Colgate and Georgetown Universities, Amy spent almost a decade living and working in Moscow, Russia. After returning to the Buffalo area, she rekindled her love of music, teaching at home and playing in area orchestras. She is principal violist for the Southern Tier Symphony, and has played with Buffalo Opera Unlimited, the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, the Buffalo Philharmonic, I Solisti of WNY, among other local groups. She is also passionate about chamber music and has travelled the globe to attend workshops. After teaching private lessons for over a decade, Amy was thrilled to have the opportunity to join BSW as a teaching artist in 2018. Outside of music, Amy is a dog and cat mom, a real mom, and a book hoarder.

Violinist Isabel Ong is an avid chamber musician with a passion for contemporary music. In addition to serving as a member of the New Juilliard Ensemble at the Juilliard School, she has performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, National Sawdust, and MOMA, and most recently was invited to perform in the Lucerne Festival Academy Orchestra in Switzerland.

A strong advocate for using the power of music to serve a greater humanitarian purpose, Isabel performed at ASAP’s (Advocates for Southeast Asians and the Persecuted) fifteenth anniversary celebration honoring their non-profit service of spreading higher education and improving living conditions for the people of Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. She has performed in Aletheia University of Tamsui, Taiwan’s 130th anniversary concert, providing a mixed recital of Western Classical music and classically-rendered Chinese folk pieces.

An equally dedicated teacher, Isabel is currently teaching at SUNY Fredonia and spends her summers on faculty at Point CounterPoint in Vermont. She holds degrees from Juilliard (BM and MM) and is currently completing her doctorate from the University of South Carolina. Her teachers include Joseph Lin, Laurie Smukler, and Ari Streisfeld. In her free time, Isabel can be found poring over a good book.

Anders is excited to join the Buffalo String Works team this year. He’s been playing String Bass for 14 years and recently graduated from SUNY Fredonia with a bachelor’s and master’s in Music Education. Currently, he performs with the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, the Warren Philharmonic, and substitutes in the Erie Philharmonic. Outside of music, Anders is an avid photographer, reader, and writer. He is passionate about creating spaces in which students can shape their identities and make music that is meaningful to them.

Jessica Anthony is a Buffalo-based violinist who currently serves as concertmaster of both the Orchard Park Symphony Orchestra and the Avanti Chamber Orchestra. She began her musical journey at the age of 7, and quickly gained a love for music. Growing up in the Finger Lakes region, Jessica was an original member of the Junior Strings Ensemble, eventually became concertmaster of the Youth Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes, and now is a core musician with the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes.

Outside of music, in her free time Jessica loves to read horror novels, play video games, and spend time with her partner Nick and their cat, Mochi.

Lizzie is the Program Coordinator and a Teaching Artist at Buffalo String Works, where she helps create welcoming spaces for students to learn and grow through music. She has experience managing programs, supporting families, and building community partnerships, but her favorite moments are spent making music with students in the classroom. Lizzie is passionate about education that centers creativity, equity, and belonging. She believes deeply in the power of the arts to help young people find their voice and feel at home while doing it.A lifelong musician, Lizzie plays the violin and viola. Throughout her career, Lizzie has performed a variety of musical styles with classical and contemporary ensembles including the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. She is the founding member and violist of Equinox String Quartet.Lizzie attended the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a Bachelor of Science of Engineering degree in Computer Engineering and a minor in Music.

Native to Buffalo, Samantha holds a Bachelors of Music from The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and a Masters of Music from the University of Ottawa, both degrees with a concentration in Cello Performance. Playing now for 20 years, Sam has studied under cellists such as Roman Mekinulov, Marie-Elaine Gagnon, and Paul Marleyn.

An avid chamber music and orchestral performer, Sam has co-founded and is the cellist of the Equinox String Quartet. Sam has played with The Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and still currently plays with The Orchestra of Northern New York, The Western New York Chamber Orchestra, and Amherst Symphony Orchestra. She has held principal positions with WNYCO, The Crane Symphony Orchestra, The Crane Opera Ensemble, The College Light Opera Company, Cheektowaga Symphony Orchestra and the Amherst Chamber Ensembles. 

Outside of cello, Sam enjoys reading, painting, and being outdoors. She is also a singer/songwriter and producer who goes by the artist name GODDESS. Her music is heavily influenced by artists such as Adele, The Black Keys, and Hozier. Sam released her first self-titled album in January of 2024. Catch Sam playing her own original music around the Buffalo area!

Katie Weissman began playing the cello at the age of three at Buffalo Suzuki Strings after seeing Yo-Yo Ma appear on Sesame Street. She holds a Bachelors of Music in Cello Performance from Boston University, and her principal teachers include Nancy Anderson, Feng Hew, Michael Reynolds, Amanda Truelove and Roman Mekinulov. When at home in Buffalo, Katie is cellist and backup singer in the Little Cake Cover Band and is a substitute for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. She also plays with contemporary music ensemble Wooden Cities, the composition think-tank Evolution of the Arm, experimental ensemble Root Cellar, folkrock bands TEOA and Birddog, and various other chamber music outfits in the Western New York area. In addition, she curates the concert series “Minuets & Mimosas” at Duende at Silo City. She has toured at home and abroad, and has lent her playing to many recording projects in the studio, including multiple albums and stage performances by Buffalo's own Goo Goo Dolls. She teaches privately in her own studio, and currently lives in Williamsville with her dogs, rabbits and parakeet.

Tajai Shorter is a Black violinist and aspiring music educator from District Heights Maryland. She began playing the violin around the age of 10 and quickly fell in love with the instrument. In her early years, Tajai took private lessons at the Levine School of Music while participating in a variety of summer programs and ensembles throughout her musical career. Some highlights include joining the Prince George’s County Philharmonic twice for their annual Side-By-Side concert, attending the yearly chamber music festival at the Apple Hill Center of Chamber Music, and performing numerous orchestral and chamber works at the Eastern Music Festival at Guilford College.

Tajai earned her Bachelor of Violin Performance degree at Shenandoah Conservatory while also taking private lessons on viola for 3 years. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Tajai was able to discover a deep passion for music education. She is excited to be joining the team at Buffalo String Works and helping them pursue their mission of making music accessible for all youth.

Tajai is currently pursuing her Master’s in Violin Performance at the University at Buffalo and is studying under professor Melissa White. As a musician herself, Tajai hopes to share her knowledge of music with other young artists who may not have the resources to pursue their passions as she believes everyone deserves access to quality education regardless of who they are or where they come from.