INSTRUCTORS

SinHwa
Choi

Music Director, Cello

Cellist SinHwa Lee was born in Seoul, Korea. She began her musical studies at the age of six with piano. She started her cello lesson at age nine. Since then, she has participated various orchestras as a principal cellist, such as Ulsan University Orchestra, Ulsan Youth Orchestra, Asian Youth Orchestra. Bergen Symphony Orchestra.

She also performed as a soloist including Ulsan Symphony Orchestra, Ulsan University Orchestra, Busan Symphony Orchestra, Ulsan Chamber Orchestra, New York Chamber Orchestra, Queensboro Symphony Orchestra and gave her first debut at age thirteen with Ulsan Symphony Orchestra.

She won several competition such as HanSe University Competition, Segye Ilbo Competition. She had received scholarship from Ulsan University during her Bachelor studies and got a Master degree at Manhattan School of Music.

She is currently the principle cellist in Jerusalem Orchestra and Queensboro Symphony Orchestra and Cello Instrunctor in Friends with Music. She also performs various chamber and orchestra as a guest performer.Recently, She started new career of radio DJ at K-Radio (AM1660) in New York.

Mitzuru
Kubo

Violin & Viola

Originally from Seattle, Washington, Mitsuru Kubo, grew up in a home filled with playing, listening, singing and dancing to music. And by age 7 she decided to focus on the viola. She traveled abroad when she was 12 years old to study in Seoul, South Korea, at the Sun Hwa Performing Arts School.

On her return to the US, Mitsuru studied with Helen Callus at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her education continued under the tutelage of Victoria Chiang at the Peabody Institute of Music, where she completed her Graduate Performance Diploma.

Mitsuru has attended nationwide festivals such as the Aspen Music Festival, the Heifetz International Music Institute, Centrum Chamber Music Festival to name a few. Mitsuru has participated in master classes with Roberto Diaz, Jeffery Irvine, Karen Ritscher, Carol Rodland, Juilliard String Quartet, and the Emerson String Quartet, among others. She is a dynamic freelance musician and teacher in the NJ/NYC area, enjoying a broad range of music, from classical/contemporary and world to rock and pop.

Esther
Tsai-Van Ness

Piano

Originally from Taipei, Taiwan, Esther Tsai-Van Ness came to New Jersey with her husband, noted pianist Paul Van Ness, in 2007. She joined Friend with Music after years of experience as a piano instructor, church musician, professional accompanist and mother of FwM member, Audrey. She began her piano study at age 4, and holds a Master’s degree in Music from California State University, Los Angeles, and studied further at U.C.L.A. She currently accompanies Eurythmy classes at Green Meadow Waldorf School, Carol Choir at West Side Presbyterian Church, and for music studios, and she teaches private lessons at Eastern Christian After-School Program and at her home Studio. She and her husband also serve in West Side Concert Series Committee Advisory Board.