2021 Camp Faculty

Carlyn Kessler and Victoria Lewis (Co-Directors) originally met at the Bowdoin International Music Academy in 2010, but their musical partnership blossomed at Cleveland Institute of Music, where they both graduated with Masters degrees in Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy in 2015. Carlyn and Victoria formed the NOA trio as a part CIM’s esteemed Advanced Piano Trio Program and performed in a weeklong residency with the Chamber Music Society of Detroit’s Discovery Series. They have enjoyed collaborating ever since (watch and listen to a performance here!).

 

Carlyn Kessler (Cello, Music History, Arts and Crafts) is a California-based cellist and teacher. Carlyn earned her degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Cello Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy. She is certified to teach Suzuki cello from Books 1-10. Carlyn currently maintains a large cello studio and serves on the preparatory faculty at Holy Names University in Oakland. Previously residing in Ohio, Carlyn taught undergraduate students as the cello professor at The College of Wooster and served as the Department Head of Strings at the Music Settlement in Cleveland, where she was on the cello and chamber music faculty and an artist-in-residence.Carlyn has performed extensively both internationally and locally. Equally passionate about classical and crossover genres, Carlyn has recently performed on tour with Michael Bublé and Josh Groban and can be heard on the soundtrack of Anamon Studios’ new animated short film “Let’s Eat.” An avid chamber musician, Carlyn is a member of the Bay Area’s sought-after Curium Trio, which highlights and commissions music by female composers, and she was a 2018-2019 Fellow at Chamber Music Silicon Valley. Carlyn has played with a variety of orchestras including Marin Symphony, Fresno Philharmonic, Stockton Symphony, CityMusic Cleveland, and Cleveland Opera Theatre, among others.

Carlyn Kessler (Cello, Music History, Arts and Crafts) is a California-based cellist and teacher. Carlyn earned her degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Cello Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy. She is certified to teach Suzuki cello from Books 1-10. Carlyn currently maintains a large cello studio and serves on the preparatory faculty at Holy Names University in Oakland. Previously residing in Ohio, Carlyn taught undergraduate students as the cello professor at The College of Wooster and served as the Department Head of Strings at the Music Settlement in Cleveland, where she was on the cello and chamber music faculty and an artist-in-residence.

Carlyn has performed extensively both internationally and locally. Equally passionate about classical and crossover genres, Carlyn has recently performed on tour with Michael Bublé and Josh Groban and can be heard on the soundtrack of Anamon Studios’ new animated short film “Let’s Eat.” An avid chamber musician, Carlyn is a member of the Bay Area’s sought-after Curium Trio, which highlights and commissions music by female composers, and she was a 2018-2019 Fellow at Chamber Music Silicon Valley. Carlyn has played with a variety of orchestras including Marin Symphony, Fresno Philharmonic, Stockton Symphony, CityMusic Cleveland, and Cleveland Opera Theatre, among others.

Victoria Wolf Lewis (Violin, Music History, Cooking) enjoys a varied career as a performer and educator based in New York City. Since graduating from the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) with a Master of Music in performance and Suzuki Pedagogy (certified in Suzuki violin books 1-10), Victoria has taught at the Lawrence Eisman Center for Preparatory Studies at Queens College, Saint David’s School, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, the Sato Center for Suzuki Studies at CIM, and she currently maintains an active private studio. Victoria has performed with many orchestras in the United States and abroad including New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, New York City Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Tel Aviv Soloists, and is currently a violinist with the Sarasota Opera Orchestra. Ms. Lewis has served as the concertmaster of LoftOpera and is currently the concertmaster of Bare Opera in New York City. Victoria performed with the Ensemble for the Romantic Century in their April 2016 production of Anna Akhmatova: The Heart Is Not Made of Stone at BAM Fisher Theater, of which the NY Times reviewed: “But the real stars are the musicians […] playing rapturous accounts of Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff and Shostakovich”.  Past solo appearances include Vivaldi’s Winter with Orquestra De Camara Galega in Spain and Italy.

Victoria Wolf Lewis (Violin, Music History, Cooking) enjoys a varied career as a performer and educator based in New York City. Since graduating from the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) with a Master of Music in performance and Suzuki Pedagogy (certified in Suzuki violin books 1-10), Victoria has taught at the Lawrence Eisman Center for Preparatory Studies at Queens College, Saint David’s School, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, the Sato Center for Suzuki Studies at CIM, and she currently maintains an active private studio.

Victoria has performed with many orchestras in the United States and abroad including New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, New York City Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Tel Aviv Soloists, and is currently a violinist with the Sarasota Opera Orchestra. Ms. Lewis has served as the concertmaster of LoftOpera and is currently the concertmaster of Bare Opera in New York City. Victoria performed with the Ensemble for the Romantic Century in their April 2016 production of Anna Akhmatova: The Heart Is Not Made of Stone at BAM Fisher Theater, of which the NY Times reviewed: “But the real stars are the musicians […] playing rapturous accounts of Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff and Shostakovich”.  Past solo appearances include Vivaldi’s Winter with Orquestra De Camara Galega in Spain and Italy.

Katherine Freedman (Creative Writing) holds a master’s degree in English Education from Columbia University Teachers College, and a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in creative writing from Barnard College. She currently teaches 4th, 5th, and 6th grade English and Humanities at The Manitou School, a progressive independent school in Cold Spring, New York. She previously taught 6th and 8th grade English at Léman Manhattan Preparatory School in New York City. Throughout her teaching career Katherine has also tutored students privately, and enjoys developing her own lessons tailored to her students’ specific needs. She also writes lesson plans for Storyworks, one of Scholastic’s classroom magazines. Katherine is a published poet, and is currently writing a novel in verse about her grandmother’s experience living in Belgium during World War II.

Katherine Freedman (Creative Writing) holds a master’s degree in English Education from Columbia University Teachers College, and a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in creative writing from Barnard College. She currently teaches 4th, 5th, and 6th grade English and Humanities at The Manitou School, a progressive independent school in Cold Spring, New York. She previously taught 6th and 8th grade English at Léman Manhattan Preparatory School in New York City. Throughout her teaching career Katherine has also tutored students privately, and enjoys developing her own lessons tailored to her students’ specific needs. She also writes lesson plans for Storyworks, one of Scholastic’s classroom magazines. Katherine is a published poet, and is currently writing a novel in verse about her grandmother’s experience living in Belgium during World War II.

Michelle Corley Wing of It’s Yoga Kids SF helps kids and their adults feel happy and free. She’s a mom, educator, author and speaker with multiple Yoga and meditation certifications. Her globally recognized - practical and proven - IYK® System builds healthy habits for life.

Michelle Corley Wing of It’s Yoga Kids SF helps kids and their adults feel happy and free. She’s a mom, educator, author and speaker with multiple Yoga and meditation certifications. Her globally recognized - practical and proven - IYK® System builds healthy habits for life.