Dr. Ross DeBardelaben

Violin/Viola Performer and Teacher

I was raised in Miami, where I began viola at the age of ten. My first private teacher was former Miami Dade College distinguished faculty member Dr. Mischa Poznanski who played his beloved Stradivarius violin along with me in lessons. I commenced private viola lessons with Pamela McConnell, Professor of Viola at the University of Miami, when I was in the 8th grade and subsequently won a full scholarship to Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music to study viola with Kathryn Plummer and chamber music with John Kochanowski.

While at Vanderbilt, I performed in the viola section with the Nashville Symphony for all their classical subscription concerts for two seasons. In the fall of 1999, I joined the Graduate String Quartet at West Virginia University where I began my Masters degree. I moved to New York City in the Fall of 2000 and became a member of the Linden Trio, the Graduate String Trio at SUNY Purchase where I studied viola with Maria Lambros and Jesse Levine and competed by Masters of Fine Arts degree in viola.

From 2003-2005, I gained music business experience as an assistant to prominent classical music artist managers R. Douglas Sheldon and Mary Jo Connealy. I returned to Miami in 2005, after having been away for 11 years, as a doctoral student in viola performance at the University of Miami where I continued studies with Pamela McConnell.

In addition to Vandberbilt, Purchase, and Miami, I studied at the Aspen Music Festival (CO), Encore School for Strings (OH), Portland String Quartet Workshop (MN), Sewanee Summer Music Center (TN), Garth Newel Chamber Music Festival(VA), Magic Mountain Music Farm(NY), and the Latin American Violin Festival (Venezuela). He received additional lessons and masterclasses with Joey Corpus, Burton Kaplan, Lawrence Dutton, Heidi Castleman, Victoria Chiang, Daniel Avshalomov (American String Quartet), Kasuhide Isomura (Tokyo String Quartet), Jeffrey Irvine, and Ralph Fielding among others.

Highlights of my performance career include performing with the Nashville Symphony for Amy Grant Christmas Tours (20 Cities), Ray Charles for one of his last performances at the Greenbrier Hotel (2001), eight concerts with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant (Unleaded Tour 1995), chamber music concerts in the south of France (Bonlieu and Mirmande), and symphony concerts for a nine city tour in China.

Dr. Ross's Resume

EDUCATION
University of Miami, Frost School of Music, Coral Gables FL, May 2012
Doctor of Musical Arts in Viola Performance with Cognate in Music Business

Purchase College (SUNY), Conservatory of Music, Purchase NY, May 2002
Master of Fine Arts, Viola Performance

Vanderbilt University, Blair School of Music, Nashville TN, May 1998
Wilda Tinsley Moennig Honors Scholarship recipient
Bachelor of Music, Viola Performance, cum laude

WORK EXPERIENCE

Dunedin Highland Middle School, March 2024-June 2024

Adjunct Music Appreciation Teacher

French American School of Tampa Bay, September 2023-Present

Adjunct Music Appreciation Teacher

Pinellas County Center for the Arts (PCCA) at Gibbs High School, Fall 2023 - Spring 2024

Adjunct Instructor for Violin and Viola

John Hopkins Middle School, April 2023 - June 2024

Adjunct Instructor for Strings and Piano

Pinellas Youth Symphony, March 2023 - June 2024

Beginning Strings Instructor

Miami Virtuosi, August 2005 - Present

Founder and President, Small Business Providing Professional Musicians for Concerts, Weddings, Lessons

North Broward Preparatory School, October 2022 - June 2022

Private Violin/Viola Instructor

Miami Dade College, August 2016 - June 2020

Adjunct Instructor for Violin, Viola, Chamber Music, and Music Appreciation

Member of DeBardelaben-Talleda Duo Performing Recitals

Miami Music Project, January 2018 - October 2021

Teaching Artist for Private Lessons, Group Sectionals, and Orchestral Ensembles

Killington Music Festival, Killington VT, Summer 2016

Private Violin, Viola, and Chamber Music Instructor

Fisher Island Day School, Miami FL, October 2014 - June 2015

General Music Teacher, Early Learning (2 year olds) through 5th Grade 

St. Philip’s Episcopal School, Coral Gables FL, August 2011 – June 2014

Director of Violin Program

• First Director of the Violin Program at St. Philips, casting a vision for curriculum and all logistics

• Lead Instructor of Group Violin Classes for Kindergarteners, First, Second, and Third Graders

• Initiator of the Frost School of Music Stamps String Quartet Residency at St. Philip’s 

• Coordinator of Guest Performances Featuring Professional Musicians

Palmer Trinity School, Miami FL, January 2011 – March 2011

• Interim Orchestra Teacher/Conductor (while April Queen was on maternity leave)

• Conductor of Orchestras including String Ensemble, Intermediate Strings, Concert Strings (6th-12th grades) 

• Classes included Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass Students 

• Prepared Students for District MPAs, Concert at the Colony Theatre on Miami Beach and China Tour

• Managed grade book and assessed recordings submitted by students submitted through Smart Music

Sunset Elementary School, Miami FL, August 2008 – May 2009

Strings Teacher

• Taught Beginning and Intermediate Strings Class including violinists, violists, and cellists

• Curriculum: Essential Elements Book 1 and Beginning to Intermediate Repertoire

University of Miami, Frost School of Music, Coral Gables FL         Fall 2009 – Spring 2011

Coordinator of Communications, Appointed by Dean Shelly Berg

• Developed Digital and Print Marketing Materials highlighting Frost School of Music new faculty, select concerts, and new initiatives including the Mark O’Connor Residence and the Henry Mancini Institute

• Project manager for ads designed and placed in print/web publications including The Strad Magazine

• Manager of all logistics and coordination for the initial Mark O’Connor Frost School of Music Residency

• Scheduled all details for Frost School of Music Promotional Video featuring all departments

• Composed and Disseminated Frost School of Music Press Releases

• Served on the Committee for Improving the Frost School of Music Website
  Initiated Plans for new video placards in front of UM Gusman Hall advertising concerts 

Columbia Artists Management LLC, New York NY   October 2003 – July 2005

Management Assistant to R. Douglas Sheldon & Mary Jo Connealy

Served world class artists including the Eroica Trio, Mark O’Connor, Robert Kapilow, Yundi Li, Denis Matsuev, and others

• Bookings – Initiated/received sales calls; negotiated fee and terms 

• Contracts – Entered Contracts and administered contract through all stages until executed 

• Itineraries – Booked airline tickets, car service, hotels, press interviews, etc…

• Statements – Oversaw Monthly financial statements, credits and debits incurred by Artist

• Payments – Received checks for fees due and paid Artists funds available in Artist account • Publicity

• Worked closely with Artists’ Publicist and Record Company to promote Artist 

• CD Sales – Confirmed CD sales at venues for all artist performances

• Artist Liaison – for all above actions, served as liaison between Artist & Manager, Artist & Presenter

Bennington Chamber Music Conference, Bennington VT Several Summers, Most Recently August 2015

Facilities/Stage/House Manager
Served as liaison between faculty artists and administration

• Marked stage with tape at faculty rehearsals for placement of chairs and stand at concerts

• Handled set changes professionally during rehearsals and concerts

Vanderbilt University, Blair School of Music, August 1996 – May 1998

Stage and Orchestra Manager

• Reported to the conductor, Robin Fountain, managing rehearsal and concert set-up logistics including driving truck with percussion instruments, music stands, and chairs

• Supervised university operations personell in setting up for concerts

• Served as stage manager for student and faculty recital at Blair Recital Hall including recording concerts and executing set changes during the concerts

FURTHER TRAINING

Suzuki Vioin Method, January 2018 - July 2020

Registered with the Suzuki Association of America for completing teacher training for Every Child Can and Suzuki Violin Books 1-5. Trainers: Sally Gross, Nancy Jackson, Edmund Sprunger, Teri Einfeldt, Kimberly Meiers-Sims, and Charles Krigbuam

FiddleQuest Teacher Training, August 2016 - Present

Robust, innovative ear training focused online violin resource. Ongoing mentor friendship with founder Duane Whitcomb. Attended and volunteered at Creekside Strings Camp in Ashland Oregon in Summers of 2019 and 2021. Member of FIddleQuest Founding Teachers Symposium

Bornoff Method Teacher Training, Summer 2016

Bornoff Method with Debbie Lyle at St. Annes Episcopal School, Charlottesville VA

O’Connor Method Teacher Training, Various Summers, 2008 - 2014

O’Connor Books 1- 4 with Pam Wiley, Melissa Tong, and Mark O’Connor

SUMMER FESTIVALS 

Aspen Music Festival (CO), Encore School for Strings (OH), Portland String Quartet Workshop (MN), Sewanee Summer Music Center (TN), Garth Newel (VA), Magic Mountain Music Farm(NY), Latin American Violin Festival (Venezuela)

MAJOR VIOLIN/VIOLA TEACHERS and MASTER CLASSES 

Primary Teachers: Pamela McConnell, Jessie Levine, Maria Lambros, Philip Tietze, Kathryn Plummer, John Kochanowski, Joey Corpus, Burton Kaplan. Masterclasses and Additional Lessons: Lawrence Dutton, Heidi Castleman, Victoria Chiang, Daniel Avshalomov, Kasuhide Isomura, Jeffrey Irvine, Ralph Fielding

PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE
 

Orchestras: South Florida Symphony Orchestra, Miami Symphony, Miami Virtuosi, Key West Pops, Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, Mimosa Chamber Ensemble, Nashville Symphony, Wheeling Symphony, Evansville Philharmonic, Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, Huntsville Symphony, New World Symphony 

Chamber Music: Miami Virtuosi String Quartet with Pianist Micah McLaurin for Chopin Foundation Concerts, Florida Grand Opera No Exit (Spring 2014), Camp‐of‐the‐Woods String Quartet; The Linden Trio, graduate string trio at Purchase College; Graduate String Quartet at West Virginia University

Other Performance Experience: Violist with Nashville Symphony for two Amy Grant Christmas Tours (20 Cities), Ray Charles Orchestra for performance at the Greenbrier Hotel (WV), 20 piece string orchestra for 8 concerts with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unleaded Tour (1995); Also performed two chamber recitals in the south of France (Bonlieu and Mirmande) as member of Le Quartor Florybel (2002)