Arco Strings
String ensembles that work with you!The Musicians
Every Arco ensemble is composed of active, professional musicians from the Twin Cities area. If you would like to meet them, click on their names below.
Please contact us or call at 612-929-0086 if you have questions.
Violin Viola Andrea Noteboom
Katherine Bast
Steven Leung
Bradley Johnson
Kristyn GrothCello
Andrea Noteboom, Violinist Ms. Noteboom is an active teacher and performer. She has taught Suzuki violin at MacPhail Center for the Arts for the past three years. She performs with the Minnesota Opera, the Minnesota Sinfonia, Allegro Sinfonia, and chamber ensembles. Last April, she recorded a CD with the St. Olaf Choir. Ms. Noteboom has a Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from St. Olaf college, studying with Charles gray. She earned her Masters of Music in violin performance and Suzuki pedagogy from the Cleveland Institute fo Music, studying with David Russell and Michele George. She ahs participated at Aspen Music Festival, Bravo String Institute, and Madeleine Island Music Camp.
Email Ms. Noteboom at andrea.noteboom@arcostrings.com.
Katherine Bast, Violinist Ms. Bast began her violin studies through her elementary school Suzuki program. She received her Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. While pursuing her own study with Ronald Neal, she continued teaching and performing for various metropolitan organizations. After graduation she returned to her native Wisconsin and there maintained a private teaching studio and played with Milwaukee's Skylight Opera Theater and the Waukesha Symphony. In 2001 she received her Master's Degree in violin Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy from the University of Minnesota studying with Mark Bjork. During that time, she held leadership positions within the University orchestra and was a graduate teaching assistant in violin. Currently, she is a full time Suzuki violin instructor at MacPhail Center for the Arts and a free-lance performer in the Twin Cities.
Email Ms. Bast at katie.bast@arcostrings.com.
Annalee Wolf, Violist Ms. Hugo plays around the Twin Cities area in ensembles ranging from the Bloomington Symphony to the Minnesota Orchestra. She also teaches yoga part time and is the mother of two children
Tanya Grundahl, Violist Mrs. Grundahl has played viola for many years. Highlights of her career include touring nationally and in central and eastern Europe with the St. Olaf Orchestra and studying with Charles Gray while at St. Olaf. She currently is a registered nurse.
Bradley Johnson, Violinist/Violist Mr. Johnson received his bachelors degree in violin performance from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley and a masters degree in viola performance along with a long-term Suzuki teacher training from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. While in Greeley, Mr. Johnson studied with violinist Richard Fuchs, violist Juliet White-Smith, and was a member of the Greeley Philharmonic and the Union Colony Piano Trio. After moving to Minneapolis, he continued to perform chamber music as a recipient of the Ted Mann Quartet Scholarship while studying with Korey Konkol.
In the Twin Cities, he has a varied freelance career. The Minnesota Opera has invited him to perform in the orchestra during the 2003 season, including the productions The Flying Dutchman, Norma and The Handmaid's Tale. He also performs with the Minnesota Sinifonia, and the former Plymouth Series, now VocalEssence, conducted by Philip Brunelle. Being a member of the Lyra Concert, a well known baroque ensemble in the Twin Cities, Mr. Johnson is dedicated to authentic performance practice. He gets the chance to work closely with David Douglass, the director and founder of The Kings Noyse, and Jacques Ogg, whom are the co-directors.
Kristyn Groth, Violinist Ms. Groth has been studying violin since kindergarten. She completed her B.A. in Music at the University of Louisville in Louisville, KY. During her time there, she served as concertmaster of the University of Louisville Symphony Orchestra, played with the Early Music Ensemble, participated in the Contemporary Music Ensemble and spent one semester as part of the jazz band. In addition, she was hired to teach at Kentuckiana Music Camp and to play for the summer season of Louisville Music Theatre. After graduation, she moved to the Twin Cities to pursue her master's degrees in music performance and music therapy, which she is scheduled to complete in 2003.
Steve Leung, Violinist Mr. Leung has an extensive performing background having played in the San Antonio and New World Symphonies, and substituted with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, and Minnesota Sinfonia. He has also performed in numerous summer music programs including: Pacific Music Festival - Sapporo, Japan; National Orchestral Institute; National Repertory Orchestra; Music Academy of the West; Bowdoin Summer Music Festival; and Madeleine Island Music camp. He received the degrees of Bachelor of Music from Oberlin Conservatory and Master of Music from Rice university. He has been a faculty member of the MacPhail Center for the Arts since 1999 and also gives private violin instruction through Steven Leung Studios.
Adriana La Rosa Ransom, Cellist An active performer in the Twin Cities, cellist Adriana La Rosa Ransom enjoys a varied concert schedule. She has appeared most recently in solo and chamber music recitals at the Schubert Club Landmark Center, the MacPhail Center for the Arts, Northcentral College, and the University of Minnesota, and is currently in her fourth season with the Minnesota Opera Orchestra. Ms. Ransom was the 2001 University of Minnesota Concerto Competition winner and won top prizes from the WAMSO, Schubert Club, and Thursday Musical Competitions in 2000. She has appeared in master classes with many distinguished artists, most recently being selected to perform for Yo Yo Ma and Orlando Cole. A native of Kansas City, Ms. Ransom completed her Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Missouri where she studied with Nina Gordon. Since coming to Minnesota, she has pursued graduate studies with Tanya Remenikova at the University of Minnesota and will graduate with her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 2003. Ms. Ransom is currently on the faculty at the MacPhail Center for the Arts in Minneapolis and at the Illinois Wesleyan University Summer Cello Camp in Bloomington.
