About Us
The Quattro String Academy is a studio dedicated to the development of string education in the Indianapolis area. Please read about our instructors in the biographies below.
Chin Mi Kim, violin
Chin Mi Kim is an active freelance violinist and teacher. She was born in Korea and moved to Indianapolis with her family at four years of age. She graduated from Lawrence North High School and attended Butler University where she studied with Lawrence Shapiro and Hidetaro Suzuki. She spent two summers in Wisconsin studying with Vartan Manoogian. Chin Mi received her Bachelor of Music Degree from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where she studied with Yuval Yaron and Paul Biss. After graduation she returned to Indianapolis where she has been performing with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Suzuki and Friends, studio recording work, and teaching privately. Chin Mi was a participant for two summers in the Spoleto Festival USA held in Charleston, SC. In 2003 Chin Mi was a recipient of the Arts Council of Indianapolis-Creative Renewal Arts.
As a well established violin teacher in the Indianapolis metro area for over 20 years, Chin Mi brings to her teaching pedagogical training through her work with Mimi Zweig at the Jacobs School of Music of Indiana University in Bloomington, IN and several teacher training courses with the Suzuki Institute of America.
Chin Mi lives with her husband and co-founder of Quattro String Academy, Robert Goodlett, and their dog, Oliver, a Yorkshire Terrier.
As a well established violin teacher in the Indianapolis metro area for over 20 years, Chin Mi brings to her teaching pedagogical training through her work with Mimi Zweig at the Jacobs School of Music of Indiana University in Bloomington, IN and several teacher training courses with the Suzuki Institute of America.
Chin Mi lives with her husband and co-founder of Quattro String Academy, Robert Goodlett, and their dog, Oliver, a Yorkshire Terrier.
Anna Czerniak, violin
Anna Czerniak began taking violin lessons at age three in Houston, Texas. At sixteen she moved to Cleveland to participate in the Young Artist Program at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She holds an undergraduate degree in music performance from the Colburn Conservatory and a master’s degree from the New England Conservatory. For the past few years Anna has been working on a doctoral degree in violin performance at Indiana University.
Anna has performed in several music festivals including the Aspen Music Festival, Tanglewood Music Festival, and Spoleto Festival USA. She has also performed with many professional orchestras across the country. Since residing in Indianapolis, Anna regularly performs with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra as a substitute violinist and is currently a member. Additionally, Anna enjoys teaching and inspiring others to make music an important part of their lives.
Anna has performed in several music festivals including the Aspen Music Festival, Tanglewood Music Festival, and Spoleto Festival USA. She has also performed with many professional orchestras across the country. Since residing in Indianapolis, Anna regularly performs with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra as a substitute violinist and is currently a member. Additionally, Anna enjoys teaching and inspiring others to make music an important part of their lives.
Sydney Hartwick, violin
Sydney Hartwick began the violin at age six and has since enjoyed a varied career. As an orchestral musician, Sydney frequently performs with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra as a substitute violinist, and is also a substitute violinist with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Ballet and Opera Orchestras, New World Symphony, and Civic Orchestra. As a soloist, Sydney has performed with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, Muncie Symphony Orchestra, and American Fork Symphony (Utah). She previously attended the Aspen Music Festival as a fellow, the Sarasota Music Festival, and the Domaine Forget International Music Festival. She also performed with the Britt Music Festival for their 2022 season. Sydney obtained her Undergraduate and Master’s Degrees from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and continued her studies by earning a post-graduate certificate at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Sydney attended the Jacobs School of Music pre-college program where she was a member of the Violin Virtuosi, and performed ensemble and solo music on a South American tour in Argentina. As an educator, she has worked closely with Mimi Zweig and Brenda Brenner, and has taught as an assistant teacher at the IU Summer String Academy. Currently residing in Indianapolis, Sydney enjoys being outdoors/playing sports, spending time with family and friends, and cooking.
Kathryn Hershberger, violin and viola
Kathryn Hershberger holds a B.M. in viola performance from Indiana University. She has studied with Mimi Zweig, Rostislav Dubinsky, Csaba Erdélyi, Jerry Horner, Stacia Spencer, and Eleanor Briccetti. After teaching with the Indianapolis Academy of Music for 12 years, she began her own private studio starting the fall of 2009. Hershberger Studio is for the students ages 4-18 studying the violin or viola. As of February 2022, she joined the faculty of Quattro String Academy. Under her tutelage, her students have been accepted to schools such as Eastman School of Music, Cincinnati Conservatory, Frost School of Music, and Peabody. She is currently principal violist for the Anderson Symphony, viola section coach for the National Organization Music For All, and works with string students in several public school in individual and group capacities. She recently was appointed to the position of running the Indianapolis Chapter of Classical Revolution. She is also active in crossover performance including collaborations with Indy Jazz Fest, local and national rock and folk artists, and performance of local composer’s compositions. Additionally, she substitutes with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, plays for the Indianapolis Opera, has been an in-demand studio musician for the past 20 years, and is a very active chamber musician.
She has been the principal violist of the Kokomo Symphony and the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, assistant principal of Lafayette Symphony and Marion Symphony, and was a founding member of the Fishers Chambers players. She has toured with groups such as Manheim Steamroller, Celtic Woman, and performed with John Williams, Leslie Odom Jr., The Who, Hugh Jackman, and The Eagles. She previously worked as a private violin and viola instructor for the IU String Academy, a chamber coach and teaching assistant for the IU Summer String Academy, and the Bedford Young Violinist Program. From 2002-2007, she served as Adjunct Professor of Violin Pedagogy at Butler University.
Kathy is very active in the musical education community and has been a judge for the Indiana Wesleyan/Taylor University Concerto competition and for Symphony in Color, overseen seating auditions and viola sectionals for the Indiana All-State Orchestra, acted as a chamber coach for the New World Chamber Music program, served as a speaker at the ASTA National Conference, and served a two-year position as the INASTA private studio teacher liaison. She lives in Indianapolis with her two daughters: Fiona and Freya.
She has been the principal violist of the Kokomo Symphony and the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, assistant principal of Lafayette Symphony and Marion Symphony, and was a founding member of the Fishers Chambers players. She has toured with groups such as Manheim Steamroller, Celtic Woman, and performed with John Williams, Leslie Odom Jr., The Who, Hugh Jackman, and The Eagles. She previously worked as a private violin and viola instructor for the IU String Academy, a chamber coach and teaching assistant for the IU Summer String Academy, and the Bedford Young Violinist Program. From 2002-2007, she served as Adjunct Professor of Violin Pedagogy at Butler University.
Kathy is very active in the musical education community and has been a judge for the Indiana Wesleyan/Taylor University Concerto competition and for Symphony in Color, overseen seating auditions and viola sectionals for the Indiana All-State Orchestra, acted as a chamber coach for the New World Chamber Music program, served as a speaker at the ASTA National Conference, and served a two-year position as the INASTA private studio teacher liaison. She lives in Indianapolis with her two daughters: Fiona and Freya.
MinJi Kim, violin
Violinist MinJi Kim is a versatile solo violinist, chamber musician, and educator. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Kim began her training on the violin at age five. Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Kim is an associate concertmaster of Carmel Symphony Orchestra and the principal second violin of Lafayette Symphony Orchestra on The Esther & Richard Crowder Estate Chair. Since 2021, Kim has played with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra as a substitute violinist.
As an educator, Kim is actively engaged in teaching her private students. She has taught music and the violin in various capacities since 2011. Since August 2022, she has taught at Quattro String Academy in Carmel, IN. She was appointed as an Associate Instructor at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music for teaching undergraduate and graduate, major and non-major students. Also, she was trained by renowned string pedagogue Mimi Zweig, and worked for the Fairview Violin Project under Dr. Brenner at Fairview Elementary School, Bloomington, IN. In South Korea, Kim holds a Teacher Certification in Music for Secondary School, issued by the Ministry of Education. She taught at Seoul Arts High School and Teach for Korea.
Kim is currently a candidate for the Doctoral of Music degree in Violin Literature and Performance with double minors in Baroque Violin and Music Theory at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she also earned her Master of Music in 2018. She received her Bachelor of Music in Violin performance (Cum laude) from Seoul National University with a double major in Business Administration. Her principal teachers include Mark Kaplan, Stanley Ritchie, Kyungsun Lee, and Sunny Lee.
As an educator, Kim is actively engaged in teaching her private students. She has taught music and the violin in various capacities since 2011. Since August 2022, she has taught at Quattro String Academy in Carmel, IN. She was appointed as an Associate Instructor at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music for teaching undergraduate and graduate, major and non-major students. Also, she was trained by renowned string pedagogue Mimi Zweig, and worked for the Fairview Violin Project under Dr. Brenner at Fairview Elementary School, Bloomington, IN. In South Korea, Kim holds a Teacher Certification in Music for Secondary School, issued by the Ministry of Education. She taught at Seoul Arts High School and Teach for Korea.
Kim is currently a candidate for the Doctoral of Music degree in Violin Literature and Performance with double minors in Baroque Violin and Music Theory at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she also earned her Master of Music in 2018. She received her Bachelor of Music in Violin performance (Cum laude) from Seoul National University with a double major in Business Administration. Her principal teachers include Mark Kaplan, Stanley Ritchie, Kyungsun Lee, and Sunny Lee.
Zachary Collins, viola
Zachary Collins joined the viola section of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 2017. Mr. Collins grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and studied violin with Michael Klotz, Konstantine Kiradjieff, Linda Cerone, and his mother, Sandra Collins. After switching from the violin to viola, Mr. Collins attended the Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied with Robert Vernon. Prior to joining the ISO, Mr. Collins was a member of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Theresa Langdon, viola
Violist Theresa Langdon is a long-time member of the Indianapolis Symphony’s viola section, a founding member of the Linden String Quartet, and an active teacher in the Indianapolis area. Her students, mostly high school-aged, have gone on to be music majors or to continue playing as non-majors at the nation’s finest colleges and universities. Theresa Langdon’s teaching affiliations include her home studio, Quattro String Academy, Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, New World Youth Orchestra, and coaching violists at Lawrence Central High School. She is president of Indianapolis Matinee Musicale, an organization which sponsors recitals and competitions for young musicians. Through the ISO’s Arts Every Day program, she presents educational programs at elementary schools, and has written a book to teach folk songs to children entitled Little Cloud’s Adventure. During the summer, she serves on the faculty of the MasterWorks Festival where she offers orchestral and chamber music coaching, and plays for the Chamber Music Week and faculty recitals. Terry holds music performance degrees from Indiana University and Yale University. Her interests outside music include cooking, foreign languages, Christianity, fitness, and her family.
James Cooper
Japanese-American cellist James Sohei Cooper joined the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in September of 2022, and now teaches sectionals at the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra. He is a former principal cellist of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. He has performed throughout the United States and abroad in leading venues such as Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Chicago Symphony Center, Seiji Ozawa Hall, Toppan Hall in Tokyo, the Benedict Music Tent, and Usher Hall in Edinburgh. In 2021 he was awarded the Pirastro Young Artist Prize at the Erben Music Festival in Munich. He was awarded full-tuition fellowships for numerous seasons to study at the Aspen Music Festival and School; in 2019, he was awarded the Beth Newdome Fellowship to perform and study with the Dover String Quartet at the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival. He is also the First Prize winner of the Samuel and Elinor Thaviu String Performance Competition and the Houston Civic Symphony Young Artist Competition. He has participated in the Kronberg Academy Masterclasses, International Music Seminar Prussia Cove, the Sarasota Music Festival, the Meadowmount School of Music, Cello Akademie Rutesheim, International Music Festival Nippon, and the New York String Orchestra Seminar. He has been invited to actively participate in masterclasses with Lynn Harrell, Steven Isserlis, Gary Hoffman, Danjulo Ishizaka, Mario Brunello, Robert deMaine, and Alisa Weilerstein.
James has performed as soloist with the Colburn Orchestra, Northwestern Philharmonia, Northwestern Baroque Ensemble, Houston Civic Symphony, Houston Youth Orchestra, and the Kinder School for the Performing and Visual Arts Symphony. He performed chamber music with Augustin Hadelich, Denis Bouriakov, and Anthony Marwood in the Colburn Chamber Music Society, and has also performed in concert with Camden Shaw, James Dunham, and Robert McDuffie. He presented the world-premiere of Ultraviolet for Cello, Clarinet, and Piano by Pierre Jalbert of Rice University, Shepherd School of Music. He has worked with renown conductors such as Michael Tilson Thomas, Sir Neville Marriner, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Stéphane Denève, Robert Spano, Ludovic Morlot, and Hannu Lintu, among others. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Colburn Conservatory, where he studied with Ronald Leonard. He also holds a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University, Bienen School of Music, where he studied with Hans Jorgen Jensen. He currently plays on a 1967 Carl Becker cello.
James has performed as soloist with the Colburn Orchestra, Northwestern Philharmonia, Northwestern Baroque Ensemble, Houston Civic Symphony, Houston Youth Orchestra, and the Kinder School for the Performing and Visual Arts Symphony. He performed chamber music with Augustin Hadelich, Denis Bouriakov, and Anthony Marwood in the Colburn Chamber Music Society, and has also performed in concert with Camden Shaw, James Dunham, and Robert McDuffie. He presented the world-premiere of Ultraviolet for Cello, Clarinet, and Piano by Pierre Jalbert of Rice University, Shepherd School of Music. He has worked with renown conductors such as Michael Tilson Thomas, Sir Neville Marriner, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Stéphane Denève, Robert Spano, Ludovic Morlot, and Hannu Lintu, among others. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Colburn Conservatory, where he studied with Ronald Leonard. He also holds a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University, Bienen School of Music, where he studied with Hans Jorgen Jensen. He currently plays on a 1967 Carl Becker cello.
Nicholas Donatelle, cello
Nicholas Donatelle is a member of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra cello section, beginning in November 2019. Beforehand, he lived in Chicago and was Section Cellist of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Assistant Principal of Orchestra Iowa, 2nd Chair in the Des Moines Symphony, and Section Cello in the Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra in addition to teaching and gigging around the Chicagoland area. Prior to pursuing an orchestral career, he was a cellist for Broadway tours (Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, GHOST the musical, Annie, An American in Paris, and Love Never Dies), which took him all over the United States, Canada, and East Asia. After touring, he briefly taught in the Chicagoland area for the Merit School of Music and through DePaul University’s Community Music Division.
Nicholas completed his Masters in Music at DePaul studying with Stephen Balderston and his Bachelors of Music at the University of Minnesota studying with Tanya Remenikova. He was also a regular member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago while at DePaul. He attended the Round Top Festival Institute and participated in the 2007 New York String Orchestra Seminar. Additionally, he was appointed as one of the Principal Cellists at the Castleton Festival by Lorin Maazel during the summer of 2012.
Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Nicholas grew up in a musical family with his parents and sister all playing brass instruments. Nicholas chose the cello at age 4 to be different and because the cello captured his attention. Growing up with the Suzuki method and studying with his first teacher, Sandra Bohn, for 8 years, he then studied with Winona Zelenka of the Toronto Symphony. In his free time, Nicholas loves to spend time with his wife, Lerryn, and their two dogs, Daphnis and Chloe. He enjoys gardening, ice skating, and listening to all genres of music.
Nicholas completed his Masters in Music at DePaul studying with Stephen Balderston and his Bachelors of Music at the University of Minnesota studying with Tanya Remenikova. He was also a regular member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago while at DePaul. He attended the Round Top Festival Institute and participated in the 2007 New York String Orchestra Seminar. Additionally, he was appointed as one of the Principal Cellists at the Castleton Festival by Lorin Maazel during the summer of 2012.
Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Nicholas grew up in a musical family with his parents and sister all playing brass instruments. Nicholas chose the cello at age 4 to be different and because the cello captured his attention. Growing up with the Suzuki method and studying with his first teacher, Sandra Bohn, for 8 years, he then studied with Winona Zelenka of the Toronto Symphony. In his free time, Nicholas loves to spend time with his wife, Lerryn, and their two dogs, Daphnis and Chloe. He enjoys gardening, ice skating, and listening to all genres of music.
Kurt Fowler, cello
Kurt Fowler has performed throughout the United States, as well as in Europe, as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral musician. He performs regularly with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra as a substitute cellist, has performed with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Syracuse Symphony, has served as principal cellist of the Bear Valley Music Festival, the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, and the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra, and has performed at numerous summer festivals including the Bellingham Festival of Music, Aspen Music Festival, Sarasota Music Festival, and the Heidelberg Castle Festival in Heidelberg, Germany. An advocate of both contemporary classical music and early music performance practice, Kurt has performed in numerous new music and early music ensembles and has been active in commissioning new works.
Committed to education, Kurt is Professor of Music at Indiana State University, where he has been on the faculty since 1998, and teaches privately in the Indianapolis and Terre Haute communities. His students have continued their education at some of the top universities and summer programs in the country. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from the Eastman School of Music and his Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Kurt has enjoyed teaching at the Quattro String Academy since 2011 and lives in Indianapolis with his wife, organist Heather Hinton.
Committed to education, Kurt is Professor of Music at Indiana State University, where he has been on the faculty since 1998, and teaches privately in the Indianapolis and Terre Haute communities. His students have continued their education at some of the top universities and summer programs in the country. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from the Eastman School of Music and his Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Kurt has enjoyed teaching at the Quattro String Academy since 2011 and lives in Indianapolis with his wife, organist Heather Hinton.
Robert Goodlett, bass
Robert Goodlett has been a long time member of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, having joined the orchestra in 1972 and appointed Assistant Principal Bass in 1976. He holds degrees from the University of Louisville and the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. His major teachers at IU were Murray Grodner during the Fall and Spring Semesters and Gary Karr during the summers. In addition to the ISO, Robert has been a member of the Louisville Orchestra (1966 - 70) and has performed at the Aspen Music Festival, the Sarasota Music Festival, Tanglewood Fellowship Orchestra, and the Grand Teton Music Festival.
In January of 2014 Robert was awarded the INDIANA AMERICAN STRING TEACHERS ASSOCIATION (InASTA) “Studio Teacher of the Year Award.” The awardees were chosen amongst several incredible and inspiring string teachers throughout our state and went through a rigorous interview and selection process carried out by the awards committee members. In the same year the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra named Robert the winner of the “PATCH LEADERSHIP AWARD” given annually to a member of the orchestra in recognition for outstanding service to the orchestra and the community.
Robert has been a faculty member at DePauw University, Butler University, and the University of Indianapolis. In 2009 Robert and his wife Chin Mi Kim formed Quattro String Academy in order to develop young string players in the Greater Indianapolis Metro area. Our approach is one of attention to good posture, ergonomic use of our bodies to be able to play with ease and without tension, and to learn to express musical emotion with our instruments. In addition to private lessons there are group activities to work on specific projects such as auditions for placement in youth orchestras and summer camp programs. We also encourage frequent public performances by our students.
Many of Robert’s students have had success at their schools, in youth orchestras, music camps, and some have gone on to study music at the collegiate level.
In January of 2014 Robert was awarded the INDIANA AMERICAN STRING TEACHERS ASSOCIATION (InASTA) “Studio Teacher of the Year Award.” The awardees were chosen amongst several incredible and inspiring string teachers throughout our state and went through a rigorous interview and selection process carried out by the awards committee members. In the same year the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra named Robert the winner of the “PATCH LEADERSHIP AWARD” given annually to a member of the orchestra in recognition for outstanding service to the orchestra and the community.
Robert has been a faculty member at DePauw University, Butler University, and the University of Indianapolis. In 2009 Robert and his wife Chin Mi Kim formed Quattro String Academy in order to develop young string players in the Greater Indianapolis Metro area. Our approach is one of attention to good posture, ergonomic use of our bodies to be able to play with ease and without tension, and to learn to express musical emotion with our instruments. In addition to private lessons there are group activities to work on specific projects such as auditions for placement in youth orchestras and summer camp programs. We also encourage frequent public performances by our students.
Many of Robert’s students have had success at their schools, in youth orchestras, music camps, and some have gone on to study music at the collegiate level.
Sharif Ibrahim
Sharif Ibrahim started with the ISO in September of 2022. He is a graduate of Indiana University, holding both a Bachelors and Masters of Music Performance in Double Bass. He also studied with Robert Goodlett at Quattro String Academy while he was at Carmel High School. Between completing degrees, he was a member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra from 2017-2019. Before he began playing with the ISO, he appeared as a substitute with the Detroit Symphony, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra, and the Bloomington Bach Cantata Society. Sharif plays on a double bass from 1897 made by Custode Marcucci.