Chamber Music Faculty

Chamber Music Workshop

Gabe Bolkosky

Violinist and violist Gabe Bolkosky has been praised for the way he “takes audiences into his confidence and includes them” and described as having “the serenity of a master without a hint of coldness.” He has performed and taught across the United States, abroad, working with all ages of musicians. As a member of the Bayberry String Quartet, he recently pioneered an online approach to music-making and collaboration from home. His organization, Education for Happiness, recently launched PhoenixPhest Virtual Online Chamber Music Immersive, culminating a 20 year in-person program. His focus educationally has been to help musicians in all developmental stages and levels of interest with a focus on inclusion. He has worked with thousands of students across the states and abroad.

Primarily a violinist, he performs a diverse repertoire of classical and contemporary works with different collaborative artists from many musical genres in many of the great concert halls. To date, Gabe has released seven recordings that show his breadth as a musician focused in the areas of contemporary music, jazz, and nuevo tango as well as traditional classical music. Over the last two decades, Gabe served as the executive director of The Phoenix Ensemble, a nonprofit organization dedicated to warm hearted and compassionate arts education.

Debra Lonergan

Debra Lonergan was a long-standing member of the Michigan Opera Theatre Orchestra in Detroit at the time she began to specialize in early music. She worked extensively with Ann Arbor’s American Baroque Ensemble, as well as with Ars Musica during its twenty-city national tour celebrating a Bach anniversary year, and for its Michigan MozartFest with Roger Norrington.

She served for a decade as an academic program administrator for Detroit’s Center for Creative Studies-Institute of Music and Dance, and later as an artist representative for Donna Zajonc Management in Ann Arbor. With her extensive study of string pedagogy and a passion for mentoring young musicians, she maintains an active Ann Arbor studio open to all ages.

Debra has played continuo in concert for Jaap Schroeder, Stanley Ritchie, Marilyn McDonald, John Holloway and Enid Sutherland. She was a core member of La Gente D’Orfeo, Milwaukee Baroque and Ensemble Musical Offering, a founding member of Anaphantasia as well as the period string quartet Mirabel, and she’s collaborating in a new ensemble, Voci dell’Anima. She plays an English cello in its original condition from the Walmsley School with a copy of a transitional bow from a private collection by Stephen Marvin, as well as a copy of a Collichon viola da gamba made by Charlie Ogle, with a Philip Davis bow.

For more information about her studio and upcoming concerts, please visit http://www.debralonergan.com

Steffani Kitayama

Violinist, Steffani Kitayama has performed and taught throughout the country. She holds performance degrees from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory Music and Northwestern University. She is a founding member of the Bayberry String Quartet, a quartet that combines performing and education to encourage people from all walks of life to enjoy and play music together. The name of the group comes from a neighborhood in New York, where first violinist Nurit Pacht lives, that exemplifies the spirit of teamwork and cooperation. As a teacher, Steffani has taught in a variety of settings from public school outreach to group classes and private lessons. This experience, combined with her husband’s vision from 20 years as a non-profit director of The Phoenix Ensemble, led to their organization Education for Happiness. EFH focuses on the character and well-being of each individual leading to smoother learning and a happier, more educated society.

Lauren Pulcipher

Lauren Pulcipher is an Ann Arbor based violinist and teacher. Lauren focuses on bringing her collaborative spirit to her teaching studio and performances. She is a member of the Mulholland String Quartet, the Tuuli Quartet, Midtown Strings, and the band Joanna Sterling. She also performs regularly with the Ann Arbor and Lansing Symphonies. She enjoys performing and exploring many styles of music including classical, folk, jazz, pop, and fiddle.

As a teacher, Lauren maintains an active violin studio in Ann Arbor. Her students receive weekly private and group lessons exploring many different forms of music making including chamber music, traditional suzuki group class, and folk music.

Lauren is a graduate of Lawrence University where she received a bachelor in violin performance, and the University of Michigan where she received two masters degrees in performance and chamber music.