About Carol Havelka

Ms. Havelka is a registered Suzuki violin teacher with the Suzuki Association of the Americas, Ms. Havelka has taught hundreds of students in the NYC and Washington DC areas. Ms. Havelka has experience teaching all ages and levels of violin students and her studio primarily specializes in beginner - intermediate learners of all ages. 

As an educator my focus is to support students and families in their musical journey by creating a positive and encouraging atmosphere so that not only a solid foundation in the fundamentals of violin playing and music theory may be reached, but that through the pursuit of their musical studies, students develop the skills to excel in future activities that their life may lead them to. Elemental to the successful pursuit of any future activity in adulthood is possessing skills such as curiosity, resilience, flexibility,  problem solving, communication and empathy to mention a few. All skills that may be experienced, developed and learned via the long term pursuit of an activity that is supportive and nurturing of this pursuit. 

EDUCATION

I received my Bachelor of Music from Manhattan School of Music and my Suzuki training at the School for Strings with Louise Behrend in New York City . Violin studies were with many luminaries of the instrument, including David Nadien (Bernstein's NY Phil Concertmaster), Ruggerio Ricci, Carroll Glenn, Robert Gerle, and Samuel Kissel, a student of Dounis, who also played with Toscanni's NBC Symphony. Chamber music studies with Artur Balsam, Robert Newkirk and the Stuttgart Trio. Orchestral training experience was with the NYC's National Orchestral Association including training under Leon Barzin, the Manhattan School Opera Orchestra as Concertmaster under Anton Coppola and the Congress of Strings as an award recipient.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

While in New York City, I developed my love of teaching at Louise Behrends Suzuki School For Strings having completed a two year Suzuki Teacher Training Course and subsequently taught as a faculty member there. Other NYC area organizations where I served as both a Suzuki and traditional instructor were the Westchester Conservatory, the 92nd Street YMCA School of Music, and The Bloomingdale School of Music.

Upon returning to the Washington DC metro area my personal violin studios were in Kensington and Takoma Park and concurrently I taught Suzuki/Traditional violin at the Jewish Community Center, the Butler Montessori School, and served as faculty at the precollege music divisions of both American University in DC and Shepherd University in West Virginia. After a hiatus into the IT world, graphic design, and video production I am pleased to again be offering my skills as a violin and music educator.

PROFESSIONAL PERFORMING EXPERIENCE

As a freelance artist in New York City, the Washington DC area and Greensboro, NC, I led an active career as a symphonic musician and violin teacher. My professional orchestral experience includes The  Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra under Lukas Foss and Dennis Russell Davies, The White Plains Symphony under Kenneth Schermmerhorn, and the Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra under Shelley Morganstern where I also served on the violin and chamber music faculty at the Eastern Music Festival.

As a sought after freelance symphonic muscian, Ms. Havelka performed with a multitude of organizations in the NYC and Metro DC areas, including the venues of Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap, Broadway and PBS recording work.