Melissa Masis, Violin

Melissa Masis began playing violin at age 9 in the Millard public schools. She has a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (2001) and a Master's Degree in Violin Pedagogy and Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2003). Her major teachers have been Dr. Paul Todd, Dr. Laura Kobayashi, Ms. Anne Nagosky and Dr. Myron Kartman. Masis has completed Suzuki training with Susan Kempter and attends Mark O'Connor's fiddle camp in the summer. 

This is Melissa's fifth year as a full-time artist faculty member at the Omaha Conservatory of Music (OCM). In the summer of 2008 she was the assistant director of OCM's Orchestral Institute. Melissa is a regular sectional coach for the Omaha Area Youth Orchestras. She is a member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas, the American String Teachers' Association and the American Federation of Musicians. As a professional musician, Melissa has performed with Bobby Vinton, Frank Sinatra Jr., Rod Stewart, Josh Groban, Pam Tillis,The Lettermen, Michael W. Smith, Mannheim Steamroller and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. She is a member of Lincoln's Symphony Orchestra and is a regular substitute for the Omaha Symphony. Masis has toured China and the United States with the Mantovani Orchestra and is a founding member and manager of the Mahr String Quartet. In her spare time, Melissa likes to run, lift weights, read and travel.

Websites:
www.omahacm.org
www.mahrquartet.com