Faculty:  Cello & Bass

Dr. Victor Penniman (cello, viola da gamba, composition, piano) holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Operation of Early Music Programs from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music's Early Music Institute, a Master of Music in Historical Musicology from Florida State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree from Marylhurst University near Portland, Oregon.
He served as music director for the Tygre's Heart Shakespeare Company in Portland, OR, and has performed with The Oregon Renaissance Band, the Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra , the Waverly Baroque Ensemble, the Tallahassee Bach Parley, Indiana University’s Concentus Ensemble, The New York State Baroque Orchestra, and countless other individual projects and performances. He is a founding member of the electric-Baroque ensemble discontinuo, and is a frequent performer on and advocate for the Ruby Gamba, the first production-model fully electric viola da gamba. He has performed and recorded with the Ashley Cox Orchestra, Ben de la Garza, PerPlex, and, again, countless other projects. Dr. Penniman taught for ten years at Wells College in Aurora, NY, where he also earned his tenure. He has served as Director of the Music Program in the Communication & Fine Arts department at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, MO, and as adjunct faculty in Music History at Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY. His teaching repertoire includes Western Music History, American Popular Music History, Studio Recording, choral and chamber music ensemble direction, and he offers private instruction in cello, viola da gamba, guitar and composition.

Nina Schultz (cello) was born and educated in Russia.  Nina has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in cello from the Conservatory in Novosibirsk, Russia.  She is a skilled concert player, orchestra soloist, teacher (cello, piano, music theory, history of music), and chamber ensemble player.  Nina came to America from Russia in March 1997 and is an American citizen. Russian Experience: Nina worked for three years in a symphony orchestra and for four years in a chamber music orchestra of a philharmonic organization. She was a cello teacher for 25 years in Russia.American Experience: Nina was a faculty coach for orchestra cello students at Westview High School in Poway, CA from 2009 to 2010 and a faculty member of the Illinois Wesleyan University Annual Cello Camps for K12 and college students, hosted by the University in Bloomington, Ill.  She served as adjunct Professor of Strings, MidAmerica Nazarene University, Olathe Kansas for two semesters. Nina teaches cello from beginning to advanced levels. During lessons students will play solo, with piano accompaniment, and ensembles for 2 or more cellos. Nina also helps with orchestra parts for school assignments and competitions.

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Please note:

Nina only offers 45 minute and 60 minute lessons.  

45 minute rate:  $180 per month

60 minute rate:  $220 per month

Nina accepts serious students ages 11 through adults.

Sonja Richardson (bass) has a Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Kansas.   She spent one year teaching 5th-12th grade orchestra in Fort Scott and three years teaching 3rd-8th grade orchestra in Topeka before returning to Overland Park. Sonja started violin at a very young age and then switched to the bass in the fourth grade. She has been playing bass for 18 years and has taught private lessons for 10 years. 

Sonja is experienced at teaching violin, viola, and cello to beginning and intermediate students and is experienced at teaching bass to beginning to advanced students. Her teaching style incorporates mixing different teaching methods, styles, and materials with student interest in order to help each student achieve his/her goals. 

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