Rappahannock Concert Association Student Outreach

Instructors

Christine Hartigan, Cello. She is cellist and founder of Forte Music Studios and The Virginia Cello Ensembles and has served as the principal cellist for the University of Mary Washington Philharmonic Orchestra, the Rappahannock Pops Orchestra, the Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra, and Spotswood Community Orchestra. Her professional affiliations include American Strings Teachers Association (ASTA), Virginia String Teacher Association (VASTA) where she is currently president, and the Rappahannock Music Society (RMS).

Mei-Li Beane, Violin. She studied music at Rutgers University, the Conservatory of Seville, Spain and the College of William and Mary from which she holds a degree. She is on the board of the Williamsburg Youth Orchestra and teaches at the Providence Classical School.

Greg Bowen, Violin/Viola. He earned a BA in Viola Performance from the University of Iowa, and a Master of Music and Pedagogy from Texas State University. He is certified to Suzuki Level 3. In addition to teaching Strings Crewe and SONNY students, he teaches at the Greenspring International School of Music in Richmond.

Bruce Passaretti, Conductor, String Orchestra for Northern Neck Youth. He is the band and guitar teacher at Montross Middle School. Mr. Passaretti is also the assistant director for the Westmoreland High School Marching Eagle Band. Prior to his employment in Westmoreland County Public Schools, he received his Bachelors of Music in Music Education from Grove City College, PA in 2016. Mr. Passaretti received a Masters of Music in Music Education degree from Boston University in 2021. He is currently a Music Director at Nomini Baptist Church.

Arline Hinkson, Piano Accompanist and Crewe Advisor. She has been active as a performer and teacher. She did her piano studies with Katherine Bacon at the Julliard School of Music and with Pierre Sancan at the Conservatoire de Paris. She received a Masters Degree in Music Education and a Professional Diploma in School Administration from Long Island University. She retired from a career as Director of Music for the Westbury School system on Long Island where she taught strings, employing her violin background. She has appeared as a soloist with the Oklahoma City Symphony, the C.W. Post Orchestra and the Northern Neck Orchestra. She has been a performing member of the Long Island Symphony, the North Shore Symphony, the Tidewater Intergenerational Orchestra and the Northern Neck Orchestra. Embracing the musical life of the area, she has been active as the secretary for the Rappahannock Music Club and has appeared in performances with churches and chamber groups.
Mrs. Hinkson has been a Crewe Program advisor since it began in September 2017. She is the piano accompanist for beginners and intermediate students’ group lessons, community events and SONNY concerts.

Instruments

Instruments are sized to fit the child and provided free! The William Mason II Violin Shop in Fredericksburg gave 48 instruments in all sizes to the Strings Crewe. We thank Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church for storing our inventory.

Venues

After-school space for lessons are at the St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Heathsville, Campbell Presbyterian Church in Weems, and St. John’s Episcopal Church in Warsaw.

Enroll Your Child

To enroll your child in the Strings Crewe, CLICK HERE to download our form. Contact Sue Nunn by email or by mobile phone (703) 577-3553.Students may choose violin, viola or cello. Instruments are sized to fit.

After three years in Crewe, students ‘age out’, but ‘age in’ immediately to the String Orchestra for Northern Neck Youth (SONNY). This is a program for all students capable of playing junior string repertoire. No auditions required.

For more information about the Strings Crewe or SONNY, contact Sue Nunn, Director Crewe Programs, at (703) 577-3553 or email. To donate specifically to RCA’s music education mission, CLICK HERE, or make your check payable to “RCA,” write “Music Education” in the memo line and mail to P.O. Box 342, Heathsville, VA 22473.

In addition to generous individual donors, funding support for the Strings Crewe and SONNY was granted by the River Counties Community Foundation, UUFR Servetus Endowment Fund, Virginia Commission for the Arts/National Endowment for the Arts, the Cole Trust, Northern Neck Orchestra, Morattico Baptist Church/Jessie Ball Dupont Foundation, Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts, Grace Episcopal Church “Yard Sale, and the Rappahannock Music Study Club.