Cara Simpson is a violinist, violist, and educator currently residing in Cincinnati, Ohio. She received a BM in Viola Performance from the University of Kentucky and a MM in Performance from the University of Cincinnati CCM. Her primary teachers include Masao Kawasaki, Dr. Catharine Carroll, and Margaret Karp. Cara is a Suzuki Certified violin and viola teacher and enjoys teaching both traditional violin and the Suzuki Method.

Cara regularly performs solo and chamber recitals and is an active orchestral musician, performing in such orchestras as the Lexington Philharmonic, Springfield Symphony, Clermont Philharmonic, Orchestra Kentucky, Aspen Concert Orchestra and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. She has studied with some of the country’s top musicians at various summer festivals including Aspen, Meadowmount, Encore, Brevard and Sewanee.

Damian Nelson

Jennifer is an experienced violin and viola teacher with a Master of Music from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Catharine Carroll. Jennifer is also experienced as a Suzuki violin parent and her students appreciate her varied perspectives on violin and practicing. An expert at fitting violin into today's busy lifestyles, she has developed unique tools to allow music to complement your schedule. Jennifer is also a music historian and strongly believes that greater knowledge about music broadens student perspectives.

Yamaha Young Performing Artist, Kanako Shimasaki of Springfield, Ohio, began studying violin at the age of four.  As a soloist, she has been featured on Discover Classical 88.1, Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC and has appeared as guest soloist with the National Symphony Summer Music Institute Orchestra, Springfield Symphony Orchestra, CCM Philharmonia and Artaria Ensemble, and Great Wall Soloists.

Kanako is a founding member of “Three,” a collaborative trio with Luke Gillespie, Professor of Piano/Jazz at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and her sister, Mariko. Together, they perform in concert series’ around Japan and the United States, most recently appearing at the Millennium Stage in DC, John Legend Theater, and the Kyoto City International Foundation.  

Kanako received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees, and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree, all with full scholarships, from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music (CCM.) She currently serves as a teaching assistant and is on the faculty in CCM’s Preparatory Department.