String Project at IUP

12/09/2025

Last but certainly not least for our lovely String Project teacher spotlight... Tara Johnston!

Tara Johnston teaches beginner to intermediate violin/viola and beginner cello. She is currently a senior attending IUP for music education and has 3 years worth of prior teaching experience. She is a member of the IUP String Project and teaches on the IUP campus during semesters through their program, and also in Johnstown at the St. Mary's Byzantine Catholic church. She studied under several teachers, including Mrs. Kim Thomas of Brookville, PA, Professor Florrie Marshall of Yale University, Dr. Kaleigh Acord (Current violin/viola professor at IUP), and Dr. Linda Jennings (Professor of Cello and head of String department) and has attended and participated in several masterclasses throughout her time in college. She is a member of the IUP Symphony Orchestra directed by Dr. Rebekah O'Brien.

Stay tuned for even more teacher spotlights to come next semester! Thank you all for a wonderful fall semester and we look forward to seeing our students again in the spring!

12/06/2025

Thank you to all who came out to support our students in their recital this afternoon! We are very proud of our students and teachers for their hard work, and we look forward to an exciting spring semester!

More information regarding registration for the spring semester will be available soon.

Thank you to MJMeyerarts for the photography!

12/06/2025

As the semester comes to a close, we will finish off our String Project teacher highlights! Up next is Aiden!

Aiden Walters is a freshman violinist currently studying music performance at IUP. He’s actively performing in various ensembles in the music program, including the IUP Symphony Orchestra. Outside of participating in IUP ensembles and orchestras, he has a history in PMEA and Bucks County Music Educators Association youth orchestras during high school and has experience playing in multiple pit orchestras for various musicals. He spends most of his time focusing on music and practices, but outside of the music program he enjoys spending time with his friends and playing card games.

12/04/2025

Attention all String Project students and parents!

It is almost time for our Fall 2025 String Project Recital! Come out and support our students and teachers as they showcase the incredible hard work they've done this semester. Featured will be many student soloists and two ensemble classes!

The recital will be located in Gorell Hall, the second floor of Sutton Hall on IUP campus at 10:30am. We hope to see you there!

Photo credits: MJMeyerarts

11/16/2025

11/16/2025

This week, the IUP String Project was fortunate enough to recieve the opportunity to work with the esteemed Dr. Shu-Yi Scott! Students recieved amazing chamber and solo masterclasses, attended informational string pedagogy sessions, and ended the week with an amazing Cellobration Day Festival, all led by Dr. Scott.

A huge thank you goes to for her amazing contributions to the education of young string players! Thank you to all who attended our Cellobration festival, and to for the photography!

11/12/2025

IUP String Project parents! This is a reminder that we will have our second Musical Exploration Class of the fall semester this Thursday, November 13th from 5:30-6:30pm!

There again will be string project teachers to help guide your students to the correct classroom. If possible, plan to arrive 5-10 minutes early to get your child set up.

We look forward to another evening of learning and music making!

11/12/2025

Calling all cellists signed up for our much anticipated Cellobration Day here at IUP! This is a reminder that our event will take place this Saturday, November 15th in Cogswell Hall, Room 121. Students should plan to arrive for check-in at 9:00am, and the festival will begin at 9:30am!

The Cellobration Day concert will take place at 5:00pm on November 15th in Cogswell 121. This is free to the public, so come support our wonderful community of cellists with guest cellist, Dr. Shu-Yi Scott!

11/06/2025

Attention all String Project parents!

We are excited to host the IUP String Project Musical Exploration classes which begin this week! Our first class will be Thursday, November 6 at 5:30-6:30 pm in Cogswell Hall. There will be signs posted in the lobby of Cogswell telling students which group they are assigned to and what room number their ensemble will be in. A teacher will also be guiding students to the right class! Parents are welcome to sit in on rehearsals. If possible, please arrive 5 to 10 minutes early to be ready to play at 5:30 pm!

We look forward to an evening of making music!

10/29/2025

Our next fantastic teacher... Bryn!!!

Bryn Miller is a senior music education major at IUP, with a primary focus on violin, and a completed minor in trumpet studies. She currently studies violin under Dr. Kaleigh Acord, and has previously studied under Professor Florrie Marshall. Additionally, she studied trumpet under Professor Joeseph Herndon and Dr. Kevin Eisensmith, and studies string pedagogy with Dr. Linda Jennings. She has been teaching with the IUP string project for three years now, teaching private students ranging from 5 to 18 years old, as well as the High School chamber group a number of times.

Outside of teaching, she performs frequently as concertmaster with the IUP Symphony Orchestra, including on Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony. She has also played in the pit for a number multiple stage productions across Western and Central Pennsylvania, including but not limited to 'Fiddler on the Roof', Damn Yankees!', and 'The Pirates of Penzance'. She's looking forward to finishing up her final semester on campus at IUP, and then student teaching and graduating in the Spring of 2026!