MAINE SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL STRING PROGRAM DIRECTORS BIOGRAPHY

Beginning Strings, String Orchestra, Concert, Symphony, and Chamber Orchestra

REBECCA PASCAL OPPENHEIM

Rebecca Pascal Oppenheim completed her undergraduate degree in Music Education (Specialization in Instrumental and Choral Music) and Masters in Music Education (Specialization in Viola and Orchestral Conducting) at Northwestern University. She was honored to be elected as the graduation speaker with Kofi Annan at the 2002 Northwestern convocation at Ryan Stadium. She was awarded the Northwestern Alumnae Woman’s Leadership Scholarship for her work with, Wheels of Change, an organization she began to continue to foster the process of making Northwestern a more handicap aware and accessible campus.

Rebecca began studying the violin at the age of two and the viola at the age of twelve. Her teachers have included the following individuals: Peter Slowik (Northwestern/Oberlin), Heidi Castleman (Julliard), Victoria Chiang (Peabody), Robert Swan (CSO Member), Edward Adelson (Ohio State), Barbara Hamilton (Colorado Symphony), Daniel Reinker (San Antonio Symphony), and Jerzy Kosmala (Louisiana State University). She began lessons with Li-Kuo Chang of the Chicago Symphony last summer.

Rebecca has attended the following summer institutions: Interlochen Music Camp (1990-1994, 1996), Eastern Music Festival (1995) Interlochen Advanced String Quartet Institute (Ying Quartet & Maia Quartet/1997) and Aspen Music Festival (1997).

Rebecca’s orchestral experience as a violist includes participation in the following ensembles: Henry Mancini Orchestra of Los Angeles  (Patrick Williams/Richard Kaufman/Vicent Medoza/Peter Boyer), Civic Orchestra of Chicago (Daniel Barenboim/Christoph Eschenbach), Park Ridge Civic Orchestra (Edgar Muenzer), Northwestern Symphony Orchestra (Victor Yampolsky), Northwestern Summer Orchestra (Robert Hasty), National Youth Symphony (Henry Charles Smith/Neeme Jarvi), World Youth Symphony (Henry Charles Smith/Neeme Jarvi), Chicago Youth Symphony (Daniel Hege) and Midwest Young Artists (Allan Dennis).

She has had the honor of accompanying the follow artists in an orchestral setting: Yo-Yo Ma, Rachel Barton-Pine, Kevin Spacey, Patti Austin, Hubert Laws, Roy Hargrove, John Clayton, Roger Kellaway, Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour, Christian McBride, Bob Beldon, and Billy Childs.