The University of Windsor Lab School: Strings is a centre for experiential learning that provides string instruction for students (ages 4-17), community development, pedagogical experiences for SoCA’s undergraduate students and graduate students as well as opportunities for high school students to gain volunteers hours. It is also a hub for research (supported by SSHRC) that supports new ideas in music pedagogy as well as cultural and community development.
The University of Windsor Lab School: Strings offers music instruction for students ages 4 to 17 who wish to study the violin, viola, or cello through a curriculum that includes group class instruction, theory and master classes, chamber music, and performance opportunities at the University of Windsor’s School of Creative Arts. Instruction is based on the pedagogical philosophies of Mimi Zweig, Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, Paul Rolland, and Ivan Galamian, and will include diverse repertoire and styles.
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Dr. Vanessa Mio-Quiring is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor within the Faculty of Education and the Music Education (Continuing Education) departments at the University of Windsor. Vanessa completed a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies degree (with a focus on violin pedagogy) from the University of Windsor. Vanessa also earned a Master of Music, a Bachelor of Music, and a Performance Diploma in Violin Performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where she studied violin with Mimi Zweig, Kathleen Winkler, Baroque violin with Stanley Ritchie, and string pedagogy with Mimi Zweig and Dr. Brenda Brenner.
Dr. Bruce Kotowich is Director of the School of Creative Arts at the University of Windsor. He completed his Doctor of Musical Arts at the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, and Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba. He is the recipient of numerous awards and honours including those from the Canada Arts Council, and the Manitoba Arts Council. In recognition of his outstanding pedagogical efforts particularly for part time students, he also received the University of Windsor’s Opus Award.
Ms. Scheirich is an Associate Professor of Violin at the University of Windsor and Concertmaster of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra. Originally from Windsor, she began studies in Detroit, and participated in summer studies at the prestigious Mozarteum, in Salzburg, Austria. Ms Scheirich studied violin at the Eastman School of Music with Gerardo Ribeiro, Catherine Tait, as well as piano with the late Emily David Vanderpool and received both performance and education degrees.
Dr. Sally Bick is professor of music at the School of Creative Arts. She received her performance training in cello under the auspices of Janos Starker at Indiana University, Jacobs School of Music (Master of Music), later receiving a PhD in musicology at Yale University. She has performed professionally with numerous professional organizations including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The Canadian Opera Company, The National Ballet of Canada, Esprit Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic, Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, and has concertized throughout the United States and Canada prior to her Musicological work.
Dr. Bayley is a graduate of McGill University, the University of Alberta, University of Rochester (Eastman School of Music), and The Ohio State University. He is presently Professor Emeritus at the University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. He has been the Acting Director of the Joint PhD Program, Director of the School of Music (University of Windsor), and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Research, and Continuing Education (Faculty of Education).
Michael Karloff is a faculty member in the School of Creative Arts at the University of Windsor. He is a multi-talented pianist, composer, arranger, conductor and musical director based in Windsor. Michael performs regularly as both a collaborative pianist and jazz pianist in Windsor and Detroit. Michael frequently performs with The Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Windsor Symphony Orchestra Windsor Light Music Theatre, 4th Wall Music and Jazz at Mackenzie Hall. His original compositions and arrangements have been performed by The Windsor Symphony Orchestra, at The Detroit Jazz Festival and in various concert settings in Windsor.
Originally from Windsor, Ontario, Dr. Adam Iannetta successfully completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts from Western University in 2019 and is quickly gaining notoriety as a versatile, up-and-coming performer
Growing up in an Italian family, Adam has learned two very important things: you have to speak up if you ever want to be heard, and there is no such thing as a moment’s peace. You might say that his extroverted career is the result of his upbringing. Furthermore, Adam subscribes to these values as part of his way of living and always finds a way to keep himself busy. If he is not on stage, you will probably find him in his office.
Stefanie Adams is completing her Bachelor of Arts degree at University of Windsor's School of Creative Arts, where she studies violin performance. She has taught violin and piano throughout Windsor and Essex County for five years, and is passionate about making music education available for people of all ages and backgrounds. As well as teaching, Stefanie enjoys performing violin for weddings and local music events, and is Principal Second violinist for the Windsor Symphony Community Orchestra.
Dr. Vanessa Mio-Quiring is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor within the Faculty of Education and the Music Education (Continuing Education) departments at the University of Windsor. Vanessa completed a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies degree (with a focus on violin pedagogy) from the University of Windsor. Vanessa also earned a Master of Music, a Bachelor of Music, and a Performance Diploma in Violin Performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where she studied violin with Mimi Zweig, Kathleen Winkler, Baroque violin with Stanley Ritchie, and string pedagogy with Mimi Zweig and Dr. Brenda Brenner. Vanessa’s passion for teaching was sparked at Indiana University where she was appointed as an Associate Instructor with the Indiana University String Academy from 2005-2008.
As a performer, pedagogue, and scholar, Vanessa is passionate about teacher training and string education research. She was awarded a prestigious Insight Development Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) for her current research investigating how young violin students engage in a specialized string curriculum to determine cognitive and physiological reactions, and various social and emotional developments within a group context. She was also awarded a SSRCH Doctoral Scholarship where she investigated the remedial strategies of postsecondary violin instructors. She has presented her research at provincial and international conferences (including the International Society for Music Education, the American String Teachers’ Association, the Indiana Music Education Association, the Ontario Music Educators’ Association, and the Canadian Society for the Study of Education). Vanessa has recently published articles in the Canadian Music Educator Journal, American String Teacher Journal, The Recorder (Quarterly Journal of the Ontario Music Educators’ Association), International Journal of Music Education, and Update: Applications of Research in Music Education. Through her current research interests, Vanessa hopes to contribute significantly to the field of string pedagogy as the scope of her research expands.
Informed by her research and teaching activities, Vanessa developed the first string pedagogy course offered to music performance and education majors in Canada at both Western University (graduate and undergraduate) and Wilfrid Laurier University (undergraduate), and developed a new violin/viola group string instruction course for undergraduate music education students at Western. Vanessa has also recently developed three innovative Instrumental (Strings) Additional Qualification courses (offered through the Ontario College of Teachers) for elementary and secondary music educators across Ontario.
Vanessa has pursued a variety of professional development opportunities and has become a sought-after clinician, teacher, and adjudicator. Vanessa is the String Discipline Specialist and String Examiner for The Royal Conservatory of Music, College of Examiners, and has traveled extensively throughout North America as an Ambassador for the Certificate Program. She has also adjudicated many festivals across Canada, including the upper string division of the Ontario Music Festivals Association Provincial Competition in May of 2017. Vanessa has taught at the Nova Scotia Suzuki Violin Institute in Halifax, NS, attended the Starling-DeLay Symposium for Violin Studies at The Juilliard School, participated in a workshop led by Brian Lewis at the Southwestern Ontario Suzuki Institute, and attended a Retreat for Violin and Viola Teachers at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.
Vanessa has spent summers touring with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada; participating in the Casalmaggiore International Festival in Italy; teaching in Tuscany for a Professional Teachers Workshop alongside Mimi Zweig; and studying at the Banff Centre for the Arts with the Très Chic Piano Trio (Chamber Music Residency for Pre-Formed Ensembles). Vanessa is a violinist in the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, and has also recently performed with the Penderecki String Quartet and the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Orchestra.
Vanessa is a member of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM), Canadian Music Festival Adjudicators’ Association (CMFAA), Ontario Music Educators’ Association (OMEA), Canadian Music Educators’ Association (CMEA), American String Teachers Association (ASTA), and the International Society for Music Education (ISME).
Originally from Windsor, Ontario, Dr. Adam Iannetta successfully completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts from Western University in 2019 and is quickly gaining notoriety as a versatile, up-and-coming performer.
Growing up in an Italian family, Adam has learned two very important things: you have to speak up if you ever want to be heard, and there is no such thing as a moment’s peace. You might say that his extroverted career is the result of his upbringing. Furthermore, Adam subscribes to these values as part of his way of living and always finds a way to keep himself busy. If he is not on stage, you will probably find him in his office.
Having started his musical career at the University of Windsor, Adam continues to be a featured soloist with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, and is now working as General Manager for the Windsor Classic Chorale, Windsor’s premier chamber choir. In addition, Adam was a recurring member of Western University’s Opera Workshop, performing works including L’heure espagnole, Ravel; La bohème, Puccini; Hansel and Gretel, Humperdinck; The Pirates of Penzance, Gilbert & Sullivan.
Although classically trained, Adam is no stranger to contemporary and popular music. From opera and oratorio to musical theatre and jazz, Adam has never been one to turn down an opportunity to learn new music. Just as well, his versatility and charming sense of humour are made easily apparent both on and off the stage. During his time at Western, Adam worked alongside directors including Tom Diamond, Michael Cavanagh, and Allison Grant as head of administration and stage management for the school’s Opera Workshop.
From his doctoral studies, Adam hopes to cultivate his performance practice and musicianship to advocate all genres of music (classical and contemporary) as being more accessible to all groups and communities.
Dr. Bayley is a graduate of McGill University, the University of Alberta, University of Rochester (Eastman School of Music), and The Ohio State University. He is presently Professor Emeritus at the University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. He has been the Acting Director of the Joint PhD Program, Director of the School of Music (University of Windsor), and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Research, and Continuing Education (Faculty of Education).
He has taught at the secondary school level (Junior and senior high school), adjudicated numerous music festivals throughout Canada and was a flute instructor at Alberta College Conservatory of Music for 15 years. He has also taught at the University of Alberta, The Ohio State University, University of Regina, University of Windsor, and Beijing Foreign Studies University. Dr. Bayley has written and published several arrangements and original works (ALRY Publication) as well as academic papers. Two of his recordings, Music for Flute and Guitar and Between the Silence, have received international airplay. He has premiered numerous works for flute and most recently commissioned and premiered a Sonata for Flute and Organ by the American composer Matt Doran.
Dr. Bayley has presented at international conferences and published numerous scholarly articles in various research design formats including historical, self-report survey research, case study, and reflective pedagogical practices (Alberta History, Canadian Winds, Canadian Musical Educator, Journal of Historical Research in Music Education, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, Journal of Comparative and International Education, Journal of Peer Learning, and the International Journal of Music Education).
Ms. Scheirich is an Associate Professor of Violin at the University of Windsor and Concertmaster of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra. Originally from Windsor, she began studies in Detroit, and participated in summer studies at the prestigious Mozarteum, in Salzburg, Austria. Ms Scheirich studied violin at the Eastman School of Music with Gerardo Ribeiro, Catherine Tait, as well as piano with the late Emily David Vanderpool and received both performance and education degrees. Ms. Scheirich has participated in numerous festivals, among them include the Blossom Music Festival (Ohio), Great Music West (Utah), North Bay Festival (Ontario), and the Schoolcraft College Piano Chamber Music Program (Michigan). She has also worked with the late pianist and chamber musician Eugene Bossart and for the past two summers she performed at the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival (Alaska) with Windsor's own Maestro Robert Franz. She has adjudicated numerous competitions across Canada and Michigan including the Orchestral Category of the JUNO Awards, and for the Orford String Quartet Award given by the Ontario Arts Foundation. With pianist Mary Siciliano, Ms. Scheirich has recorded three CDs of chamber music from the works of Polish German composer Ignatz Waghalter, and the French composers Jacques de la Presle, and Fernand de la Tombelle. While on tour in France (2009), Ms Scheirich, together with pianist Ms. Siciliano and cellist Nadine Deleury performed the World Premiere of David DiChiera’s trio Souvenir d'Arras (from his opera "Cyrano"). David DiChiera was the founder of the Michigan Opera Theater. In 2001, in recognition of Ms Scheirich’s accomplishments, she was honoured and given the Mayor's Award for Excellence in Music.
The University of Windsor Lab School: Strings is a centre and laboratory for research. Supported by SSHRC funding, the work of the lab focuses on how students learn and explore the implications of music study on our communities and is a collaborative endeavor that engages faculty, undergraduate and graduate students in the pursuit of this critical work. Our research assesses how string education may fulfill social benefits, well-being, cultural identification, integration, and belonging within the Canadian context. In the process of this research, we will establish innovative pedagogies and skills in string performance while building towards a continued understanding of how music can play a role in our politics, society and culture.
Research Team:
Dr. Vanessa Mio-Quiring – Principal Investigator
Dr. Sally Bick – Research Collaborator
Dr. Jonathan Bayley – Research Collaborator
Dr. Adam Iannetta – Research Assistant