VIOLIN - Sathvi Ramaseshan

Indian American violinist, teacher, and composer Sathvi Ramaseshan was born to a family of music lovers. Sathvi’s initial exposure to music was through South Indian Carnatic music and Tamil film music. She began her violin studies at the age of 3 at the San Diego Suzuki School of Music after nagging her mother for several months. At the age of 10, she joined the San Diego Youth Symphony. Her teachers have included Pei-Chun Tsai and Zou Yu from the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, Michael and Irina Tseitlin from the California Institute of Music and Stefan Jackiw.

Sathvi began composing music at the age of 13. Her style is a unique blend of Western classical music and South Indian Carnatic music, which she is also trained in. Her interests lie in cross-cultural and cross-genre exploration, and creating musical connections between India and the West. Sathvi is also a contemporary music enthusiast and has enjoyed collaborations with young emerging composers such as BMI award winning composer Arjan Singh Dogra.  A current resident of Jersey City, Sathvi has performed at numerous venues throughout the NYC area such as Carnegie Hall,  Lincoln Center, and Klavierhaus NYC.

Sathvi is a graduate of Mannes School of Music where she studied violin and composition with Austin Wulliman and Joan La Barbara respectively. 

CELLO - David Barnhart

David has been teaching cello in the Hudson Valley since 1993. During his High School years, he met and studied with his most influential teacher, cellist William Harry. Harry taught him with a caring and steady hand the ways of learning the cello with a system that was to the point and economical. That “quality over quantity” is the one essential tool for learning the instrument successfully which David still practices with his students to this day. He received his Bachelor’s in Music (Performance) from Franklin Pierce University and his Master’s of Music (Performance) from Kent State University. 

David studied with Franklin Pierce University’s Carol Gebhardt. He gained further orchestral playing experience performing with the Monadnock Orchestra and Chorus under the direction of David Brandes. Kent State University offered an intensive continuation of David’s college performance studies, as well as participation in masterclasses offered by his then cello professor, Moshe Amitay. After completion of his masters studies, David returned to his native Hudson Valley to establish the beginnings of his private studio.

Each Spring, David diligently prepares his students for successful NYSSMA auditions, yielding exceptional marks and happy cellists. David continues to mold cello students, now at D Z Strad Music School, with the same caring and nurturing hand that his mentor Bill Harry instilled in him so many years ago.

CELLO - Camille Dietrich