Faculty

Profile

Karen Poleshuck is active in New York City as a teacher, soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral musician, with degrees in both Cello Performance (BM, MM) and Music Education (EdM). As a registered Suzuki teacher she is passionately committed to the transformative power of learning an instrument: discovering new ways to express oneself through music is a pivotal experience for students of any age! Karen has been teaching cello for the past 15 years both privately and in schools throughout the tri-state area. She currently has an in-home studio in Washington Heights, teaches at Mannes Prep, The Diller-Quaile School of Music, and is the Head of the Cello Department at The JCC Thurnauer School of Music in Tenafly, NJ. 

As a performer Karen loves to seek out new ways to break down the barriers between audiences and musicians by playing in unconventional venues and creating an interactive experience for all involved. For several years, she ran an interdisciplinary music education program called Academic Music Seminars; in residence at Muscota New School, this program used classical music as a foundation for a wide range of lessons, from fractions to creative writing. Karen has performed in and collaborated on many educational outreach performances throughout the US, including The New York Philharmonic's Very Young People's Concert Series. Music festival appearances include The Aspen Music Festival and School, The National Repertory Orchestra, The International Festival-Institute at Round Top, and Encore School for Strings. 

Degrees Held

Karen holds a Masters Degree in Music Education from Teacher’s College, Columbia University. She earned her Bachelor’s in Cello Performance from The Cleveland Institute of Music where she studied with Stephen Geber (retired principal cellist of The Cleveland Orchestra) and a Master’s in Cello Performance from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music where she studied with Julia Lichten (cellist in NYC’s Orpheus Chamber Orchestra). She is a registered Suzuki Cello teacher with training at the New York School for Strings with Pam Devenport (Books 1-8) and Sally Gross at the Ithaca Suzuki Institute (Book 1).