Meet our teachers

Courtney started playing violin, viola and piano as a child.  While she primarily learned through private lessons, her first exposure to violin was in a group class!  When she began playing in orchestras in elementary school, her love for music instantly multiplied.  She was concertmistress and viola section leader in many youth ensembles around Orange County and Los Angeles.  She studied viola performance at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music under Pamela Goldsmith.  Courtney was a member of the prestigious YMF Debut Orchestra in Los Angeles, and spent several years performing in string quartets and other chamber ensembles in Orange County.  In addition to a broad experience with orchestral and chamber music, she has also been seen on stage as a rock band violist at quite a few Seattle dive bars.  Courtney brings these diverse and treasured experiences to her teaching, and she wants all kids to have the chance to be moved and changed by music.  In addition to running Fifth Symphony Music, she also teaches private violin, viola and piano lessons out of her home studio in Redmond.

Maren studied viola with Dr. Michelle Rahn and began teaching students of all ages, from beginner to advanced.  She holds a Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance, a Nonprofit Organization Minor, and a Professional Writing certificate from Central Washington University.  She has also had the privilege of teaching viola and violin in both large and small groups with Yakima Music en Acción, an El Sistema program in Yakima, WA.  Maren serves as an orchestra coach in the Lake Washington and Seattle school districts, as well as with the Cascade Youth Symphony Orchestra and Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra.  In addition to her work with these ensembles, she remains passionate about performing, playing viola with both the Everett Philharmonic Orchestra and the Saratoga Orchestra.  Maren also teaches private violin, viola and piano lessons out of her Redmond studio,  and runs an orchestra program at Mark Twain Elementary through her own business, Music by Maren.  Through Maren's teaching, she aims to advocate, educate, and inspire her students by creating a safe and open learning environment where they can take risks, explore their curiosity, and express themselves through music.  

Yoojin is a passionate performer and educator who has been a professional violinist for almost 20 years.  As a dedicated educator, Yoojin has taught different age groups in both private and group settings. Before moving to Washington State, she won a Korea Music Foundation fellowship to organize and teach a pilot program for low-income Korean Youth interested in learning the violin. She moved to the United States in 2004, and was an associate concertmistress in San Diego Youth Orchestra. Yoojin attained her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Violin Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.  Afterwards, she completed her Professional Studies Certificate Program in ​Violin Performance from Manhattan School of Music.  Yoojin performed as a soloist and principal violinist at different events and Jubilee Orchestra New York for many years.  She also served as an orchestra coach with The Harmony Program, a New York based nonprofit organization that runs a tuition free and youth orchestra.  Yoojin currently resides in Redmond where she maintains her private violin studio, and remains an active performer.