Nancy is the founder and director of Upbeat New Hampshire, is a teaching artist for Upbeat and conducts the Upbeat New Hampshire Youth string rehearsals. Nancy also performs regularly with Symphony New Hampshire, the Apollo Ensemble of Boston and local Symphonies in the New England area.
Drawing on her own personal experience as a youngster, Nancy began this program 11 years ago. She was raised in a middle-class suburb of New York City and began learning violin in her public-school music program in 3rd grade. She earned scholarships to prestigious summer music camps and two youth orchestras in the metropolitan NY area. She performed with Opera on the Sound and Concert Orchestra and Choir of Long Island.
Nancy studied violin privately with Margaret Pardee of the Juilliard School, Matthew Raimondi of the Composer’s String Quartet, and Mimi Bravar, Music Director Emerita of Phillips Exeter Academy. Nancy attended the Meadowmount School for the Violin during summers and the Queens College String Seminar under Alexander Schneider. She received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Music Composition from Vassar College.
When Nancy came to Nashua, NH 30 years ago she saw that there were very few musical opportunities for young string students in Nashua other than very expensive private lessons. After many years of building, Upbeat provides the outlet, anchor, and sense of inclusion that kids need.
