HochStories

At The Hochstein School, students not only have a chance to learn music and techniques, but also have the experience of performing a concert before a live audience. More than a dozen times a year, students in our individual lessons program perform at the Hochstein All-School Recitals. Ensembles at Hochstein also have numerous opportunities each year to perform concerts together. Read on for stories and videos from recent student performances.

The Hochstein School is deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Helen Tuntland Jackson on October 22, 2021 in Cambridge, MA. She served as Executive Director of the School from 1971-1984, and as its Director of Development from 1984-1987. Read on to learn about her important accomplishments at Hochstein.

​​​​​​​This past summer, StoryCorps came to Rochester – virtually and in partnership with WXXI – to collect local stories. Hochstein participated with Assistant Director and Dean Gary Palmer and Expressive Arts Department Chair Jennifer Phillips interviewing each other.

Long-time Hochstein voice instructor and voice department chair Bill Scott has retired from teaching at Hochstein, after completing 42 years on the faculty. Bill came to Rochester to teach in the Rochester City School District in 1969 and was recruited to teach at Hochstein 10 years later ...

Congratulations to Joanna Frank and Daniel Kinney, winners of the HYSO Concerto Competition, following a very competitive round of auditions last week.

At the Hochstein All-Faculty Meeting on Tuesday, September 7, Hochstein President & Executive Director Margaret Quackenbush recognized Hochstein Violin Instructor Kathy Tarantelli and Assistant Director of the Hochstein Philharmonia Orchestra Matt Osika as the winners of the 2021 Faculty Service Award.

​​​​​​​Eleanor Lenoe began studying at Hochstein when she was 15. The summer before her sophomore year of high school, a friend who was already involved encouraged her to audition for the Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra. The friends and the bonds Eleanor made during her time at Hochstein will stick with her forever.

The CelloVision 2021 summer camp this past August included interactive workshops, masterclasses, and daily Cello Ensemble. Camp coordinator Natalie Spehar provided some photos of the week’s activities with Hochstein faculty members Jennifer Carpenter, Rachel Mills, Pia Liptak, and John Delmonico. A highlight of the week was a masterclass with David Ying, cellist with the Ying Quartet.

Brynn Peters and Caroline Fountain started music classes at Hochstein at the same time at age 3, first in Little Singers with Alice Pratt, then joining Hochstein Youth Singers with Director Maryellen Giese in fourth grade. Now they are high school seniors, with 15 years of singing together at Hochstein. Caroline says, “I really owe it to my parents for signing me up for Hochstein. I think I would not be the same person today if I didn’t go to Hochstein.”

Violin student Chris Han and his sister Jeslyn started studying with Marcos Kreutzer in 2008. This year, Chris graduates high school. Both he and his sister have been in all the Hochstein orchestras as well as taking piano and Suzuki lessons at Hochstein. At his June 5 recital, Chris thanked Marcos, saying, “You’ve taught me invaluable lessons about not only violin but life."