Private Lessons & Instructors

Joan Bertoluzzi is our violin teacher. She performed as a professional violinist and has many years of experience teaching violin to all levels from young children to adults. She tailors each lesson to the student’s interests and strengths to make the experience challenging and pleasurable.

Jeannette Altenhofen has taught elementary music in private and public schools for 27 years and recently retired from Littleton Public Schools. A pianist and organist for over 25 years, she has also managed her own piano studio and loves teaching private lessons. Her children began their music journeys in the Strings Attached program and continue to play.

Brian has over 45 years of music experience, teaching acoustic and electric guitar as well as bass. He emphasizes proper form, finger exercises, and songs chosen by students for beginners, and theory and performance for intermediate students. Brian teaches from a holistic perspective, integrating knowledge about how guitars interact with other instruments and offering general music insights.

Siuzanna Iglidan is an operatic mezzo-soprano and award-winning Ukrainian-American musician. With a master’s in performing arts and a PhD in psychology, she has performed with the LA Philharmonic and appeared on the Grammys stage with John Legend. She’s been a guest at international festivals and holds the title of Mrs. Ukraine Worldwide. Siuzanna’s passions also include fashion, travel, and spending time with loved ones.

Summer Lusk, a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory and the University of Colorado-Boulder, holds a Bachelor and Master of Music in Violin Performance. With over 11 years of teaching experience in violin, piano, and music theory, Summer has performed worldwide, including at the White House and alongside Natalie Merchant. She is a founding member of Red Rock Strings and has coached for youth orchestras and other ensembles.

Rachelle Nemec has over 30 years of dance experience, performing with the Denver Broncos, Rapids, and Nuggets, where she was dance captain for 4 years. She has taught dance for 25+ years at local Denver studios and choreographed for high school musicals, winning top awards. Rachelle has also directed youth dance programs, trained poms teams, and judged regional competitions. Her specialty is teaching children ages 3-8.

Julie Primm began classical piano lessons at age 7 and studied through age 15 under Clara Gilbert in Austin, Colorado. Despite disliking practice, her classical training (Schaum, Thompson, Czerny, Hanon) greatly informs her teaching. Julie has never been without a piano since leaving for college at 17 and now uses her lifelong experience to help students build strong musical foundations.