Dr. Elizabeth White fell in love with strings when she started playing violin and viola in fifth grade school orchestra. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in viola performance from the University of Memphis as well as degrees from Boise State University and the University of Idaho. Elizabeth is passionate about music education and has extensive experience guiding students of all ages to success and joy with music. When she is not practicing, she loves reading, crafting, and going on adventures with her husband Bill and dog Scoobert (PW, the cat, stays home). Elizabeth and Bill also enjoy performing together as Duo Violão, a viola-guitar duo.

Lindsay is trained as an engineer and brings arts administration and nonprofit experience to the OPUS board. Lindsay is a Chapman Eagle Ensemble parent and is excited about bringing the communities together through the shared creative process of making music.

Urán Christensen is the parent of a current cellist/Preludes violinist as well as a former HYSOC violinist. Though she plays no instruments herself, she loves to listen and learn alongside her kids while witnessing the magic of the Suzuki method. She brings finance and administration experience to the OPUS board.

A retired Fireweed teacher and a founding member of Fireweed Frescoes, Kim Fine is enamored to say the least to be a part of OPUS and the growing youth ensemble movement taking place in Homer. As the Frescoes liaison, Kim is thrilled that OPUS offers group music lessons to Fireweed K-2 students and is delighted that Frescoes has joined the growing ranks of youth ensemble programs in Homer. Placing a violin in the hands of every one of their K-2 students has proved transformative and hugely rewarding for the Fireweed community.

Lyn Maslow, a retired teacher, helped start Paul Banks Preludes in 2016. She is delighted by the formation of OPUS, which has allowed the expansion and coordination of violin instruction in more local elementary schools and has provided continuity between the school programs and HYSOC. As the board liaison to the Paul Banks Preludes, she is committed to providing opportunities for every child to experience the joys and benefits of learning a string instrument. Lyn also enjoys playing with CODAS and learning to fiddle.

Daniel, an accomplished violinist, performs with the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra and the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra. He has concertized with many orchestral groups and well-known performers. He has also taught violin privately for over 20 years. In his spare time, he is a naturalist and sea kayak guide in Kachemak Bay.

Mattea Peters is a School Counselor in five KPBSD schools. Born and raised in Homer, she joined HYSOC on the violin in late elementary school and played with them until she graduated from Homer High in 2014. She continued her musical education through college orchestra and, later on, looking for a way to continue her musical involvement, joined the Codas in 2023. Fueled by her own experiences, Mattea continues to be passionate about the importance of music in a child’s life and education.

Linda was a founder of Paul Banks Preludes. She plays violin and viola and is an enthusiastic proponent of modern brain science which indicates that every student’s social and behavioral skills, as well as their academic ability, can be significantly improved by early instruction in playing a non-fretted string instrument.

Sharon Roufa has been playing the double bass since 2020 and has been a member of the Codas adult ensemble for three years. She is a co-owner of Two Sisters Bakery and joined the board in November hoping to bring her skills as a small business owner, parent, and music lover to the organization.

With a Master’s degree in Music Education and extensive Suzuki method teacher training on both violin and cello, Lisa Schallock has been teaching strings for over 40 years and currently has a small private studio in Homer. Lisa was the music director of the Homer Youth String Orchestra Club for 10 years, co-founded the Anchorage Talent Education Association, helped organize and run Southcentral Suzuki Institute, and taught at various summer camps. As a cellist, Lisa has performed with many chamber groups and community orchestras throughout Alaska.

A science and nature writer, Miranda Weiss is a parent of two OPUS students, a violinist and a cellist. The cellist is also a Frescoes violinist! Miranda has seen firsthand the ways music can change kids’ lives–helping them learn in new ways and see themselves in a new light. And she’s seen how the experience of playing in ensemble lets kids be part of something larger than themselves–and, through busking on the Homer Spit–earn some ice cream money too! As a kid, Miranda was a Suzuki piano student, and she loves that her children play portable instruments, and that they get the opportunity to play with the regional orchestra and other ensembles through OPUS programs.