Aleena Griffiths was born in Auckland, New Zealand and has been playing violin and piano since she was three years old. Both of her parents studied violin with Shinichi Suzuki in Japan, and her father continues to teach using the Suzuki method. She observed her parents at work for many years as a child and grew up immersed in the method, attending numerous summer camps and group lessons and making life-long connections.
Aleena holds a BM in violin performance from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she studied with Mimi Zweig and graduated with highest distinction in 2022. She taught at Indiana University’s Pre-College Strings program, where she guided beginning violinists through the primary stages of their learning. She loves to teach aspiring musicians to achieve their potential on their instruments, and enjoys the challenge of working with students from many different backgrounds.
Aleena is currently based in Rochester, NY, and pursuing a Master’s degree in mental health counseling at the University of Rochester.
Amelia Dixon started her musical studies on the piano at age 4 before beginning the violin at age 10. Her passion for music has led her to pursue a Master of Music in Violin Performance at the Lynn University Conservatory, studying with Carol Cole. Amelia graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Music (summa cum laude) studying with Borivoj Martinić-Jerčić.
Amelia has served as concertmaster of the Iowa State University Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, and she currently performs with the Lynn Philharmonia. In 2020, she was awarded the Ames Town & Gown Chamber Music Award. Amelia has participated in masterclasses with Elmar Oliveira, Philippe Quint, I-Hao Lee, Blair Milton, Lucie Robert, and Joanna Mendoza, as well as with members of the Telegraph Quartet and the Merz Trio. Amelia is committed to music education and enjoys teaching music in a variety of capacities.
Amelia has worked with private students, taught at an academy, and assisted with string instrument classes and orchestras at a public elementary school. Through teaching, Amelia hopes to share her enjoyment of music with others by encouraging excellence on the violin. She believes in the importance of a solid technical foundation combined with exciting repertoire to help students progress. Additionally, she encourages a holistic music education that incorporates various genres of music, as well as training in basic music theory.
Aubrey Fineout
Violin & Viola
Degree: M.M. Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, TX
Aubrey Fineout-Watts is a violist and violinist from Texas and holds a B.M. (Magna Cum Laude) and a M.M. in Music Performance from Texas Christian University, as well as a B.A. in Creative Writing. As an undergraduate, Ms. Fineout-Watts was awarded the L.A. Nordan Fine Arts Endowed full tuition scholarship for music (one of two recipients) and was inducted into the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honors Society. As a graduate student, she served as the teaching assistant to the Chair of Strings at TCU, Dr. Misha Galaganov, coaching undergraduate ensembles and teaching private lessons.
Ms. Fineout-Watts is a founding member, music arranger, and violist of The Finestrung Duo–a genre fusion group created with her sister and violinist, Ashton Fineout. They perform regularly for both public and private events and are currently recording their first album. Ms. Fineout-Watts is also an active performer with both the Grammy nominated Dallas String Quartet and the Sapphire String Quartet, performing in a variety of styles from classical to fiddle to pop to rock on both acoustic and electric instruments.
Ms. Fineout-Watts has performed with touring artists Michael Bublé and 2Cellos and for high-profile clients such as the Bill Gates family, the Brunello Cucinelli family, and the George W. Bush family. She has also been featured in several albums as a studio artist, most recently in 2023 with Jon McReynolds and Anthony Evans Jr. In 2023, Ms. Fineout-Watts was invited to perform at the Academy of Country Music Awards (ACMAs) as part of an ensemble formed by the Dallas String Quartet, performing with Ashley McBryde, Luke Combs, and Ed Sheeran.
An active teacher as well as performer, Ms. Fineout-Watts has maintained a studio of private violin and viola students for over a decade and teaches at several locations around DFW, serving as an ensemble coach, orchestra sectional leader, and an All-State and All-Region clinician.
Ms. Fineout-Watts specializes in adapting her teaching approach to each student, creating a nurturing, educational environment that encourages growth and exploration, providing students with the skills and discipline to thrive beyond the classroom. Ms. Fineout-Watts employs the Suzuki curriculum in lessons, as well as other material she sources herself, depending on the student’s requirements for development. Ms. Fineout-Watts is passionate about teaching at all levels and has experience teaching students from the ages of 4-84. Her students have won collegiate concerto competitions, placed in All-Region and All-State orchestras, and are valuable members of youth orchestras around the DFW metroplex.
Ian Hipps is an award-winning classical/jazz violinist, composer, and arranger based in Northeastern Pennsylvania. He started playing the violin at age 13 through the public school system and eventually began studying privately with Ihor Shablovsky. By age 16, Ian became the concertmaster of the Northern Tier Symphony Orchestra.
On full scholarship, Ian received a Bachelors Degree in Music from Rowan University in 2022. Since then, he has enjoyed freelance performing and teaching. Hipps has performed in many orchestras throughout the United States and Europe with leading artists, such as Joshua Bell and Yuja Wang. As a jazz violinist, Ian has performed for Bob Taylor, Senator Joe Manchin, and former PA Governor Tom Wolf.
A passionate teacher, Ian is most fulfilled when working with his students. With over 6 years of private teaching experience, many of his pupils have placed highly in NJMEA and PMEA ensembles. Furthermore, Ian’s teaching philosophy is based on encouragement and creativity, allowing for students to naturally develop a healthy bond with the violin.