The Mountains & Strings Faculty consists of professionals of the highest level both from the education world and the performance world. They are also great role models for all who attend the retreat.

eric grossman, violin
Praised in The New York Times as a "brilliant soloist" violinist Eric Grossman is a versatile performer. From collabor- ations with Lowell Liebermann to concerto appearances in many parts of the world, he has been hailed for his flawless technique, superb musician- ship and commitment to a wide range of repertoire. Mr. Grossman’s first teacher was his father, cellist John Grossman, who instilled in him an abiding love for music. A graduate of Juilliard, where he studied with Dorothy DeLay, Mr. Grossman enjoys an active performing career. He has given highly acclaimed recitals and solo performances with orchestras in the U.S., Europe, Korea, Japan, and Cuba under renowned conductors including Zubin Mehta, Stanislaw Skrowaczewki, and Michael Gielen. Mr. Grossman has performed and recorded Lowell Liebermann’s Violin Sonata with the composer, and recorded the soundtrack performance of Ravel’s Tzigane for The Elusive Muse, a PBS documentary on dancer Suzanne Farrel. As a chamber musician, Mr. Grossman has collaborated with such noted artists as David Soyer, Seymour Lipkin, Philip Myers, and Sandra Rivers, among many others.

Jack ashton, violin, conductor
Jack Ashton began his musical life at age eight while living in Tyhee, a small farming community in Eastern Idaho, later moving to Utah and studying with David Shand, Assistant Conductor of the Utah Symphony under Maurice Abravanel. After serving an L.D.S. mission to Germany and a year of active duty with the US Army, Mr. Ashton reentered the University of Utah, studying and performing in the University Symphony under Dr. Shand. He also studied with Sally Peck Leutz and Oscar Chassow, as well as with Szymon Goldberg. When the Symphony became a full time orchestra, Mr. Ashton spent several years playing in both first and second violin sections and was appointed Assistant Principal Second Violin, a position he held for the next twenty-five years.  Recently, after the appointment of Keith Lockhart as Music Director, Mr. Ashton rejoined the rotating violin section.  Mr. Ashton has been very active as a music educator, founding the Young Artist Chamber Players and overseeing a private violin studio where he teaches about thirty students each year.  Mr. Ashton has been married to Marie Yeates for the past thirty-eight years, and they have eight children. He enjoys hiking, gardening, and teaching his students. 

patricia laurence, violin
An accomplished orchestral musician and recitalist, Dr. Laurence has been a mentor for young violinists for more than four decades. As a member of the National Symphony Orchestra she played for two U.S. presidents under the baton of leading conductors such as Leonard Bernstein and John Williams.  She has also performed with the Rome Festival in Italy, AIMS Festival in Austria, Heidelberg Castle Festival in Germany and, back home, in the Teton, Aspen and Chautauqua music festivals.  In 2000 she traveled to China with a team of teachers to research the teaching methods used there.  A graduate with a DMA degree of Eastman School of Music, she held a teaching position at University of Georgia and presently teaches at Michigan State UniversityCommunity Music School and performs with the Grand Rapids, Lansing and Saginaw Symphonies.

DENISE willey, mini m&s conductor
Denise Willey is the founder of the Lyceum Orchestra Program. She is an SAA Registered Suzuki Teacher Trainer, and was selected "Studio Music Teacher of the Year" by Utah's American String Teachers Association. She has served on the Suzuki Association of Utah Board of Directors for nearly thirty years. Mrs. Willey published the I LOVE to Read Music" Literacy Series, and has authored Easy Steps to Music Reading. Sister Willey received her Bachelor of Music, served and LDS mission to Rome, Played in the Mormon Youth Symphony for years, and taught school orchestra for a dozen years before she retired to raise her family. She has since performed with the Timpanogos Symphony Orchestra. Mrs. Willey was a home-schooling/Suzuki mother of six now-grown children, who have all received national recognition for their accomplishments. She also is the happy grandmother of six, ages 3 and younger.
Some of our other teachers at Mountains & Strings and Mini Mountains & Strings include:

KaraLyn Ferguson, violin
Mindy Hillman, violin
Annalee Kelly, violin
Jenni Warner, violin
Alice Coulam, violin/viola
Richard Ferguson, violin/viola
Kristina Horrocks, viola
Brian Ashton, cello
Catherine Schulzke, cello

Many of these talented teachers have been with us for years, and have played a major role in making Mountains & Strings what it is today.
We love our Mountains & Strings Family! We hope you will come and be part of it.