Paula Majerfeld
Education and Training
BM and MM, Indiana University.
Awards and Recognition
Indiana University Starling Foundation Fellowship
Indiana University Wingler Fellowship
Geraldine Dodge Partnership Grant
Roxbury Highland Charitable Foundation Grant
First Prize, Jefferson Symphony International Music Competition
Isabella Cannepa Memorial Award for Artist of the Year, 2022
ACMA/Dodge Partnership
Wingler and Starling Foundation Fellowships
Paula Majerfeld
Division: Expanded Education
Department: Strings
Instrument: Viola; Violin
Violinist/Violist, Paula Majerfeld, has led a diverse career as teacher, soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player, and advocate for culturally-underserved children. Student of Dylana Jenson (protégé of Nathan Milstein and International Tchaikovsky Competition Prizewinner), Sando Xia (protégé of Jascha Heifetz), Nelli Shkolnikova (Moscow Conservatory, 1st Prize Jacques Thibaud Competition), Michelle Auclair (Paris Conservatory, 1st Prize Jacques Thibaud Competition), Terry King (protégé of Gregor Piatigorsky), Laura Bossert (protégé of Charles Castleman, Henryk Szeryng International Violin Competition Medalist).
As Co-Director of the chamber music series “Lyrica Boston”, Ms. Majerfeld has created opportunities for many up-and-coming young musicians to perform alongside highly renowned artists. Ms. Majerfeld has appeared throughout the United States as a guest soloist with the Colorado and Jefferson Symphonies, and the Boulder Philharmonic. She has also appeared as soloist with the orchestras of the Las Vegas International Music Festival, Park City Summer Music Festival, Killington Music Festival and Lyrica New Jersey.
After serving as Assistant Principal of the Portland Symphony Orchestra, Ms. Majerfeld joined the faculty of the Longy School of Music at Bard College in 2000. She was subsequently appointed to teach at the New England Conservatory of Music and Wellesley College. She has also served on the faculties of various summer music festivals such as Lyricafest and the Castleman Quartet Program. As Dean of the Castleman Quartet Program, she spearheaded a new branch of the festival at the University of Colorado at Boulder. At present, she leads a program in which college students give private lessons to elementary school students in an El Sistema program in Somerville. She has also played at numerous “Head Start” programs, children’s hospitals, and elementary schools for students with learning issues.
Teaching Philosophy:
Within a warm and supportive studio environment, my goal is to encourage students to think both analytically and creatively so that they discover their own unique, expressive voices. I attempt to nurture the individuality of students so that they ultimately become artists in their own right. Even with the youngest of students, it is possible to nurture imagination from the very beginning. In the words of the great ballerina Margot Fonteyn, ‘Great artists are people who find the way to be themselves in their art.’ To that end, I believe a solid mastery of technical skills is necessary to express oneself without hindrance. However, I always reinforce that technique is not an end unto itself, but rather the means by which we attain our ultimate goal of self-expression. Keeping this in mind makes technical work much more interesting, practical, and goal-oriented. When we think within a musical context, it shapes the way we work on technique.
Curriculum Vitae
BM and MM, Indiana University.
- Indiana University Starling Foundation Fellowship
- Indiana University Wingler Fellowship
- Geraldine Dodge Partnership Grant
- Roxbury Highland Charitable Foundation Grant
- First Prize, Jefferson Symphony International Music Competition
- Isabella Cannepa Memorial Award for Artist of the Year, 2022
- ACMA/Dodge Partnership
- Wingler and Starling Foundation Fellowships