Paul Stroebel

During his 12 twelve years in Asheville, he has played violin & sung in bluegrass, jazz, and rock bands, and most recently the tango band Los Abrojitos. In the classical realm, Paul is a regular member in the Asheville Symphony, Brevard Philharmonic as principal second violinist, and Hendersonville Symphony, where he is also stage manager. He subs regularly with Spartanburg Philharmonic, Johnson City Symphony, Symphony Orchestra Augusta, Western Piedmont Symphony, and Blue Ridge (Community) Orchestra. He has been teaching full-time since 2014, when he also took up viola, and in 2016 was certified by Mark O’Connor in the “O’Connor Method” books I & II for violin.

My roots are in Suzuki training, for which I am grateful, but I know it is not infallible and that there is an immense world of music outside of its repertoire, even just within classical music. I recognize the potential of O’Connor Method in keeping kids interested by celebrating the diversity of American music and addressing their creative demands: improvising, collaborating, exploring many styles, and in general not being trapped in a classical violin box or ignoring modern music, to which they are constantly & increasingly exposed. I am excited to be a part of this decade-old experiment in establishing a uniquely American school of violin and reestablishing the relevance of the violin in American culture.