Keene Community Music Center

Hello, My name is Elizabeth DiCesare and I started playing violin in third grade at Fuller Elementary school in Keene. When they offered it in 2007 I wanted to jump right in. It was through violin that I came out of my shell quite a bit. I was a very shy kid growing up and violin gave me just the creative outlet that I needed. It was not until middle school where I decided to pursue private lessons. I took lessons with Maisa Hanbali for about 4 years up until high school and then took lessons from Elise Kuder up until I went off to college in Viriginia in 2016. It was through KCMC that I was able to get connected in playing for various music groups in the community including the Lion's club pit orchestra, Keene State College Orchestra, and the Keene Chamber Orchestra. KCMC allowed me to get experience and lessons from some of the best violin players and instructors I know. It was through Maisia's teaching that I grew in discipline for the violin. I mean discipline saying that I had to learn and develop consistency in my practice which lead to more difficult music and also music memorization. Although I did not pursue music in College, I did take what I learned especially disciple to reach further professional goals in school and work. I will always love what violin has taught me and stretched me in even moving forward in a different career path.

During this time I have been lucky enough to have a great support system at home and be able to continue with my school work and violin lessons in a positive work space! Overall social distancing has been quite a change, but being able to continue progressing with violin at home has been really great for me! I definitely feel like continuing lessons has been a very positive experience for me and I do not feel that my progress has been hindered in anyway because we have moved to virtual lessons. I think the ability to do a lesson over the phone could be a great tool to use in the future! Personally I know I will be taking advantage of being able to have a lesson over the phone in the future when I cannot make it in to KCMC! I am very thankful for the opportunity to continue with my violin lessons and everyone who has allowed me to do so!

When I was at KCMC, I was just a little 5 year old, and I began taking lessons with Maisaa Hanbali, and we connected instantly. Throughout my time there, I grew up as a musician and a person. Not only did I learn about music, but I learned about the importance of community and teamwork. Our studio of violinists became so close, and we all loved having recitals together! While in school, this place remained a home to me and kept me excited about life and learning. This experience helped open doors for me at age 11; I began playing in the Keene State College Orchestra and the Keene Chamber Orchestra. I learned so many essential pieces of music, and that helped boost my musical knowledge immensely. It led to a solo debut in Vermont, a diploma from Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and a scholarship to the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. As I finish up my senior year in college, I am receiving jobs all around Boston to play, and I’m also playing viola these days! My time at KCMC taught me how to be kind and thoughtful, how to learn and be curious, and how to be a professional. I had the best years growing up there, and I am eternally grateful for the staff and community life at KCMC.

KCMC has been a part of nearly every stage of my evolution as a musician. I started as a violin student of Maisa's Hanbali, and later worked with the Community Orchestra of Keene to support their projects. Eventually, I even taught some lessons myself. KCMC offered me many performance opportunities, everything from solo recitals to chamber music, and helped me expand into other areas of music, such as opera and musical theater. The foundation I built with KCMC really prepared me for high school, and afterwards, the pursuit of a bachelor's degree in viola performance, which I earned in 2019 from the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen."