Sasha Callahan

Violin
Sasha Callahan

Sasha Callahan

Teaching Philosophy

Fifteen years of teaching students of all ages and abilities has made me strive to listen to what each student needs and what their natural strengths and weaknesses are rather than use any one rigid methodology. I believe the single best way to build confidence and enjoy an instrument is to learn how to solve problems yourself, so from a very young age I try to enable students to become the experts in the material we’re covering! Lessons include a lot of questioning and problem solving rather than pure instruction, so the student is engaged and part of the learning process. Learning the violin is hard work, and it requires home practice as well as careful instruction, so I do ask for parental support of good practice habits, particularly with young students.

Teaching Biography

A native of Portland, Oregon, Sasha Callahan received her bachelor’s degree in violin performance from Rice University and her Master of Music from Boston University. Principal teachers include Lucia Lin, Sergiu Luca, Denes Zsigmondy, and Carol Sindell. Sasha has been a faculty member at the Brookline Music School since 2001. Many of her students participate in Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras, NEC Prep Orchestras, Brookline Townwide Orchestras, as well as Junior and Senior District Auditions. She is currently also a chamber music coach with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, on the violin faculty at Beaver Country Day School, and is active as a masterclass presenter and clinician at colleges and prep schools across the country.

Performance Biography

Violinist Sasha Callahan has established a vibrant and diverse career as recitalist, chamber and orchestral musician. She has performed extensively throughout North America, Europe and Japan and is a founding member of the Lunaire String Quartet and Kalistos Chamber Orchestra. Recent highlights include a sold out run as the violinist for the American Repertory Theater’s revival of Porgy and Bess, a performance as soloist of Brahms Double Concerto, a solo Bach performance at the National Cathedral (D.C.), and performances with the World Youth Orchestra, an international orchestra assembled to present concerts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Ms. Callahan can be heard as a member of the Portland (ME) Symphony and Rhode Island Philharmonic, and New Hampshire Music Festival, as well as with the Boston Pops, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Boston Landmarks Orchestra, ALEA III, Boston Classical Orchestra, and Boston Lyric Opera.

Education

B.M. Violin Performance, Rice University; M.M. Boston University

Contact Us

Brookline Music School is a nonprofit organization that has provided excellence in music education to the Greater Boston community since 1924. We rely on the generous support of our donors to benefit the community through music.

Brookline Music School welcomes students of all ages. Enrollment is open year-round so students may begin private lesson study at any time. Join us!


Regular Hours

Monday to Friday: 9 am to 9 pm
Saturday and Sunday: 8 am to 7 pm

See the Lessons & Classes or Early Childhood calendars for holiday schedules including flex days, make-up days and closures.