Penny Thompson Kruse, Professor of Violin
Students
Welcome current, former, and prospective students!
BGSU Applied Violin Students:
Nia Dewberry, Anna Eyink, Megan Graham, Matt Gebhardt, Chris Hutras, Anat Kardontchik, Nana Kao, Alex Midcalf, Jesse Parker, Kurtis Parker, Mary Solomon, Natalie Sterba, Emily Topilow and Min-Han Tsai. My current and former students have come from across the United States, as well as Albania, China, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Romania and Taiwan.
BGSU has hosted guest master classes/lectures by Yehonaton Berick, Regina Carter, David Douglass, Jason De Pue, Duo Gelland, Rebecca Hunter, Andrew Jennings, Laura Kobayashi, Elizabeth Suh Lane, Katie Lansdale, Brian Lewis, Marcia Henry Liebenow, Julie Lyonn Lieberman, James Lyon, Marilyn McDonald, Midori, Martin Norgaard, Laura Roelofs, St. Petersburg String Quartet, Patricia Strange, Marian Tanau, Annette-Barbara Vogel, and Won-Bin Yim. Recent master classes include Stephanie Arado, Ensemble Rebel, David Gillham, Judith Ingolfsson, Jacques Israelievitch, Christoph Schikedanz and Stephen Shipps.
Past summer activities of my students have included a tour in China, Aspen Music Festival, Eastern Music Festival, Brevard Music Festival, Chautauqua Music Festival, Wintergreen Music Festival, MasterWorks Festival, Little Rock Arkansas Festival and Baroque workshops. Summer 2013 and 2014, former student Mike Dandron appeared as violinist in the Absolute Country Show at the Red Garter Saloon at Cedar Point Amusement Park. Some students serve as counselors at BGSU String Camp, Blue Lake Music Camp, Interlochen Music Camp, and Easter Seals Colorado at Rocky Mountain Village. One student worked at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, while others have been involved in church mission trips. Other students took summer classes.
Current undergraduate and graduate students are pursuing degrees in performance, music education, composition and music history. Students can also decide to double major in an area outside of music or minor in music. Non-music majors may audition for Bravo Music Awards, applied lessons, and ensembles. The College of Musical Arts offers the Doctorate in the Performance of Contemporary Music (music written since 1945).
We have weekly studio seminars for students to perform and receive comments in a supportive environment. Students perform juries at the end of each semester. Other performance opportunities on campus such as College Recital and degree and non-degree recitals exist, as well as off-campus. Many students perform with area orchestras as paid musicians in the Adrian, Firelands, Lima, Ohio Northern, and Perrysburg Symphonies.
Audition Repertoire for Violin for both undergraduate and graduate violinists (MusP 4680/5220) - With a syllabus that changes each semester, we cover the standard orchestral excerpts required at orchestral auditions.
The BGSU Graduate String Quartet, composed of master's students chosen for graduate assistantships, is coached by the string faculty on a rotating basis. While I was their coach in Spring 2017, the quartet performed works by Mendelssohn and Brahms, and premiered works by living composers.
BGSU string students have the opportunity to perform with the college orchestra Philharmonia, the Early Music Ensemble, the New Music Ensemble, jazz ensembles, Combustible Improvisation Workshop, and in faculty-coached string and mixed chamber groups. BGSU holds a Chamber Music Competition in the spring semester for cash prizes and the Competitions in Music Performance in December for the opportunity to perform a concerto with the BGSU Philharmonia.
I would be happy to provide trial lessons. You may request a lesson through the Contact section of this website or directly by e-mail or phone.
From the Studio
Dr. Kruse sets an example of always learning and expanding one’s musical knowledge.
- Undergraduate Music Minor
During all my performances, she was essential to picking out music that highlighted my strengths, helped my grow as a player, and building my confidence. - Undergraduate Music Education Student
Dr. Kruse and the other members of the studio provide me with a very supportive and yet critical environment that encourages me to keep playing and growing as a musician.
- Graduate Student
Dr. Kruse was so serious about her teaching and the music, but she had the best smile. I guess she was able to demonstrate how to balance the two. I had quite a bit of fun, but we knew when it was time to settle down and get to work. - Alum, teaching strings in the public schools
BGSU provides regular group classes that provide a supportive audience, an opportunity to learn to play in ensembles, and there is a real sense of camaraderie here that is often missing from university programs.
- Graduate Student
Dr. Kruse is so incredibly open minded with all genres of music. There is never a dull moment! - Jr. Music Education Student
As a member of Dr. Kruse's studio I have learned to let the music breathe with my breath,bow and violin; that slow practice will get the fastest results; and most importantly, I can do anything as long as I am not afraid to ask for help along the way.
- Jr. Music Education Student
