Melanie de Jesus, viola and violin, is a career teaching artist. After graduating with high honors in performance from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, she played with orchestras around the midwest before moving to Madison. In addition to maintaining a private studio, she has served the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras as viola section coach, chamber music coach, and workshop teacher since 2011. Ms deJesus’ private studio produces highly sought-after soloists, chamber, and orchestral musicians. She maintains relationships with faculty members and admissions directors at major conservatories, and frequently hosts guest masterclasses for her students. Ms. de Jesus’ comprehensive approach has prepared her private students to win concerto competitions, scholarships to major conservatories, and principal seats at prestigious festivals, as well as providing many principal players to WYSO orchestras and universities. She is an in-demand clinician, and has been invited to give masterclasses internationally, in addition to guest teaching at universities in the United States. Although her Madison studio has nurtured primarily competitive pre-college and collegiate musicians, Ms de Jesus initiated her work with beginning string players in the early 2000s while studying in the renowned String Academy pedagogy program at Indiana University. She is committed to excellence in foundational string teaching and pedagogy, and has taught, collaborated, and presented with the Madison Music Makers and the String Academy of Wisconsin.