Meet the Staff
Leading Representatives
Joel Kennedy
President
Viola
Joel Kennedy
President
Viola
Joel Kennedy is president and global strategist for Kennedy Violins, Inc. He has played viola and violin for over thirty years. He attended the Eastman School of Music in New York, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in viola performance and completed graduate studies in education there as well. He has played professionally with orchestras in the Unites States and around the world and has students attending top conservatories in the U.S. and abroad.
Joel Kennedy originally started Kennedy Violins in order to create a platform to provide high-quality instruments for his own string students, who often showed up at lessons with violins that were barely playable. Since then, Joel has traveled the world in search of makers who not only approach violin making with the highest professional standards but also as an art form to be respected. Every instrument maker that Kennedy Violins represents has been hand-selected because they adhere to Joel's specific standards. He currently volunteers with several youth orchestras and continues to lead Kennedy Violins towards an even brighter future!
Karen Tsao
Vice President
Viola
Karen Tsao
Vice President
Viola
Karen Tsao is a sales representative who specializes in premium instrument consultation. She received her bachelor’s degree in viola performance from the Eastman School of Music. She has performed professionally in orchestras all over the world.
Karen has served as the principal violist for the Portland Opera. Her particular expertise is traveling the world to test and select the best instruments for Kennedy Violins. She is fluent in several languages and is a great asset to Kennedy Violins in communicating with luthiers and selecting only the highest quality instruments.
Zach
Shop Manager
Bass
Zach
Shop Manager
Bass
Bass lessons with Zach will help you meet your musical goals. Zach emphasizes clear fundamentals and musical concepts to help you with whatever kind of music you want to play. Whether you want to study classical upright bass, jazz, rock on electric bass, or any musical style, Zach Sears is here to help.
Zach has a bachelors in music performance from Portland State University, and has performed regularly in regional symphonies, chamber concerts, musicals, and has been active in jazz performance. Zach has over 10 years teaching experience in teaching students from beginner through the college level. His students have played in youth orchestras and won performance awards and scholarships.
Luthiers
Cesar
Head Luthier
Spoons
Cesar
Head Luthier
Spoons
Cesar Morales apprenticed one-on-one for several years under an exceptional luthier and master repairman in a West Coast shop authorized by C.F. Martin & Co. After performing warranty-related work on Martin instruments, Cesar's professional training has given him the ability to recognize the subtle differences that make instruments perform both as they should and at their best—the latter for which he strives.
Cesar loves putting instruments in the hands of those that wish to play them, spreading the power of music as far as possible. He strives to provide anyone with a desire to play instruments with high-end setup that are both affordable and playable.
Beyond his expertise in violin setup, Cesar enjoys building instruments and spending time with his beautiful wife and daughter.
Jeff
Luthier
Guitar
Jeff
Luthier
Guitar
Jeff has been performing on guitar for over 15 years, concentrating in classical, jazz studies and rock music. Jeff graduated from Frostburg State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Business, and moved to the Vancouver/Portland area to pursue a life in music.
He enjoys working as a luthier here at Kennedy Violins, setting up and repairing violins. He also builds guitars outside of work and can be found performing locally in several groups in the Portland Area.
Chris
Luthier
Bass
Chris
Luthier
Bass
Chris has over 25 years experience in woodworking. He enjoys playing bass guitar in his free time.
Kelly
Luthier
Bass
Kelly
Luthier
Bass
Kelly has been playing music since the age of 5 years old. She is a certified welder, a touring bass guitar player, and has spent years in musical instruments sales. Kelly finds the art of lutherie to be a perfect blend of careful craftsmanship and a passion for music. In her free time she is a hobbyist knife maker and a photographer.
Marketing
Ben
Director of Marketing
Drums / Guitar
Ben
Director of Marketing
Drums / Guitar
Ben possesses a wealth of experience in the digital marketing and tech industry, with a strong focus on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and web development. As a cofounder of https://juice.ai, he successfully built a company that supports businesses in bolstering their SEO presence and driving online growth. His leadership skills allowed him to effectively manage a diverse team, providing direction and strategic guidance that resulted in the achievement of key company objectives. Away from the office, Ben plays drums and writes and records his own music.
Private Lesson Instructors
Amy
Teacher
Violin
Amy
Teacher
Violin
amy@kennedyviolins.com
Amy started playing the violin at eight years old, and after ten years of private lessons, Suzuki camps, private gigs, and performances with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, Clark College Orchestra, and Harding University Orchestra, she finally found her musical passion playing in the pit orchestra for The Music Man. Her favorite musical experiences so far have been performing in her university's production of Beauty and the Beast and Peter Pan with Vancouver’s own Journey Theater. She loves the theater thrill.
Amy brings that same love of teamwork and camaraderie to her position at Kennedy Violins. She is excited to work with customers to find instruments that help them find their own passion.
Ashley
Teacher
Violin, Viola
Ashley
Teacher
Violin, Viola
Ashley recently graduated from Brigham Young University with her bachelor's degree in viola performance. Her musical journey began at the age of five after listening to a memorable recording of the violin on the radio, instantly falling in love with its depth and beauty of sound. She knew she wanted to learn how to play the instrument, and after two years of persistent pestering, her parents secured her a position with her first private teacher and has played ever since. Ashley has since had the privilege of performing as assistant principal violist of Brigham Young University's Philharmonic Orchestra, principal violist of BYU’s Chamber Orchestra, and violist of BYU’s prestigious honors quartet. Ashley has also had the opportunity to work in masterclass with some of the great violists of our time, including Paul Neubauer, Professor of the Juilliard School, Robert Vernon, Principal Violist of the Cleveland Orchestra, Jutta Puchhammer-Sedillot, Associate Professor of Viola at the Université de Montréal, and Stephen Wyrczynski, Professor of Viola at the Jacobs School of Music. Along with her extensive performing experience, Ashley has served as adjunct professor of viola at her college, working with students of many experience levels. Her work with the college, as well as her performance excellence resulted in her being awarded the prestigious David Dalton Scholarship the last two years of her degree. Ashley studied under Claudine Bigelow and plans to pursue a masters degree in viola performance and pedagogy in the near future. She hopes to instill a lasting love for music in her students, and finds great joy in seeing her students excel and gain an appreciation for their instrument.
Zach
Teacher
Bass
Zach
Teacher
Bass
Bass lessons with Zach will help you meet your musical goals. Zach emphasizes clear fundamentals and musical concepts to help you with whatever kind of music you want to play. Whether you want to study classical upright bass, jazz, rock on electric bass, or any musical style, Zach Sears is here to help.
Zach has a bachelors in music performance from Portland State University, and has performed regularly in regional symphonies, chamber concerts, musicals, and has been active in jazz performance. Zach has over 10 years teaching experience in teaching students from beginner through the college level. His students have played in youth orchestras and won performance awards and scholarships.
Owen
Teacher
Cello, Voice
Owen
Teacher
Cello, Voice
Owen Hofmann-Smith is a performer of many talents. He began his musical training in the fifth grade on the cello. He played in orchestra and sang in choir through his school years. As a youth he played with the Portland youth Philharmonic. During college he picked up the string bass and began studying jazz. It was also at that time that he got his first choir directing position at a local church.
After winning the concerto competition at PSU, Owen was awarded the first prize of performing the full, unabridged concerto with the PSU Symphony. When practicing vigorously for this concert he sustained a severe playing injury that prevented him from continuing to play bass or cello.
Faced with giving up his lifelong goal of a career as a cellist, he then begin to study voice and opera singing as well as completing a master's degree in conducting at Portland State in 2013. Having made a full recovery from that injury a couple of years later, he is back performing on his cello and bass regularly.
After years of gigging as a classical, jazz, and theatrical stage performer, more recently Owen has been developing as a rock and R&B musician on guitar and bass guitar.
Owen has recently performed on bass with The Casimir Effect, Karaoke from Hell, Pete Krebs, The Clambake Combo, Stumptown Swing, Vintage Knights, Torchsong Entertainment, Rio con Brio, Arco PDX, Columbia Symphony, and Opera Theater Oregon. Owen is also very into folk and fiddle music after traveling to Dublin and Cork. Fiddle tunes and Irish folk songs are often featured in his musical sets.
Owen currently holds position as Director of Music Ministry at Bethel UCC, conductor of Liedertafel Harmonie (community choir of the German American Society of Portland), and instructor at Kennedy Violins.
Dyonnis
Teacher
Piano, Voice
Dyonnis
Teacher
Piano, Voice
Dyonnis has taught piano and voice for over 25 years to students of all ages. She studied piano pedagogy at Marylhurst College under Joanna Hodges, founder of the Joanna Hodges Conference and Piano Competition. She studied voice under Dr. David Murray. She has sang in the Portland Opera Chorus and served as Music Director and as a piano accompanist in churches. Dyonnis takes into consideration each student’s unique learning style and interests to achieve a common outcome of proper technique, theory, ear training and sight reading ability. She is passionate about helping a student achieve the lifelong physical, mental, social and emotional benefits that playing an instrument provides.
Lauren Trujillo
Teacher
Violin
Lauren Trujillo
Teacher
Violin
Lauren began her violin studies in 2005 and has been teaching private violin lessons since 2019. She received her bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance from Portland State University and has studied with Carol Sindell, Adam LaMotte, and Dr. Tomas Cotik. Lauren is the concertmaster for the Tualatin Valley Symphony orchestra and frequently plays with The Vancouver Symphony, Orchestra Nova Northwest, and Newport Symphony Orchestra. Lauren enjoys working one-on-one with her students to help them achieve their musical goals!
Agyei Marshall
Teacher
Guitar, Bass Guitar, Ukulele
Agyei Marshall
Teacher
Guitar, Bass Guitar, Ukulele
Agyei has been teaching music and playing professionally since 2004. Drawing inspiration from Funk, Jazz, Blues, Metal, Classic/Modern Rock, Hip-Hop, Country, R&B/Motown, Progressive, and Grunge. He’s had the honor of playing with and opening for many great artists such as SlimKid Tre of The Pharcyde, Funkadelic, Lupe Fiasco, Tony Ozier, 311, Farnell Newton, Tom Scott, Brittni Paiva, Justin Chittams of Medicine for The People, and DAZZ. Taking a very grounded approach to teaching, Agyei specializes in working with students of all skill levels whether you’re looking for the absolute basics or more advanced technique and theory. He also specializes in Home Recording/Studio Production, Songwriting, and has engineered and produced recordings for artists such as Jessica Manalo, Moon Fog, The Heavy Hustle, Adebisi, and Laryssa Birdseye. Guitar. Bass. Ukulele. Home Recording. Production. Song Writing. Music Theory. Fretboard Theory. Fretboard Visualization.
Rafael
Teacher
Violin
Rafael
Teacher
Violin
Rafael first began playing violin in 2009. He plays with the Clark College Orchestra as well as Clark Community Strings, led by Sandra Edwards in Vancouver Washington. Rafael has taught local private lessons as well as sectionals at Evergreen High School and Cascade Middle School. He led a professional string quartet from 2019-2021 which performed pieces from Dimitri Shostakovich and Sergei Prokofiev. Although the journey of a musician is shared by many, it is ultimately experienced alone, making each and every one's experience unique. He wants to teach how to be a self-sufficient musician, how to explore, how to enjoy and appreciate music while still learning how to play well.
Haelli Elyse
Teacher
Piano
Haelli Elyse
Teacher
Piano
Haelli gravitated towards the piano at a very young age. Before learning to tie her shoes, ride a bicycle, or sculpt playdough, she was sounding out the chords of her favorite songs on her Grandma's piano. Her enthusiasm for music has only continued to grow and flourish into her college years. She was lucky enough to learn from some of the best teachers this area has to offer, both privately and through college. At the age of 10 Haelli began performing at weddings, church events, and various recitals. As an adult she has continued to learn from, and perform with exceptional musicians. Second to her love of playing music is her love of teaching it. She has spent more than a decade sharing the joy of music with both kids and adults. During her early years, Haelli relied heavily on her ear and less on sheet music. This left her feeling inadequate and unmotivated when it came to practicing her assignments. Luckily she was able to find a special teacher who was able to guide her through the challenges and help her to learn proper technique and master necessary skills. Now, as a teacher herself, overcoming those struggles has given her excellent insight in how to help others and draw the music out of each student where it can flourish. In her lessons, Haelli strives to understand and connect with students in order to teach them in a way that suits their learning style and helps them build a love for music. This is what all of her esteemed teachers did for her, and she hopes to pass it on, gratefully.
Marie Griffith
Teacher
Violin, Viola
Marie Griffith
Teacher
Violin, Viola
Marie grew up in Seattle, where she studied under Mihoko Hirata in one of the first Suzuki programs in the US. She holds a Bachelor and Master’s degree in violin performance from the University of Utah. In high school and college, she performed as soloist with several orchestras in the West and Northwest. She performed professionally with the Reading Symphony (PA) and the Chattanooga Symphony (TN) as well as the Trio di Roma piano trio in Rome, Georgia. She has completed post-graduate studies in chamber music with Mikhail Boguslavsky (Moscow Chamber Orchestra) and avant-garde performance with Janos Negyesy (UCSD). She has taught violin and viola for over 30 years and loves the challenge of helping students of all ages and abilities improve their technique and learn to express themselves through music they love.
Kelly
Teacher
Bass
Kelly
Teacher
Bass
Specializing in electric bass since 2011, Kelly tours and performs with artists across various genres, and has contributed to numerous albums. Her musical training began at age six on piano, and expanded to saxophone, guitar and bass. She is a graduate of PCC's Professional Music Program. Whether you're brand new to music or are bringing some experience to the table, Kelly's teaching approach will blend your innate musicality with the concepts of music theory that will unlock and expand your bass playing.
Annie Harkey-Power
Teacher
Cellist
Annie Harkey-Power
Teacher
Cellist
Annie began her cello studies in Longview, Washington, and later studied with renowned teachers at Mt. Hood Community College and the University of Oregon. She has performed with numerous symphonies and festivals, including the Oregon Mahler Festival and Andrea Bocelli. In addition to the cello, Annie learned double bass in 2022 and co-founded a jazz ensemble. A dedicated teacher since 1999, she emphasizes technique and performance preparation, helping students achieve success in auditions and contests. Outside of music, Annie enjoys gardening, swimming, and spending time with her husband and pets in Vancouver, Washington.
Sam Ross
Teacher
Viola
Sam Ross
Teacher
Viola
Sam Ross is a conductor and violist currently based in Vancouver, WA. As conductor and performer he has a special interest in performing contemporary works and the work of underrepresented composers. He has conducted the Orchestra Now, the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, the Bard Conservatory Orchestra, the Bard College Community Orchestra, the Impulse New Music Ensemble and the University of Oregon Symphony Orchestra. From 2022 to 2024, Sam was assistant of the Bard College Community Orchestra and the Bard Baroque Ensemble. He attended the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra conducting seminar summer of 2023, studying with Markand Thakar. He has also conducted the Bard Conservatory Orchestra in masterclasses with Leon Botstein, and performed in masterclasses on viola for Roberto Diaz, Ori Kam, and Brett Deubner.
