Nicole Lerch
Description
Nicole Lerch was born in Wooster, Ohio, and began studying the piano at age 7 and the violin at age 10, later concentrating exclusively on the violin and viola. After graduating as a valedictorian from Worthington High School in Columbus, she attended the University of Cincinnati, Conservatory of Music for one year where she studied with Sigmund Effron, and then finished her Bachelor’s degree in Music at Goshen College in Indiana. She concluded her Master’s degree in Violin Performance at Boston University, studying with Roger Shermont, Raphael Hillyer, Mary Lou Speaker Churchill, and Victor Yampolsky.
At the conclusion of her Master’s degree, Nicole had the opportunity to travel to Brazil and become a member of the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra and later of the Municipal Opera and Ballet Orchestra in Rio de Janeiro. She auditioned for the Professor of Violin position at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in 1997. Remaining at the University for 24 years, she taught Bachelor’s students, and undergrads in the Teacher Education program, as well as teenagers at the Intermediate and children at the Basic levels. Along with continuing to give private lessons and playing in orchestra concerts, she was co-founder of the Mattos-Lerch Violin/Viola Duo which performed extensively for 10 years. She is fluent in Portuguese as a result of living and working in Brazil for over 30 years.
In September of 2022, Nicole relocated to Clearwater, Florida to be near her family. Since moving to Clearwater, she has joined the Pinellas Park Civic Orchestra as Concertmaster, and also played a year and a half in the Suncoast Symphony Orchestra. She served as Director of the Pinellas Park Civic Orchestra Summer Strings program in Pinellas Park in 2024. Her teaching experience includes giving violin and viola lessons at the Sam Ash Music Store in Clearwater in 2023, and presently teaches at Ramblin Rhodes Music School in Trinity and at Dean Johnson’s Music Store in Zephyrhills.
Nicole enjoys playing chamber music with her friends and students, as well as eating out, and enjoying the Florida weather.
Years Teaching: Over 40 years
Certificate(s): Yes
Language(s) Spoken: English, Portuguese
Email: lerchnf@gmail.com
Phone: (727) 900-9119
Location of lessons:
Personal Home Studio, Student's Home
Level of Instruction:
Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Professional
Ages:
Kids: 5 - 10 years old
Preteens: 11 - 13 years old
Teens: 14 - 17 years old
Adults: 18 and older
