Practice Packs

Jennifer Girone-Virgilio is the Head of the Suzuki Cello/Bass Department and the Suzuki Program Coordinator at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, and is on faculty at the New England Conservatory Prep Division and the New England Suzuki Institute. Her students have been accepted into such prestigious programs as the Special Music School, LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, Manhattan School of Music Summer, Ithaca College Summer Music Academy, and NYU SummerStrings. Jennifer completed training in Suzuki Cello Books 1-8 from the School for Strings with Pamela Devenport. Additionally, she completed an apprenticeship with Tova Rosenberg through the School for Strings’ Early Childhood Program, and spearheaded that department from 2010 until 2017, working with children ages 1-4. Ms. Girone-Virgilio earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Cello Performance from The Hartt School in Hartford, Connecticut, where she studied with Steven Thomas. She went on to receive her Master of Music degree in Cello Performance at New York’s Mannes College of Music, under the guidance of Paul Tobias. As a performer, Jennifer has appeared as the Principal Cellist with the Mid-Atlantic Foundation for Asian Artists Opera at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C; with the OMNI Ensemble performing Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire, in New York; and playing the soundtrack for “The China Question”, a documentary directed by Brook Silva-Braga, which has been played and featured on CNBC. She has also performed with such distinguished organizations as the String Orchestra of Brooklyn, Ensemble 212, the Mimesis Ensemble, Rhymes with Opera, and the Red Door Chamber Players. She lives in Boston and enjoys going for hikes, cooking and baking, and spending time with her trombone playing husband Kevin, and her cat named Daisy.

Mrs. Stephens graduated from Oberlin Conservatory with a Bachelor of Performance in Viola and a Master of Music Teaching in Strings. She has taught in Brattleboro, Vermont; Richmond, Virginia and Kingston, New York at all levels. She earned a position as one of the founding teachers of The Equity Project Charter School in NYC, featured on "60 Minutes." and has taken hundreds of students to NYSSMA Solo & Ensemble Festivals as well as other state festivals. Mrs. Stephens taught Elementary and Junior High Strings in Wappingers Falls, NY for the past 11 years and currently directs the orchestras at Roy C Ketcham. She lives with her husband and two dogs, loves cooking, running, yoga, and gourmet coffee.

Since completing his undergraduate and graduate music studies, at Ithaca College and Yale University respectively, Patrick O’Connell has enjoyed an active musical life in the Capital and Tri-State Region of Vermont, New York and Massachusetts. Patrick is a regular member of the Berkshire Symphony and Glens Falls Symphony Orchestras and principal bass of the Berkshire Opera Festival. He has performed with Vermont Symphony, Boston Chamber Orchestra, Capital Repertory Theatre, Proctor's Theater, and Williamstown Theatre Festival. He has enjoyed performing solo and chamber recitals, and has joined orchestral tours of South-East Asia, Panama and Guatemala. In addition to an active performing schedule, Patrick is an enthusiastic music educator who believes music is an essential aspect of a well-rounded education and the living of a full life. He directs the wind ensemble at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, teaches double bass at the College of Saint Rose, coaches with the Empire State Youth Orchestra and, on occasion, conducts symphony orchestra rehearsals at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He has served as adjunct faculty at the College of Saint Rose, Union College and was on faculty at the Ithaca College Summer Music Academy. Patrick has delivered presentations at music education conferences, taught elementary orchestra for 10 years in the NYS Public Schools, and now directs high school orchestra in Massachusetts. He has written and performed compositions for double bass and has had the honor of having his original piece performed by the renowned soloist, Nicholas Walker, around the country and in Australia.