Faculty and Staff

At CCM, tomorrow’s arts luminaries work with today’s industry leaders. Our internationally recognized faculty members work with students from around the world. CCM students receive personalized mentorship from professors who guide their individual scholarly, creative, musical, performing and teaching growth.

Who are our faculty members? CCM professors are Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winning performers and designers, ASCAP and BMI Award-winning songwriters and composers, as well as Fulbright Scholars. They are members of major American orchestras, as well as directors and conductors for the world’s leading opera houses and summer festivals. They are researchers, educators, choreographers, technicians, filmmakers and playwrights, as well as experts on health and wellness for artists. They have published widely-used textbooks and produced multimedia for US presidents. They have been featured on major broadcasts like Good Morning America, the Today Show and the Tonight Show, to mention just a few of their accomplishments.

View CCM Strings faculty below, or view our college-wide directory of faculty and staff.

Headshot of Christopher Eugene Wilke

Christopher Eugene Wilke

Adjunct Instructor of Classical Guitar

513-556-3442

Headshot of Rachel  Calin

Rachel Calin

Chair of Strings Department; Professor of Double Bass

513-556-1118

Headshot of Owen Lee

Owen Lee

Adjunct Associate Professor of Double Bass

513-556-3442

Headshot of Gillian Benet Benet Sella

Gillian Benet Benet Sella

Adjunct Professor of Harp

513-556-3276

Headshot of Rebecca M. Barnes

Rebecca M. Barnes

Adjunct Instructor of Viola

513-556-3442

Headshot of Catharine Carroll Lees

Catharine Carroll Lees

Professor of Viola, Geraldine B. Gee Chair of Viola

513-903-7927

Headshot of Jan Grüning

Jan Grüning

Associate Professor, Ariel Quartet member (viola)

513-556-6489

Headshot of Ayane Kozasa

Ayane Kozasa

Assistant Professor of Viola

708-822-5161

Headshot of Gershon Gerchikov

Gershon Gerchikov

Associate Professor, Ariel Quartet member (violin)

513-556-3442

Headshot of Alexandra Kazovsky

Alexandra Kazovsky

Associate Professor, Ariel Quartet member (violin)

513-556-6489

Headshot of Kristin I. Lee

Kristin I. Lee

Assistant Professor of Violin

513-556-0150

Headshot of Timothy Lees

Timothy Lees

Assistant Professor, Educator of Violin

513-505-0932

Headshot of Boyun Li

Boyun Li

Adjunct Instructor of Violin Performance; CCM Prep Starling Instructor

513-556-2595

Headshot of Kurt Sassmannshaus

Kurt Sassmannshaus

Professor of Violin; the Dorothy Richard Starling Chair in Classical Violin

513-556-9550

Headshot of Won-Bin Yim

Won-Bin Yim

Associate Professor of Violin

513-556-5254

Headshot of Amit Even-Tov

Amit Even-Tov

Associate Professor, Ariel Quartet member (cello)

513-556-6638

Headshot of Ilya Finkelshteyn

Ilya Finkelshteyn

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Cello

513-556-3442

Headshot of Alan B. Rafferty

Alan B. Rafferty

Associate Professor- Educator of Violoncello

847-571-8097

Headshot of Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir

Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir

Assistant Professor of Cello

513-556-5935

Department Chair, Division Head and Administrative Staff

Headshot of Rachel  Calin

Rachel Calin

Chair of Strings Department; Professor of Double Bass

513-556-1118

Headshot of Daniel Weeks

Daniel Weeks

Interim Division Head of Performance Studies; Associate Professor of Voice

513-556-6830

Headshot of Sarah Minneman

Sarah Minneman

Chamber Music Coordinator

Headshot of Claudia C. Penn

Claudia C. Penn

Executive Staff Assistant

513-556-3442