Our TeacherS

Cindy Rosenberg studied at the University of Minnesota with Tanya Remenikova , and at the Juilliard School in New York City with Lorne Munroe. She moved to Maryland in the early 1990’s, where she  established herself as an orchestral player ( Annapolis Symphony, Maryland Symphony, National Philharmonic, Harrisburg and Alexandra Symphonies, Apollo Orchestra) contractor and teacher. Her jazz trio  MOSAIC develops school shows melding music with academic concepts. Cindy is a dedicated educator with a unique approach tailored to each student's learning styles, drawing ideas and strategies from a number of disciplines, including Educational Kinesiology/Brain Gym, the Suzuki Method (although she is not an officially trained Suzuki teacher), and Eloise Ristad's "The Performer Within" workshops.  . She works with all ages and levels. Cindy is a frequent adjudicator throughout Maryland. In addition to her private cello studio, Cindy taught for 3 years with the Bridges Program in Baltimore (at the time the outreach arm of GBYO, and she currently teaches through a Montgomery County based outreach program through Strathmore Hall and the Maryland Classic Youth Symphony called Eastern County Strings. In addition, she is adjunct faculty at Carroll Community College and Morgan State University and the Assistant Director of the Westminster Symphony Orchestra, an orchestra in Westminster for college students and community members.

Jordan Johnson is a seasoned violinist active in the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. region since 2010. He has collaborated and recorded with a range of respected ensembles — from the UMD Symphony Orchestra and Peabody Youth Orchestra to DC Strings, Avanti Orchestra, and CAAPA —bringing versatility and depth to every stage. His performances span a wide stylistic range, from classical masterworks such as Handel's Messiah to contemporary works like Qadar, reflecting his openness to musical exploration and cultural breadth. In 2020, Jordan made a major career milestone with his debut at Kennedy Center in the production Figaro Meets Frederick Douglass. In addition to performance, Jordan is a dedicated educator. He offers private instruction and has led masterclasses and chamber coaching at institutions including Peabody Conservatory, University of Maryland, College Park, Oxon Hill High School, and Parkdale High School — blending technical rigor with expressive artistry. His training, which culminated in a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Maryland (2014), was guided by notable teachers such as Dr. Gerald Fischbach, Dr. James Stern, and chamber coaches including Greg Luce of the Aeolus Quartet. Beyond music, Jordan is passionate about languages — regularly practicing Spanish and Italian — and exploring museums and cultural spaces. He thrives on connecting with people from diverse backgrounds who share curiosity, drive, and a bold vision for their lives and dreams. Colleagues and collaborators often describe him as “professional, punctual, dependable,” someone who “delivers every time.”

Wesley Catherine Hamilton is a violist, violinist, educator, and music theorist based in Baltimore, Maryland. Wesley graduated with her Master's degree in Viola Performance and Pedagogy at Peabody Conservatory in Johns Hopkins University in May of 2023, Summa Cum Laude, and is now pursuing her DMA at Peabody (expected May 2027). She recently completed a Master’s of Music Theory Pedagogy at Peabody during her doctoral coursework. Wesley earned two undergraduate degrees in Music Performance (Viola) and Music Theory from the University of Georgia in 2020, Summa Cum Laude.

Wesley performs all over the DMV with ensembles including the Harrisburg Symphony, Apollo Orchestra, French Opera of Washington, Live Wire String Quartet, and the Bach in Baltimore Concert Series.

Wesley is adjunct faculty at Peabody Conservatory in the Music Education department and at Howard Community College, where she teaches her studio of 20 viola and violin students ranging from ages 6-80. In addition to CYO, Hamilton’s students are featured in the Baltimore Youth Symphony Orchestras, MMEA Allstate Orchestras, and the Howard County Youth Orchestra. 

Amanda McKay is violist and educator for over 20 years. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from UMD and a Master of Arts in Teaching from National University. She also earned National Board Certification in Early to Middle Childhood Music in 2010.

Mrs. McKay career spans teaching both elementary orchestra and band, and middle school orchestra in several school in HCPSS. She has also served as part of the Music Leadership Team in Howard County. In 2015, she was recognized as Howard County Music Teacher of the Year.

Mrs. McKay also has a private violin and viola studio, teaching students of all ages, whose achievements include performances in the Howard County Youth Orchestra, Middle & Elementary GT Orchestras, Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the Maryland All-State Orchestras.

Mrs. McKay also performs locally with various groups, including the Columbia Orchestra.

Currently, Mrs. McKay teaches orchestra at Ducketts Lane & Hanover Hills Elementary Schools and is also the co-director for the HCPSS Middle School Honors Orchestra. Outside of teaching music she enjoys hiking and biking with her family, gardening, playing with her chickens, sewing and teaching about health and wellness.