About
Though Amata Strings was founded in 2018, the ladies of Amata Strings have been playing together since they were kids. Karen and Theresa met as young string players in Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra and their families would see each other at church on Sundays at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in St. Charles. Music wove their paths closer together when they coincidentally attended the same summer music camp, played together at Wheaton Symphony Orchestra, and eventually ended up at Rosary High School together, where they met pianist Rachel Maley. From orchestra tours, performing in the All-State Honors Orchestra, volunteering at their church, and exploring the world around them through music, they formed a life-long connection.
College years brought them to different parts of the country, but they would always return home to the Fox Valley area to play together for Christmas, summer weddings, and everything in between. Eventually returning to the area for good to teach and perform, Karen, Rachel and Theresa continue to bring people together through music, whether at memorial services, community events, weddings, family gatherings and more. Rehearsals are filled with a lot of laughter, and they could easily chat the entire time, but they also find joy in refining their art and sharing it with the community they grew up in.
College years brought them to different parts of the country, but they would always return home to the Fox Valley area to play together for Christmas, summer weddings, and everything in between. Eventually returning to the area for good to teach and perform, Karen, Rachel and Theresa continue to bring people together through music, whether at memorial services, community events, weddings, family gatherings and more. Rehearsals are filled with a lot of laughter, and they could easily chat the entire time, but they also find joy in refining their art and sharing it with the community they grew up in.
meet the musicians
Theresa GohRaised in St. Charles, IL, Theresa Goh grew up playing viola in the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, where she joined the Artistic Staff in 2015 as the Director of the Chamber Music Institute. As an EYSO student, Theresa was a winner of the Young Artists Concerto Competition, she performed Hindemith’s Der Schwanendreher with the Youth Symphony.
Theresa attended Lawrence University where she participated in a teacher-training program under master teacher Carrie Lane Gruselle and she served as the Artistic Director of the Lawrence Baroque Ensemble. Her principal teachers include Matthew Michelic (Lawrence University), Li-Kuo Chang (Chicago Symphony Orchestra), and Susan Posner (Elgin Symphony Orchestra). Theresa has performed in masterclasses with artists such as Midori, Biava String Quartet, Pacifica String Quartet, Jaime Laredo, and Charlie Pickler. Passionate about a rich liberal arts approach to music, Theresa has training in dance, literature and composition, and visual arts. She maintains a private studio in Elgin teaching violin and viola and performs regularly with the Rockford Symphony Orchestra. In addition to her artistic pursuits, she enjoys gluten-free, vegan baking and yoga. |
Karen Van AckerA passionate violinist and teacher in the Chicago area, Karen began her violin studies at the age of five and was a member of the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra for nine years. She then studied Music Education at St. Olaf College where she had the opportunity to tour with the St. Olaf Orchestra both nationally and internationally in China. In 2018, Karen graduated with her Masters degree in Violin Performance and Pedagogy from University of Colorado Boulder. While at CU Boulder she served as the concertmaster of the University of Colorado Boulder Symphony, Chamber Orchestra, Early Music Ensemble, and Opera Orchestra.
An enthusiastic performer, Karen has performed with the Fort Collins Symphony, Midland-Odessa Symphony, Cheyenne Symphony, Eastern Music Festival, Brevard Music Center, Mankato Symphony Orchestra, Wayzata Symphony Orchestra, and various chamber ensembles. Her principal teachers include Harumi Rhodes, Francesca Anderegg, and Simonne Tingley. Dedicated to teaching both in the classroom and privately, she has taught orchestra in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Louisville, Colorado and currently teaches orchestra in Lincolnshire, Illinois while maintaining a private studio and freelancing. Outside of music, Karen enjoys baking, biking, running, hiking, games, pizza, and paper flower making. |
Rachel MaleyRachel Elizabeth Maley is a visual and performing artist based outside of Chicago. A musician since a young age, Rachel regularly performs as a collaborative and solo pianist, and has worked in various capacities for Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, Side Street Studio Arts, the Brevard Music Center Institute and Festival, the Chicago Chamber Choir, and the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq. Rachel attended the University of Chicago intending to study ethnomusicology, but instead developed an affinity for dance, comparative literature, and contemporary circus arts. Her creative work embodies this penchant for collaboration across all media. RE-MALEY.com
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