pmc faculty.
Professional musicians. Committed educators. The same artistic standard that governs the Palaver stage governs every PMC classroom.
taught by working professionals.
PMC faculty are not teaching assistants. They are performing musicians — active in concert halls, recording studios, and chamber music series across the region and country. Their teaching is informed by real artistic standards, not just pedagogy textbooks.
Every PMC teacher holds advanced credentials in their instrument and in music education. Many hold Suzuki or Music Learning Theory certification. All are accountable to the standard set by an ensemble that performs at Carnegie Hall.
Maggie Cerjan
Violin Instructor
Nominated a "Citizen Musician" by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Margaret Cerjan has established herself as a passionate performer and educator. After graduating from Northwestern University, Margaret joined the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, performing under conductors including Riccardo Muti and Esa-Pekka Salonen. She performed over 80 chamber music concerts at schools and community centers as a Teaching Artist through the Chicago Symphony's Institute, and as a founding member of the Élan String Quartet, collaborated with the Chicago Symphony and performed the Schubert Cello Quintet with Yo-Yo Ma. She continued her studies at Boston University, where she was a teaching artist at the Conservatory Lab Program and faculty at Boston Symphony's Project STEP. She is currently a member of the Cape Ann Symphony and faculty at New England Conservatory's Preparatory School.
Maya French
Co-Artistic Director · Violin & Viola Instructor · Executive Director
Maya grew up in midcoast Maine and received her BM in Violin Performance from Boston University in 2015 under the direction of Bayla Keyes. She has studied and performed at Kronberg Academy, Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Orford Music Academy, Manchester Music Festival, and Kneisel Hall. A co-founder of Palaver Strings, Maya is certified to teach Suzuki Violin and Music Learning Theory, an early childhood music method. She is also a faculty member at Ithaca College and deeply committed to building music education that serves communities honestly and openly.
Brianna Fischler
Co-Artistic Director · Education Coordinator · Violin & Viola Instructor
Brianna holds a B.M. in violin performance from Boston University, where she studied with Bayla Keyes. She attended the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, Aspen Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute, and Kinhaven Music School, and has performed at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, and Avery Fisher Hall. She has taught at El Sistema Somerville, Bridge Boston Charter School, and Bay Chamber Concerts, and is certified in Early Childhood Music Learning Theory and the Suzuki Method. Currently on faculty at the Portland Conservatory of Music in addition to maintaining a private studio in Portland.
Robin Lane
Cello Instructor
Robin Lane is a cellist, composer, audio engineer, and music producer based in Maine. He studied through the Farmington Public Schools and The Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford, later completing a Bachelor of Music in Music Performance (Magna Cum Laude) from the University of Southern Maine in 2024, with a concentration in composition. Robin explored other genres on cello through private study at Midcoast Music Academy, Woodsound Studios, and Bay Chamber. He performs classical, jazz, and contemporary works throughout New England, and records and produces out of his studio, Robin's Nest Recording in Rockland, ME.
Elizabeth Moore
Co-Artistic Director · Programming Director · Viola & Violin Instructor
Elizabeth grew up in midcoast Maine, surrounded by folk music and chamber music from a young age. She studied viola performance at the UNC School of the Arts with Sheila Browne, and at BU College of Fine Arts with Karen Ritscher. Teaching and playing with Palaver over the years, she is inspired by her colleagues and students, continually reexamining the ways she approaches music and her role as a musician and educator. In addition to her work with Palaver, she maintains a private studio and teaches at the Portland Conservatory of Music.
Joel Rosen
Cello Instructor
Joel Rosen is a cellist originally from St. Louis, Missouri. He completed his Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance with Stephen Balderston at DePaul University, and earned his Master of Music in Cello Performance from the University of Tennessee Knoxville, where he was a Graduate Teaching Assistant and received Suzuki Certification for Books 1 & 2 from Dr. Melissa Kraut. He taught at the Knoxville Suzuki Academy and performed with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra, and Symphony of the Mountains.
Melissa Ruiz
Violin Instructor
Melissa Ruiz holds a Master of Music in Performance from the University of Maine, where she studied under Dr. Anatole Wieck, and a Bachelor of Music from Universidad Veracruzana in Mexico. An internationally active performer, she has participated in the Dirigo Quartet, Winter Harbor Music Festival, Downeast Chamber Orchestra, Orquesta Filarmónica Duchesne Cuzán, and the Monteux Music Festival. Melissa is a passionate educator committed to using music as a platform for positive change, creating an inclusive space where everyone can feel heard and valued.
Sylvia Schwartz
Violin Instructor
Deeply inspired by the relationship between music, movement, and dance, violinist and teacher Sylvia Schwartz (M.Mus.) believes that every person can learn and makes it her business to meet each individual where they are. A vibrant performer in both modern and historical styles, she co-founded and directs Guts Baroque and performs with Baroque Orchestra of Maine, Portland Symphony Orchestra, Portland Bach Experience, and Classical Uprising. She teaches through the Suzuki method and has performed in venues ranging from the Scarborough COVID-19 vaccine clinic to Shostakovich Hall in St. Petersburg, Russia. M.Mus. from Longy School of Music; B.S. in Engineering from Olin College.
Emma Wiegand
Early Childhood Music Instructor
Emma's passion for working with young children through music began early — as the third of six kids with a musician mother, entertaining the younger ones with music was second nature. She worked at Rock and Roll Daycare and the Newtowne School in the Boston area before joining the Little Roots team at 317 Main Community Music Center in Yarmouth and expanding with Palaver Strings. She holds a BA in Theatre Studies from Emerson College and is certified in Music Together, combining multiple theories and approaches to create playful, diverse, and educational early childhood music experiences.
ready to enroll your student?
Sliding-scale tuition. Financial aid available for all families. Programs for ages 0 through 12+.