Linda Estep, violin / Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra Conductor

LINDA ESTEP
Linda Estep is an accomplished violinist, active performer, teacher, and the Artistic Director of the Brooklyn Arts Music Academy. Her love of music is evident to those around her, and her belief that music can make the world a better place inspires her students and those who hear her play. Ms. Estep is a Wilmington Symphony Orchestra violinist and performs regularly with the Tallis Chamber Orchestra with whom she was recently featured as a soloist on “Summer” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. She has also performed with the Fayetteville Symphony,  Opera Wilmington Orchestra and served as concertmaster of the Maranatha Symphony. In 2016, she became co-founder of and regular performer with the Brierwood Ensemble. 
 
Ms. Estep has over 15 years of experience teaching private lessons, group lessons, and general music classes. Beginning in high school she realized her love of teaching and her desire to share this love with others around her. She earned her Bachelor's degree in String Pedagogy and became the Assistant Director of the String Pedagogy Program at Maranatha Baptist University in Wisconsin.
 
Ms. Estep then moved to Wilmington, North Carolina and became the Elementary Music Director for Wilmington Christian Academy where she created an engaging and safe environment for students to experience and excel in music. Her student programs are always creative and executed with excellence and precision leaving the audience in awe of the performers and giving students a sense of accomplishment for all of their hard work.
 
During her free time, Ms. Estep enjoys watching movies, going to art galleries (her favorite gallery is the Milwaukee Art Museum), and traveling (she has visited England, Ukraine, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and India). 

When asked  what she enjoyed most about teaching, Linda had this to say:
Sharing the joy of music is the highest honor of my life. Music has changed my world and given me so many opportunities that would have been impossible. My goal as a teacher of music is to share this with my students. The capacity to communicate with the world through the universal language of music is a privilege.

I love to compare learning a new piece to building a building. When you look at a beautiful building, you see the whole thing. You see the impressive skyscraper that towers into the sky. You see the colors and the things that make that building completely unique. What you don't see is the blueprints, the foundation, the pieces of material that were separated before the building was built. The months that went into building piece upon piece. Music is the same. I, as a musician, get to work on putting the pieces together. I get to choose the colors that go into my project. I get to create a beautiful piece of art that means something to me. Then I get to share my art with those around me. There is no greater joy than working hard and seeing a finished project that I can be proud of that brings joy and meaning to others.

We asked Linda what her favorite thing about teaching music was:
My favorite thing about teaching music is the connection that happens between music, student and teacher. I want my students to know that I believe in them 100% and that if they set their minds to do something, they can accomplish it. I love helping people accomplish their goals and helping them find, peace, contentment and meaning through their own music making.

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