Beth Dzwil, Director

Beth Dzwil, violist, founder and director of Fairmount Strings, is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts, where she studied with long time principal violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Joseph dePasquale. She is a former member of the Elysian Camerata, with whom she has recorded one album, and she has performed with the Delaware Symphony, the Classical Symphony, the Ocean City Pops and Orchestra 2001. She has served as principal violist of the Pottstown Symphony Orchestra and has appeared as soloist with the St. John's Festival Orchestra, the Pottstown Symphony Orchestra, the Fairmount Chamber Ensemble and the Buxmont Chamber Orchestra. In 1995, she was the subject of a Philadelphia Inquirer feature article.

In addition to her classical work, Beth has studied jazz techniques with the Turtle Island String Quartet and has performed internationally and recorded six critically acclaimed jazz albums with the Tyrone Brown String Sextet.  It is her work with this group that earned her the status of voting member in the Grammy organization.  She also performs with the contemporary Christian band “For the Spirit”, with whom she has recorded one album.

Through her teaching, Beth feels it is important to cultivate a love of music and to continue the musical legacy that has been passed down to her through many generations of master violinists and violists. She has been teaching violin and viola and coaching chamber music for over 30 years. In addition to maintaining a private teaching studio, she teaches at Community College of Philadelphia and Germantown Friends School.