In residence on Duke’s beautiful campus, the Duke University String School is a string education program for students aged 5-18 who commit to their instrument through practice, weekly lessons, and ensemble instruction. Dedicated to excellence, we provide students with clear goals for advancement while fostering a love for music and opportunities for lasting friendships.
Since its founding in 1967 by Mrs. Dorothy Kitchen and Mrs. Arlene DiCecco, DUSS has a 50-year tradition of facilitating access to music education for any child. The Duke University String School is committed to being accessible to any student, regardless of financial status, who is passionate about music and interested in a program fostering excellence in a supportive atmosphere.
We want to congratulate every single performer who participated in the 2024 DUSS Concerto Competition today. Each student showed a great deal of hard… read more about 2024 Concerto Competition Winners »
While most of our ensembles are full this semester, we have 1-2 more openings in the Beginner Cello Group Class for students with 1 year or less of… read more about Beginner Cello Group Class Openings »
We welcome new Violin and Viola teacher Alexa Rose Sanfilippo to the String School teaching faculty! She will be teaching Violin Choir 2, Chamber… read more about Welcome Alexa Rose Sanfilippo! »
After graduating from the Victoriano Lopez music conservatory in San Pedro Sula, Honduras in 1980, Carlos A. Bardales moved to San Jose, Costa Rica… read Carlos Bardales's full profile »
Isoa Chapman is originally from New Zealand where he studied with Jan Tawroszewicz (Warsaw Piano Quintet) at Canterbury University. He subsequently… read Isoa Chapman's full profile »
Erica Shirts, a native of Utah, regularly performs in the North Carolina Symphony and North Carolina Opera. Erica has performed as the Associate… read Erica Shirts's full profile »
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, violist Maria Valencia began her music studies at the Carabobo Music Conservatory. She then transcended her studies to… read Maria Valencia's full profile »
Alexa Rose Sanfilippo is a performer, and a violin and viola teacher in the Raleigh area. She currently performs regularly with the Raleigh Symphony… read Alexa Rose Sanfilippo's full profile »
Nathan Leyland, born in Butler, Pennsylvania, began his cello studies at the age of 9 in the public schools of Lynchburg,VA. Nathan attended the… read Nathan Leyland's full profile »
Cellist Erica Leavell grew up in New Jersey where at an early age, she began her studies with former Philadelphia Orchestra principal cellist William… read Erica Leavell's full profile »
Nonoko started her violin training at the age of six in her native Japan. She grew up studying with teachers who were close pupils of Dr. Shinichi… read Nonoko Okada's full profile »
Lisa Mae Lewis recently moved to North Carolina from the Los Angeles area. She earned her Bachelors of Music degree in String Concentration from… read Lisa Mae Lewis's full profile »
Based out of Raleigh, NC, Dr. Hobin is a frequent performer of orchestral, chamber, Baroque and 20th/21st century repertoire, as well as jazz,… read Zachary Hobin's full profile »
Robert Rempher received his Bachelors Degree in Violin Performance as well as a Performers Certificate from Purchase College, State University of New… read Rob Rempher's full profile »
Dorothy Kitchen began her studies at Eastman School of Music, finished Phi Beta Kappa at Case Western Reserve University and took her Master's Degree… read Dorothy Kitchen's full profile »
Matthew Stutzman grew up in Indianapolis, IN and in 2004 received his bachelor of arts in music education from Vandercook College of Music in Chicago… read Matt Stutzman's full profile »
The Duke University String School is financially committed to helping families in the community who would not be able to participate otherwise. We are grateful for all contributions, no matter the size, to the Dorothy Kitchen Scholarship Fund.
