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Elise Gambrell

Elise Kotheimer Gambrell received her Bachelor of Music degree and her Masters of Arts in Teaching Music from the University of Louisville. She has been playing the violin since she was three years old and has studied under the guidance of accomplished teachers including Peter McHugh, Patrick Rafferty, Cheri Kelley and Hiroko Driver.  Mrs. Gambrell won the McDowell Music Teacher’s Competition in 2001 and the McCauley Chamber Music Competition in 1999.

Mrs. Gambrell served as the director of the New Albany High School and Hazelwood Middle School Orchestras for seven years.  Under her direction, the orchestras received gold ratings at the Indiana State School Music Association Organizational Festival every year. Mrs. Gambrell also served as the conductor of the Serenade Orchestra for the Louisville Youth Orchestra from 2008 – 2020. 

Mrs. Gambrell became a certified Suzuki teacher in 2001 and has taught privately for nineteen years.  In November 2011, Mrs. Gambrell served as the conductor for the Jefferson County All-County Concertino Orchestra.

Mrs. Gambrell has been working for the Oldham County Schools Arts Center since 2014, where she has taught Beginning Strings, Junior Orchestra and Middle School Orchestra. This year she stepped into her role as the lead teacher of the string orchestra for the new CAPAA (Creative and Performing Arts Academy) high school program.

Mrs. Gambrell is a member of the Concentus String Quartet and performs regularly in the Louisville and Lexington area.