String Lessons

Cherlyn Johnson (violin, viola)

Cherlyn has been a professional violinist for many years, and has enjoyed teaching talented students for most of that time; her passion is to encourage students of all ages to excel, engage, create and thrive, and to use their gifts not only in classical settings, but also in improvisation for worship, and/or with a band.

Cherlyn earned her Master’s degree in Violin Performance from the St. Louis Conservatory, and her B.Mus. from North Park University in Chicago. Cherlyn has performed with orchestras and ensembles throughout the Midwest and Washington state, been on faculty of many schools including Kenyon college, MacPhail School for the Arts, and Merit School of Music Conservatory, and published many compositions and arrangements for strings, piano and winds. She has recorded five albums, and has played on many collaborative works.

Cherlyn is currently a Conductor and Coach with the Maple Valley Youth Symphony, the Director of Worship for Midway Covenant Church, directs the Midway Choir, and maintains private teaching studios in Issaquah and Maple Valley.

Cherlyn enjoys an active performing career as well, performing often with other artists such as Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Phil Keaggy, Paul Baloche, etc. She also performs her unique style of Celtic Fusion backed up by her own band, Heartdance, at various venues in the Pacific Northwest.  She is sought after as a teacher for Improvisation, and is the Strings Clinician for the Christian Musician Summit conferences.

Through a balance of technique, artistry and musicality, covering foundational etudes, materials from the Royal Conservatory, and a wide range of engaging pieces, Cherlyn’s students receive excellent training to pursue a career in music, or to simply enjoy being excellent musicians; a great many of her students have gone on to be professional musicians and teachers. Her students have also been featured in performances with The Piano Guys. 

Dr. Michael Tavani (cello)

Cellist Michael Tavani began studying cello at the age of six. His broad musical interests have led him to perform around the world, including concerts at venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and the Ryman Auditorium. Currently the worship/arts pastor at Shoreline Community Church, Tavani also teaches privately in the Seattle area and at Northwest University, and releases his own music as sing-songwriter Jarus. Mr. Tavani holds degrees in music performance from Cleveland State University and Vanguard University of Southern California; he is also pursuing a DMA in cello performance from the University of Alabama, and works as a performer, teacher, and recording artist throughout the Northwest.