Meet the Artists - UP String Quartet

Meet the UP String Quartet performing on September 30th at 7pm in the atrium of the new Civic Building.

Rebecca Gehring, violin, teaches private violin, viola, and cello lessons in University Place. She also taught beginning strings in University Place Schools 4th grade enrichment program. She enjoys playing for weddings and other events in the community, and arranging string ensembles for her students and their friends.

Paula Westgaard has taught in the music program in the Puyallup School District for many years. She teaches in elementary school and has a junior high orchestra and an advanced high school orchestra. She is a graduate of the music program at Pacific Lutheran University.

Joel Westgaard ahs taught junior and senior high school orchestras at Curtis Jr. and Sr. for many years. His groups have traveled to many venues and have won many competitions. He has inspired many former students to follow in his footsteps in the music field.

Margaret Thorndill, cello, directs public events and University of Puget Sound. Margaret grew up in Tacoma and University Place, paying in Tacoma Youth Symphony. She graduated from Curtis High School, received her Bachelor of Music degree from Washington State University and completed her Master of Fine Arts degree in cello at California Institute of the Arts. She plays in Tacoma Symphony, is a member of Seattle String Quartet, and South Sound Trio.