Meet Your Teachers

Bassist, multi-instrumentalist, composer and arranger Andrew Blickenderfer is the Orchestra Director at Somerville High School, co-director of the All City Middle School Orchestra (with Joanne Sadler), and teaches in numerous SPS neighborhood schools.  Serving the students and families of Somerville since 2007, “Mr. B” is an active performer, bandleader, and composer, using his arranging skills to enhance and respond to student-inspired music requests, working to keep the program’s music relevant, interesting, and fun! 


Education: The Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, Brandeis University


CLICK HERE to read an interview with Mr. B conducted by two high school orchestra members Elizabeth Churchill ('23) and Claire O'Sullivan ('24).

Joanne Sadler is a violinist and educator. She has taught strings in the Somerville Public Schools since 2009. She teaches students from elementary through middle and high school, is the director of the All City Chamber Ensemble, co-directs the All City Middle School Orchestra, and is the Director of Somerville String Fest, a two-week camp held each summer.

 

Originally from Sydney, Australia, Joanne has lived in Europe and the US performing with orchestras including the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, the Australian World Orchestra, the RTE National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, the Ulster Orchestra, the Cirque d’Hiver Orchestre, and the London Concertante. Since 2008, Joanne has lived in Somerville, performing throughout New England as a freelancer with the Plymouth Philharmonic, the Cape Ann Symphony and the Orchestra of Indian Hill. She has also performed with The Who, The Eagles, Michael Buble, “Weird Al” Jankovic, Placido Domingo, and Andrea Bocelli.

 

Education: University of Sydney (B.A. Hons.), Boston University (M.M.Ed.). 

Teachers: Philippa Paige (Sydney, Australia), Yossi Zivoni (London, UK).

Vanessa Fitzgerald is a teacher and performer who specializes in teaching strings. Vanessa received her Bachelors in Arts with a focus in Viola Performance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her Masters in Music Education from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Vanessa began her teaching career teaching at El Sistema inspired programs in Somerville and Hyde Park and went on to teach in the Quincy Public Schools, Milton Public Schools, Chelsea Public Schools and currently Somerville Public Schools. Vanessa also has a private lesson studio where she teaches a variety of instruments. 


Vanessa began her professional career performing alongside her mother in Western Mass with chamber groups and local orchestras. Vanessa continued her performance career on both the local and national stages with groups such as the Transiberian Orchestra, Josh Groban, Il Divo, and Michael Buble. Vanessa always brings creative and engaging energy to her performances. Vanessa is also the co-founder of “Vintage String”, a string and percussion band that performs original hip hop and r&b medleys as well as classical chamber music.


Education: University of Massachussetts Amherst (B.A. Music), Boston Conservatory at Berklee (M.M.Ed)


Born in China. Ms. Lu began her musical studies at the age of six on violin. She started to play viola as her principal instrument at age twelve at the Xinghai Conservatory of Music in Guangzhou, China. Her studies then took her to the Royal Academy of Music in London with a full tuition scholarship where she learned under the tutelage of Matthew Scouter for the Bachelor of Music degree. Ms. Lu then studied with Marcus Thompson at the New England Conservatory in Boston where she received her Master of Music degree. Among her numerous awards, she was granted “The Young Musician of 2008” in Hong Kong. 


Her performance career has led to being the core violist of Juventas New music Ensemble and a member of the Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra. Ms. Lu was also principal violist of the Boston Civic Symphony, was co-principal viola of the Missouri Symphony and frequently perform with many of the ensembles around the Boston area. 


Ms. Lu is also a passionate music educator. She is a member of the faculty of El Sistema Somerville. She advocates for her students to truly feel the love and joy of music making while also instilling good technical habits and discipline.


Education: Royal Academy of Music, London; New England Conservatory

Immei Wong is a violinist originally from Macau, China. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from The Boston Conservatory, and Master’s Degrees in Music Performance and Music Education from The Boston Conservatory. She has been a teaching artist at the Berklee Institute for Arts Education and Special Needs since 2015. She has taught at El Sistema Somerville, the Boston Music Project, and in the Arlington and Somerville Public Schools.


Immei is an experienced teacher who believes all children are capable of musical learning, regardless of their diverse abilities. As a musician and a teacher, she strives to bring out the musical talents of her students and provide them with a safe and joyful learning environment.


Education: Boston Conservatory (B.A. Music), Boston Conservatory at Berklee (M.M.Ed)