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Photographed by Nuwar Osman (12-3)
It’s Monday morning in the Band Room. Inside, ten young musicians sit with their instruments poised, bows up, ready to play the opening notes of "Winter Song". Standing in the center of this small group is Mr. Sergei Nuissl, the new instrumental teacher at Julia R. Masterman as well as the new conductor of the Middle School Chamber Orchestra. With a flick of his wrist and a moment’s time, the sound of music fills the room.
Growing up in Philadelphia to immigrant parents, Mr. Nuissl was always encouraged to take on the violin, as his mother had done so in the past as well; however, his interest in playing music sparked in high school after he first listened to the compositions of Ludwig van Beethoven. It was his love for classical music that pushed him to study the violin at the New School of Music. There, he met colleagues and peers who he claims were a great source of inspiration. Nuissl began his career as a musician with a part-time job as a private school teacher and a freelance violinist. “I realized that I wasn't going to win a position with a full-time symphony orchestra and that my greater talent was for teaching and mentoring young people,” he recalls. He moved on from the New School to Immaculata University and earned his Music Education degree. Today, he specializes primarily in teaching the violin, but he also plays viola, piano, cello, and bass. Outside of the classroom, Mr. Nuissl indulges in reading and watching movies. He also spends time playing in his church’s orchestra, where he is an active member of Bible study.
“I love being able to help students develop their skills so they can learn to express themselves through music and play in a group,” he says. His Mondays are spent making sure every young musician feels comfortable and confident with their musical pieces. The children in his class are huddled in a semi-circle. The violinists are on one side, their sharp notes juxtaposed heavily against the hum of the lower strings. The room is their stage, and every melody they play radiates off of the walls. “He really takes his time in helping us understand the music better, making sure we are able to play each note in that section perfectly when we leave his lessons,” says Angela Liu (9-2).
His main message to all students: “Playing an instrument is very rewarding. Like anything else, we can only learn to play by doing it.”
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