Teachers

Dr. David Reimer has been the director of the Dorothy Gerber Strings Program since 2017, having moved to Charlevoix from Grand Rapids, where he was Professor of Violin and the director of the strings program at Calvin College. David has studied at the North Carolina School of the Arts, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and Ohio State University. His doctorate was earned in violin performance and he has also studied music education with Robert Gillespie at Ohio State and Suzuki pedagogy at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

In addition to his position at Calvin College, he also taught at the Cleveland Institute of Music Preparatory Program, the University of Connecticut Community Music School, and the College of DuPage. As a performer, David has performed with many orchestras, including the Virginia Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, and the Traverse Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed as a soloist with the Baroque on Beaver Island Orchestra, the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra, and the Mansfield Symphony. In 2017, Dr. Reimer established The Cummings Quartet to be the professional ensemble representing the Dorothy Gerber Strings Program. The Quartet has performed in Charlevoix, Boyne City, Pellston, Grand Rapids, Traverse City, Petoskey, Elk Rapids, and on Beaver Island.

Dr. David Reimer
Music Director
616.828.8321
dreimer@greatlakescfa.org

Dr. Benjamin Wu is a teacher, performer, improvisor and world traveler. He has performed in music festivals and events around the world, including the Nasimi music festival in Azerbaijan, the Pohoda festival in Slovakia, and at the Sydney Opera House in Australia; He has taught in several cities in the United States, where he served as Upper Strings Director for HomerOpus in Alaska; as well as Afghanistan, where he served as Artistic Director for the Afghanistan National Institute of Music.

An avid explorer and learner, Dr. Wu has performed a variety of musical styles, including Chinese Classical music, Afghan Traditional Music, Free Improvisation, Jazz, Bluegrass, and Western Classical Music. He has performed folk and popular music as part of the trio Arcopella in New York City where he performed and arranged music.

Dr. Wu has received degrees from Peabody Institute of Music, New England Conservatory, and received his Doctorate from Stony Brook University.

Dr. Benjamin Wu
Assistant Director
734.277.0765
bwu@greatlakescfa.org

Instructor

• Primary Instrument: Cello
• Training:
  • Western Michigan University, B.M. in Instumental Performance: Cello
• Experience:

  • Operated a Metro Detroit cello studio

  • Educator and Artist in Residence at Saint Joseph Public Schools

  • Educator at Citadel Dance & Music Center

Instructor

• ​Primary Instrument: Violin
• Training:
  • Oklahoma State University, M.M. in Music Performance
• Experience:

  • Ensemble Connect: A Program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, and the Weill Music Institute Summer intensive program

  • Participated in the New York Philharmonic residency program

  • A member of several professional orchestras in the United States since 2014

Elk Rapids Classroom Instructor

• ​Primary Instrument: Cello
• Training:
  • Wayne State University, B.A. in Classical Guitar and Cello
  • Wayne State University, M.M. in Classical Guitar Performance
• Experience:
  • Taught at Wayne State University, Marygrove College, and Macomb Community College
  • Conductor Emeritus of the Royal Oak Symphony Orchestra of which he was Founder, Music Director, and Conductor

Private Lesson Instructor

• Primary Instrument: Cello
• Training: Toledo University, B.M.E. in Instrumental Music Education
• Experience:
  • Principal Cellist of Traverse Symphony and the Great Lake Chamber Orchestra
  • Music Teacher in the Traverse City Public Schools and North Central Michigan College

• Primary Instrument: Violin
• Experience: Member of the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra

• Primary Instrument: String Bass
• Training:
  • University of Michigan, B.A. in Music Performance
  • University of Michigan, M.M. in Music Performance
• Experience: Interlochen Center for the Arts

Boyne Falls & East Jordan Classroom Instructor

• Primary Instrument: Violin
• Training:
  • Hope College, B.M. in Violin Performance
  • University of Colorado, M.M. in Violin Performance and M.M. in Music Theory
• Experience:
  • Teacher at The Lesson Studio and Arizona Music Academy
  • Performed with the West Michigan Symphony, Southwest Michigan Symphony, and the Traverse Symphony

Classroom Teacher

• Primary Instrument: Violin
• Training:
  • B.M.E. from Eastern Michigan University
  • ​M.M.E. from Emporia State University
• Experience:
  • Director of the Boyne City Band Program
  • ​Director of Jordan Valley Community Band

Private Lesson Instructor

• Primary Instrument: Violin
• Training: Wayne State University, Undergraduate Studies
• Experience: Member of the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra

Classroom Instructor

• Primary Instrument: Violin
• Training:
  • Eastern Wyoming College, A.A. in Music Education
  • University of Wyoming, B.A. in Music Education
• Teaching Experience:
  • The Harmony Project Music Learning Center (Wheatland, WY)
  • Platte County Schools (Platte County, WY)
  • University of Wyoming String Project 
• Performing Experience:
  • Gaylord Community Orchestra
  • Wyoming Symphony Orchestra
  • Powder River Symphony Orchestra
  • Goshen Community Orchestra 
  • University of Wyoming Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, and String Quartets