Violin Lessons with Margaret D.

Violinist Margaret D. has performed across Europe, the United States and Australia as both soloist and chamber musician. She has given concerti with American and British orchestras, and performed at international venues including London's Wigmore Hall, King's Place, and St Martin in the Fields. An avid chamber musician, Dziekonski has given concerts alongside great international artists and performed in chamber music festivals in Europe and Australia. She has performed in live radio broadcasts for stations in the United States and Australia, and recorded for the Toccata Classics label. Dziekonski is an active freelancer based in Philadelphia, performing regularly with chamber and orchestral ensembles across the region.

A committed educator, Dziekonski has over twenty years’ experience teaching violin and coaching chamber music. Her wide-ranging background enables her to help students in any violinistic pursuit - whether it be solo, chamber, or orchestral. She has successfully prepared students for scholarship, college, and orchestral auditions, and offers a holistic approach to teaching. She is adamant that her students receive a rigorous technical training to ensure they are wellequipped to achieve any goal they set for themselves, but also makes sure to go beyond the "dots on the page" and help them to understand and enjoy the deeper meaning within the music. Dziekonski has taught students ranging in age from 6-78, and enjoys working with them at all stages, whether it be learning the violin as a hobby for fun, or in a more serious sense. She has prepared students for orchestral auditions, including Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and PMEA District Orchestra, as well as auditions for music schools such as New England Conservatory and Oberlin, with successful results.

Dziekonski completed her master's studies at the Royal Academy of Music, London, under Tomotada Soh, graduating with distinction. She also holds an undergraduate degree with honors from the same institution. Dziekonski's PhD, supervised by Professor Neil Heyde, was awarded by the University of London in 2017. Her primary mentor throughout her higher education was Professor Raymond Holden, AM, and her early violin studies were with Lee Snyder of the Settlement Music School, Philadelphia. Dziekonski receives regular orchestral coaching from Amy Oshiro-Morales of The Philadelphia Orchestra.