Lesson Teachers
SHELBY DEMS
Violin Instructor
Shelby Dems is an Austin-based violinist with the Austin Symphony, founder of Persephone Strings, recording artist, singer-songwriter & multi-instrumentalist looping artist, and Traditional/Suzuki Violin Teacher dedicated to creating an inspiring & resilient environment for her students.
With over two decades of international performance and teaching experience in America, Asia, Europe and Bermuda - Shelby brings a global perspective & a holistic teaching philosophy that combines mindfulness and problem-solving skills to help students achieve peak performance and mental clarity. Especially in today’s fast-paced digital world, Shelby believes that learning an instrument provides students with a vital sense of peaceful grounding & personal identity.
Shelby holds a Master of Music in Suzuki Pedagogy and Violin Performance from Ithaca College. Her teaching positions have included the Austin Chamber Music Center, Cornell & Southwestern University, and the Bermuda School of Music. She performs and composes original music weekly and loves encouraging students to compose themselves.
In her spare time, Shelby likes spending time with her doggie nephew and exploring beautiful nature.