CELLO, VIOLIN, VIOLA

DENNA PURDIE, Chairperson of the String Faculty

DENNA PURDIE, Cello-has been teaching cello, violin and violin at the Ottley Music School since 2000 and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her students, beginners, intermediate and advanced.  She has been also teaching at Fillmore Center for the Arts in Washington, D.C. since 1999. She has taught for the D.C.Youth Orchestra Program for many years.Besides teaching at OMS, she is the technical advisor for the string section of the Hyattsville Orchestra. Her Photo courtesy of Ms. Purdie. Other photos courtesy of Ms.Ottley.

Ms. Purdie studied cello with Ronald Feldman of the Boston Symphony, and Sieva Lezhnev.She was the first black female to join the U.S. Marine Band, "The President's Own", playing cello, and retiring as Gunnery Sergeant.Ms. Purdie is co-founder of "Strings for Christ Ministries".  She performs regularly throughout the greater Washington/Baltimore metropolitan area and also as a member of the Soulful Symphony conducted by Darin Atwater. She instills in her students a love for both music and the instruments. She makes opportunities for her students to play in the monthly rectals and outside. 

Besides playing int the Hyattsville Symphony, her students appeared with her in a chamber ensemble for the National Cancer Society 2008 Survivor's Celebration, playing prelude, processional, and recessional. They also appeared with Ottley Music School in 2009 at the Maryland State House for the District 47 Night Out invited by Senator David Harrington.  And indivisual students love to perform at Hillhaven Nursing home in their monthly recitals.

SAMUEL A. THOMPSON, VIOLIN

Mr. Thompson is an exceptional violinist, an effective teacher, and also a writer.  Mr. Thompson teaches all ages, and specializes in preparing high school students for college, university and conservatory entrance, and also just to help any student develop into a sought-after artist.  Please click on the links above for his extensive biography and writings.  Mr. Thompson is at Ottley Music School on Wednesdays.

JAMES HUBERT KUYKENDALL

VIOLIN, VIOLA, CELLO

A seasoned teacher, Mr. James H. Kuykendall has been teaching for over 40 years, students in all three instruments because he studied all three and a little on string bass.  He joined the Ottley Music School as violin, viola teacher in the Spring of 2011, bringing a world of experience with him.

Mr. Kuykendall began his formal education at the age of 11 in 1947, with Herbert Reimann.  Through Junior High and High School he won scholarships allowing him to study viola with Raphael Fliegal, concertmaster of the Houston Symphony and cello with Marion Davies, principal cellist of the same symphony.

While at the University of Texas he studied cello for a year with cellist and violist Albert Gillis of the Paganini Quartet, and viola with Alfio Pignotti, concertmaster of the San Antonio Symphony (and later the New Orleans Philharmonic).  While halfway through his sophomore year, he was drafted into the Air Force, where he played cello for 8 years.  He won an audition later to play with the Baltimore Symphony, and a short year later won another audition to play with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington,D.C. where he was for four years.  In his later years, he has been playing with the Prince Georges Philharmonic, where he also teaches in the "Symphony Kids" program.

Mr. Kuykendall is a freelance musician, and his engagements have included the inauguration of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, playing for the opening of both the Concert Hall and the Opera House.