Herine Coetzee Koschak, cello

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An avid conversationalist, cellist Herine Coetzee Koschak is on a lifelong quest to engage in meaningful and personal exchanges through music. Herine is a founding member of Fifth House Ensemble and is regularly heard on local and national radio stations and concert stages, as well as on the Cedille record label. As a passionate advocate of music education in underserved communities, Herine joined the faculty of the Merit School of Music in 2002 and served as Co-Director of the Suzuki-Alegre Strings Program and the String Department Chair from 2010-2014. She has appeared as a featured soloist with numerous orchestras including the National Repertory Orchestra, the Nittany Valley Symphony, and International Chamber Artists. Herine has held titled positions in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and the National Repertory Orchestra, and has also performed with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the renowned new music ensemble, eighth blackbird. An Indiana University alumna, her principal teachers were Janos Starker and Emilio Colon. She resides in Deerfield, IL with her husband and young son, with whom she shares a love of Nutella.

Click here to download Herine’s headshot.

WORK AND PROJECTS

Positions

  • Founding Cellist, Fifth House Ensemble

  • Director of Presenting and Partnerships, Fifth House Ensemble

Teaching

  • Lead Teaching Artist, Nancy B. Jefferson Alternative School at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center

  • Lead Teaching Artist on Oklahoma State University Chamber Music Residency

Projects

  • Rivers Empyrean

  • Fresh Voices from Fresh Inc Festival

  • Project currently titled RHINO

  • Undertale LIVE

Media

PlayerBeth Beauchamp