Violinist, Heather Austin Stone, began violin studies at age 10 in the public schools. In high school, she had the honor of being chosen as a National Symphony Orchestra Youth Fellowship student where she was able to study with 1st violinist, Luis Haza on scholarship. She attended Shenandoah University on full scholarship and studied with Dr. Kenneth Sarch. She received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Performance, Summa cum Laude in 1994. A year later, she graduated with a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University where she studied with Blair Milton, a Chicago Symphony Orchestra 1st violinist.

Ms. Austin Stone is currently the Assistant Concertmaster with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra in Hagerstown, MD, and a section 1st violinist with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, and the Prince William Symphony. She has freelanced with the Fairfax Symphony and the Annapolis Symphony as well as playing in many locations around Washington, DC and Baltimore including the Kennedy Center. She is a strolling violinist at an upscale Italian restaurant in Winchester, VA and is a member of the Shenandoah Virtuosi String Quartet that has made a CD and performs regularly for weddings and other functions.

Ms. Austin Stone has taught violin in private and public schools and in addition to teaching at Shepherd, is a member of the Shepherd Faculty String Trio, teaches violin and viola in the preparatory division, is a sectional coach for the Shepherd Preparatory Orchestra and is the violin and viola instructor at St. James Academy.

Ms. Austin Stone resides in Shepherdstown WV and is married and has 2 daughters.

Call or write:
Department of Music and Theater
Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, WV 25443
304.876.5555 or 800.344.5231