Our Team
Mable Lecrone
Violinist | Director of Communications
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A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, violinist and composer Mable Lecrone began her musical journey at age seven. She earned her bachelor's degree in Violin Performance and Music Composition from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and her master's degree in Violin Performance from Lynn Conservatory. Her teachers include Timothy Lees and Carol Cole as well as composers Ellen Harrison, Michael Friday and Douglas Knehans.
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An avid chamber musician, Mable was previously a member of the Antigone Quartet and the Aurora Quartet, performing across the United States and Europe. This included residencies at SIFest, Musica Le Mans, the Ascent International Chamber Music Festival, and, most recently, performing with the Puerto Rican Reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny on his “Most Wanted” North American Tour. She has worked with members of the Cleveland, Emerson, and Miro Quartets, along with soloists and chamber musicians including Sterling Elliot, Saeunn Thorsteindottir, Amit Even-Tov, Alan Rafferty, and Chauncy Patterson.
She has been a part of world premieres by composers Patrick Wickliffe, Isaac Creager, and, most recently, Ethan Soledad, performing the broadcast premiere of his work, “Lavender Among Thorns” on WGUC, as the winning work of the Antigone Quartet's inaugural call for scores. Her accolades include prize winner in the Lyric Chamber Music Competition and the American Virtuoso International Competition, as well as a finalist in the Glass City Chamber Music Competition.
In her free time, Mable enjoys traveling and recently completed her first solo trip to eight national parks. She also loves rock climbing and crocheting.
Contact Mable: mable@cincinnatistringproject.org
Shannon Mustard
Violinist | Director of Operations
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Shannon Mustard is a violinist and music educator from the northeast of Scotland. She is pursuing her Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she studies with Professor Timothy Lees, and serves as his graduate teaching assistant. Shannon holds a Master’s degree from DePaul University and a Bachelor’s degree from Oberlin Conservatory.
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Shannon is an active member of the Cincinnati freelance scene, performing regularly with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Lima Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, and the Ohio Valley Symphony. She was a fellow at the National Repertory Orchestra during its 2022 season and has previously performed with ensembles including the Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago, the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra, and the 5th Wave Collective.
A passionate advocate for folk music, Shannon integrates traditional repertoire into her performances and teaching. She served on the faculty of the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago and performs as the Atlantic Harmony folk duo with her husband, cellist Joe Kovac. Aside from violin, Shannon enjoys spending time with her newly adopted rescue dog, Melody.
Contact Shannon: shannon@cincinnatistringproject.org
Jenny Gaffney
Violist | Director of Education
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Jenny Gaffney is an avid violist and educator, performing and teaching throughout the midwest. Growing up in Cincinnati, Jenny began playing viola in the fourth grade. She later studied with members of the Cincinnati Symphony before earning her Bachelor’s and a Performance Diploma at Indiana University under the tutelage of Edward Gazouleas and Li-Kuo Chang.
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As a chamber musician, Jenny has worked with the Pacifica Quartet, Cavani Quartet, and the Ariel Quartet. Jenny has spent multiple summers studying chamber music at the Cincinnati Young Artists program and the Encore Chamber Music Institute. These experiences have developed a deep love of chamber music and an insatiable desire to learn more. As an orchestral musician, Jenny regularly performs with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, and the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra.
An enthusiastic educator, Jenny spent two years as a teacher at the Fairview Violin Project, a program teaching violin classes in an elementary school in Bloomington, Indiana. Jenny also spent a year teaching students in the Dominican Republic over Zoom through the IU Distance Teaching Learning Lab. She strongly believes music education should be easily accessible to all.
Jenny is proud to say she started on the viola! When she is not playing her instrument, she enjoys being outside, extending her 570 day Duolingo Streak, and walking other people’s dogs.
Contact Jenny: jenny@cincinnatistringproject.org
Nat Chaitkin
Cellist | Executive Director
No preferred pronouns
Nat Chaitkin enjoys a wide-ranging career as a cellist, teacher, and advocate for concert music. He has made several appearances as a soloist with orchestra, including a performance of the Schumann Concerto, which the Washington Post praised for its “engaging flair and commitment.” He has played recitals broadcast on Radio Canada and Chicago’s WFMT, as well as at the National Gallery of Art and the Banff Centre. He has recorded for Albany Records.
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Nat grew up in New York City and graduated from the Pre-College Division of the Juilliard School. He received degrees in music and American History at the University of Michigan, and a doctorate at the University of Maryland. His cello teachers included Ardyth Alton, Jeffrey Solow, Nina deVeritch, Erling Blöndal Bengtsson, Evelyn Elsing and David Soyer. He also studied at the Tanglewood and Salzburg Festivals.
After college, Nat moved to Washington, DC and became a member of the “President’s Own” U.S. Marine Chamber Orchestra. He also taught at Georgetown University and became a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He later taught at Michigan State University and was a member of the Grand Rapids Symphony. Nat is currently a member of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra.
In 2012, Nat was awarded the City of Cincinnati’s Artist Ambassador Fellowship, giving him the opportunity to reach underserved audiences by presenting his innovative program, Bach and Boombox, in public spaces around the city, including community centers, libraries and offices.
Contact Nat: nat@cincinnatistringproject.org
Erica Bock
Director of Administration
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Erica Bock is a Cincinnati-based arts leader, educator, producer, and strategist working across storytelling, culture, and community. As Director of Administration for the Cincinnati String Project, she supports communications, marketing, fundraising, and organizational growth. She also teaches film, media, and marketing and serves as Co-President of Women in Film Cincinnati. Erica holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati and an MFA in Screenwriting and Playwriting from Point Park University. She is passionate about strengthening Cincinnati’s creative and cultural community.
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Erica Bock is a Cincinnati-based arts leader, educator, producer, and strategist whose work sits at the intersection of storytelling, culture, and community.
As Director of Administration for the Cincinnati String Project, she supports the organization’s growth through strategic communications, marketing, fundraising, and organizational development.
Erica’s career spans the arts, higher education, philanthropy, and nonprofit leadership. She is a film and media producer and teaches storytelling, film, media, and marketing at universities throughout the Greater Cincinnati region. She also serves as Co-President of Women in Film Cincinnati, where she works to strengthen opportunities, visibility, and community for women working across the film and media industry.
A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Erica holds degrees in English and Digital Media as well as a graduate business degree. She earned her MFA in Screenwriting and Playwriting from Point Park University, with additional graduate training in directing for film and television.
Across her work, Erica is drawn to organizations that make a city more creative, connected, and culturally vibrant. She is proud to bring that commitment to the Cincinnati String Project and its work to make exceptional music education and performance part of the life of the Cincinnati community.
Contact Erica: erica@cincinnatistringproject.org
Hollie Greenwood
Bass Instructor
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Hollie Greenwood is a recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where she studied with Rachel Calin to receive her Master’s degree. She is now an active freelance musician in the Midwest and a passionate educator of all things strings but especially the double bass!
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Hollie Greenwood graduated with a Bachelors in Double Bass performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2022 where she studied with Scott Dixon. She is also a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where she studied with Rachel Calin. During her time there, she also served as the Music Education Department’s Graduate Assistant for Strings.
Hollie has a deep interest in string pedagogy elementary music education and has received training in the Suzuki Method, Paul Rolland pedagogy, Orff Schulwerk, and the Kodaly method. During the 2025-2026 school year, she was a member of Cohort V with the Teaching Artists Training Institute.
Hollie is a substitute musician with the Lexington Philharmonic and other local orchestras. She is a supporter of modern music and has premiered newly composed works with New Downbeat, Cincinnati Based New music collective, and Bass Players for Black Composers.
As an administrator, she serves as the Nouveau Program Manager at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and is the Diversity Team Chair on the International Society of Bassists Board of Directors.
A fun fact about Hollie is that her first instrument was the violin. She still plays the fiddle and teaches classes in Norwood at the Riley School of Irish Music.Contact Hollie: hollie@cincinnatistringproject.org
Gregory Patterson
Bass Instructor
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Gregory Patterson is a Double Bassist from Cincinnati, Ohio. A recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, he studied with Rachel Calin and is an active freelance musician in the Cincinnati area, performing with ensembles throughout the region.
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Gregory Patterson is a Double Bassist from Cincinnati, Ohio. He recently graduated from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Rachel Calin. He is a freelance musician in the Cincinnati area and often plays with the Carmel Symphony, based in Indianapolis, Ohio. He will never pass up a performance opportunity or a scoop of ice cream!
Contact Gregory: gregory@cincinnatistringproject.org
Joe Kovac
Music Theory | Chamber Music Coach
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Joe Kovac is a cellist and music educator from Macon, Georgia. He is in the third year of a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in cello performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where he is the teaching assistant to Alan Rafferty. Joe holds degrees from Florida State University, where he was the student of Professor Gregory Sauer, and Miami University, where he was the graduate teaching assistant to Dr. Sarah Kim.
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As a product of public school music education, Joe is passionate about ensuring future generations have access to the same life-changing opportunities that first inspired him to become a cellist. Joe has been on the faculty at Northern Kentucky University’s School of the Arts since 2025 and Music Preparatory Program since 2022, where he teaches applied cello and music theory. He was a Teaching Fellow of Cello at Interlochen Arts Camp during the summer of 2026.
An active performer, Joe is a member of the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and Richmond Symphony Orchestra. He and his wife, Shannon Mustard, also co-founded the Atlantic Harmony string duo, performing fundraising concerts around the US and Scotland
Contact Joe: joe@cincinnatistringproject.org