A native of Saratoga Springs, NY, Dr. Cassandra Sulbarán began her musical studies on piano and violin, later dedicating herself to viola as an undergraduate at Ithaca College. Cassie graduated summa cum laude from Ithaca in 2005, earning a Bachelors in viola performance with Debra Moree, and continued her studies at the University of Maryland, completing her Masters in 2007 with Katherine Murdock, and her Doctor of Musical Arts degree with Daniel Foster in 2011. Her dissertation, Music for the Viola from Latin America and Spain: Canción y Baile, highlights key works from these regions and includes research, extensive program notes in English and Spanish, and recordings, many of which are available on Soundcloud.
Prior to moving to the Boston area, Dr. Sulbarán served as associate professor of viola and chamber music at Ithaca College for the 2013-2014 academic year. Currently, she teaches strings at Curry College in Milton, MA and instrumental music at Braintree High School. Cassie performs regularly with the Loft String Quartet and the Brockton Symphony, in addition to freelancing around Boston. She recently started a YouTube channel, String with Dr. Sulbaran, featuring foundational lessons for violists on technique and repertoire.
An avid traveler, Dr. Sulbarán has appeared in concerts throughout the United States, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Venezuela, and the Czech Republic. In addition to her appointments in the Boston area, Cassie is a visiting viola/violin professor for a núcleo in Acarigua, Venezuela, part of El Sistema.
When not playing or teaching, Cassie loves running and hiking with her Samoyed pup, Orlie, and traveling with her husband, Carlos.