About Us
Rushmore String Quartet
Rushmore String Quartet is one of
the most sought-after Rapid City based
ensembles for weddings, corporate
events, and parties. The group
performs both classical music,
as well as original arrangements
of popular contemporary songs,
bringing a level of artistry and
professionalism your guests
are sure to notice!
6
Dr. Katie Smirnova
Violin
Violinist Dr. Katie Smirnova is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Rushmore Music Festival. Throughout the year, Dr. Smirnova enjoys performing with local orchestras such as the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, as well as touring with the Rushmore Concert Artists. She has previously enjoyed collaborating with organizations such as the National Music Museum in Vermillion SD, San Diego Ballet, Stowe Tango Music Festival, Moscow Ballet, Bel Cantanti Opera Company, Hartford Festival Orchestra, Groupmuse, among others. In addition to performing with various chamber ensembles in major halls throughout the United States, Dr. Smirnova places a strong value on outreach and giving back to her community through performance. An avid teacher, Dr. Smirnova currently maintains a private teaching studio in Rapid City, SD and Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Highly interested in child psychology and the early music learning process, she has studied violin pedagogy with Rebecca Henry at the Peabody Conservatory and completed a two-year long-term Suzuki teacher training certification at the School for Strings in New York City. Previous teachers include Dr. Ann Setzer at the Juilliard School Pre-College Division, Pamela Frank, Shmuel Ashkenasi and Daniel Phillips at the Heifetz International Music Institute, and masterclasses with the members of the Miro, Brentano, Brooklyn Rider, Emerson, and the Juilliard String Quartets.
Dr. Brett Walfish
Viola
Violist Dr. Brett Walfish, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Rushmore Music Festival, is a distinguished figure in the realm of classical music. Known for his expressive and charismatic performances, Conductor David Effron has praised his warm sound, describing it as full of a “myriad of colors.” Dr. Walfish has captivated audiences throughout the United States, Canada, China, Ireland, Italy, and Israel. Notable venues include the Tel Aviv Opera House, the National Music Museum, Carnegie Hall, and Mount Rushmore. Dr. Walfish’s commitment to music extends beyond his performances; he is also a dedicated teacher of violin, viola, and chamber music. During his time at Indiana University, he gained valuable insights into string pedagogy from the renowned Mimi Zweig and completed a two-year Suzuki teacher training certification at the School for Strings in New York City. These experiences served as the foundation for establishing the Walfish Music School. As the founder of this school in Rapid City, Dr. Walfish passionately imparts his musical knowledge through guest masterclasses and private instruction across the United States. His dedication to nurturing talent is evident in the remarkable success of his students, many of whom have earned placements in prestigious institutions such as the Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Harvard University, and Cornell University. Numerous graduates have gone on to secure positions in major symphonies globally. Dr. Walfish’s membership in the Valencia Baryton Project highlights his dedication to both classical and contemporary repertoire. Through this project, he champions some of Haydn’s least-known yet most prolific musical output while featuring modern compositions written for the ensemble. These concerts have resonated across the continental United States and Canada, showcasing Dr. Walfish’s versatility and deep musical insight.
Passionate about both classical and modern genres, Dr. Walfish invests significant time delving into the contemporary Tango culture through extensive research and collaboration with leading Tango musicians of our modern era. His Tango performances not only showcase his artistic prowess but also establish connections between Baroque and Classical Historically Informed Performance and the Golden Age of Tango. Dr. Walfish adeptly bridges the gap between scholarly research and live performance by directly engaging with modern-day Tangueros who played alongside legends, including Osvaldo Pugliese and Astor Piazzolla, thus enriching and preserving the vibrant heritage of Tango. Dr. Walfish’s primary mentors include Carol Cole, Michael Klotz, Atar Arad, Martha Katz, Lawrence Dutton, and Nicholas Cords, as well as the Emerson String Quartet.
Jennifer DePaolo
Violin
Jennifer DePaolo is a member of the Music faculty in the School of Fine Arts and Humanities at Casper College, a position she has held since 2001. She directs the Casper College Chamber Orchestra and teaches studio violin and general music courses. Professor DePaolo has studied with acclaimed violinists Joseph Genualdi, Kathryn Lucktenberg, Fritz Gearhart, Lucie Robert, and Baroque specialist Jaap Schröder. She has performed with various orchestras including the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra, the Cheyenne Symphony, the Helena Symphony, the Powder River Symphony, and the Black Hills Symphony. Professor DePaolo is currently the principal second violinist of the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra. She maintains a small private violin studio, instructing students ranging from 8–18 years old. Professor DePaolo serves as a visiting evaluator for NASM. Professor DePaolo holds a Master of Music degree in Violin Performance with an emphasis in String Pedagogy from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from DePaul University.
Jeff Johnson
Cello
Raised in a musical family in Dallas, TX, Jeff began cello studies at the age of 8. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree in cello performance from the University of North Texas, where he won the school’s concerto competition. He continued graduate studies at Northwestern University, where he was a member of the Chicago Civic Orchestra. His primary teachers include Chris Adkins, Carter Enyeart, and Hans Jorgen Jensen.
Jeff has toured Mexico, Europe, Russia, and the United States with various orchestras, including the American-Russian Youth Orchestra, and has performed with numerous ensembles across Texas, California, Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota. Currently, he frequently performs with the Wyoming and South Dakota Symphony Orchestras.
In addition to his musical education and career, Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology from Texas A&M University and a Master of Science degree in Technology Management from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. He is currently a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Rapid City, SD.