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A seasonal music camp for adults - DASC leads the way as a non-competitive, non-auditioned, educational orchestra experience for adult string players.
DASC Symphony
2023 Chamber Program Staff
SARAH JYLKKA
DASC Symphony Founder & Director
Director Spruce Ensemble South
Sarah Jylkka is a Denver-based professional violinist and violist with over 15 years of experience. She has taught and conducted at El Sistema Colorado in Denver and served as an orchestra director for Mapleton Public Schools in Thornton, CO from 2017-2021.
Sarah holds both a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from DePauw University in Greencastle, IN as well as an active Colorado State Teacher's License endorsed in K-12 instrumental music. She is a professional member of the American String Teachers Association and Suzuki Association of the Americas. Notably, Sarah has performed with members of Elephant Revival, LVDY, Stratus, The Blind Cafe Orchestra, Suhl Ensemble, recorded SFX for Mt. Mograph, and has designed sound for both The Pandemic Collective and Bewilderment Theater Company. Sarah has studied under Ericka Dicker, Tarn Travers, Julia Taylor, and Allie Krall of Yonder Mountain String Band.
Sarah currently runs a home studio and teaches and performs throughout the Denver metro area as well as teaching violin remotely through Trala.com. You can see Sarah perform violin around Colorado with the viking rock band, Nordic Daughter as well as with the progressive Denver theater company, Su Teatro.
ALAN CHAN
Director Spruce Ensemble North
Alan Chan is a Denver-based string educator and professional violinist.
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Louisville and his Master’s Degree in Violin Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado Boulder where he served as a graduate teaching assistant to Charles Wetherbee.
Equally passionate about teaching and performing, he has been awarded fellowships to attend the orchestral institute at Texas Music Festival and chamber academy at Wintergreen Music. He is currently a teaching artist at El Sistema Colorado where he teaches students of all ages, from beginners to the program’s most advanced ensemble.
JOSEPH ENGEL
Ensemble Coach
Joseph Engel is a performer and educator in Colorado. He has a background in classical and contemporary cello styles, and is always seeking new sound worlds with the cello. Joseph is a member of the Denver based eclectic-rock band, "Milquetoast & Co." and has shared the stage with artists such as The Sugar Hill Gang and Wilco.
As an educator, Joseph incorporates many teaching philosophies, including those inspired by non-western musics and meditation. He holds a Masters of Music in cello performance from Denver University, where he has acted as a visiting lecturer.
REBECCA JONAS
Ensemble Coach
Rebecca Jonas is an active musician, educator, and mental health advocate with a strong background in cello performance and public school teaching. Originally from the East Coast, she received a B.M. in Cello Performance from Mercyhurst University, and an M.S. in Music
Education from Mansfield University. She recently graduated with her M.A. in Counseling from Colorado University at Denver. She taught elementary through high school strings in Spotsylvania and Prince William County School systems in Northern Virginia After moving to
Colorado in 2009, Rebecca taught in St. Vrain Valley School District, Denver Public Schools, and Douglas County School District. Throughout her time in the public schools Rebecca became known for offering fun and diverse ensembles and experiences for her students, high quality performances for audiences to enjoy, and interacting with the local community in innovative ways.
Rebecca maintains an active and varied performance career, balancing her time between classical and non-classical scenes. She can often be seen along the Front Range performing. In her spare, non-musical time, she enjoys baking, reading, and hiking with her crazy dog Holly.
ANDREW ZBRYK
Ensemble Coach
Andrew Zbryk is a professional musician and teacher. Graduating from CSU in 2014 he received his degree in music education, certification in private lessons, and certification in composition. Since graduating from CSU he's performed as the Principal Violist of the Parker Symphony for 4 years, been an active member of a string quartet, played in multiple bands, and has played with members of the band Devotchka. Currently he is the principal violist of the Parker Symphony Orchestra.
Andrew is well versed in classical music, rock music, jazz, and bluegrass, and has taught students from ages 5 to 60. With a lifelong love of music, Andrew is dedicated to sharing his passion for music with as many people as possible. Andrew has been a coach with DASC since the inaugural summer session in 2021.
Kasia Antosz-Solawa
Ensemble Coach
