About Us
MICHAEL MONTERO
Michael Montero began playing the violin at age eleven in his native New York City studying with his beloved teachers Arlene Woz and Valerie Quinlan. He attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music, Art and Performing Arts in Manhattan and participated in the Manhattan School of Music preparatory division. Mr. Montero participated, on many occasions as a soloist and chamber musician in the Young Musician’s Competition and was awarded first and second place prizes. Mr. Montero received a BA in music from Rutgers University where he studied under Matthew Reichert.
While living in New York, Mr. Montero served as the Music Director of the Auburn Chamber Orchestra.. Mr. Montero was also the music director of the Onondaga Youth String Ensemble, consisting of two groups of high school and middle school students, which he founded in 2005. He was the concertmaster of the Onondaga Civic Symphony Orchestra (Syracuse) and held that post for six years. Currently, Mr. Montero is the Director of the Pocono Youth Orchestra in Stroudsburg, PA where he conducts the Pocono Junior String Orchestra, Repertory String Orchestra and the Pocono Youth Symphony Orchestra.
After college graduation, Michael studied violin repair and making with his beloved mentor, Thomas Cox of Baldwinsville, New York. Currently, Mr. Montero spends most of his time at the bench at his two shops servicing clients who come from as close as the Lehigh Valley and Poconos and as far as Philadelphia and New York City.
When not at his bench, Mr. Montero finds himself teaching violin and viola to his students in his both of his private studios as well as his students at Moravian University. Montero coaches the Unversity's string quintets and serves as the music director for the Moravian University Community Orchestra. Prior to his position as music director, he was the Concertmaster, for ten years.
Jennifer Montero began private violin lessons at the age of five in Cranston, RI. She also began the flute in sixth grade and was later given the opportunity to play the oboe in middle school. Throughout high school, Jennifer performed in many ensembles including the Rhode Island Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, the Rhode Island College Orchestra and the Bel Canto Opera while teaching privately and performing many recitals in the area. She was selected to participate in Rhode Island's All State Orchestra all four years during high school. While studying Environmental Science at The George Washington University, Jennifer was principal oboist in the University's Wind Ensemble as a freshman and remained in that chair through her senior year. She also played violin in the University's orchestra in piccolo in the University's pep band.
Upon graduation, Jennifer worked in her field as a Regulatory Analyst and Environmental Consultant in Rochester, NY and then as Manager of Environmental Health and Safety at a lithium battery manufacturing plant all while maintaining her position as Concertmaster of the Brighton Symphony Orchestra. She also played oboe with the Greece Concert Band (Greece, NY) and violin with the Penfield Symphony Orchestra. After moving to Syracuse, NY where she was the Manager of Environmental, Health and Safety at a HVAC manufacturing plant and working on her MBA, she joined the Onondaga Civic Symphony Orchestra where she played the violin and oboe and met Mr. Montero. In 2007, Jennifer decided leave her profession to join Michael grow the shop as Operations Manager.
You can always find Jennifer in the Emmaus shop where she happy to help clients with instrument rentals and sales. She is also responsible for the shop's marketing, purchasing and accounting departments. Jennifer is a proud mom of two girls who loves photography, cooking, DIY makeovers, and interior design.
Charlotte and Willow are the shop's mascots. They are mini bernedoodles and who love to greet our clients. They took on this role after our beloved dog, Sasha, passed away in October, 2021. Charlotte and Willow love the cold weather, playing in the snow and running. They will work for treats and love when you sit on the floor and rub their bellies. Charlotte and Willow are passengers on our school road runs and have been coming to the shop since they were puppies. They are accustomed to many visitors each day and get tired from their duties so sometimes they take long, afternoon naps. Sometimes they are a little too excited to meet new people and can forget their manners so if you prefer not to see them during your visit, please let us know and they will take a rest in one of our many instrument rooms. In this photo, Willow and Charlotte are accompanied by the Montero's daughters.