The Team
Instructors and Board of Directors
Rafaela
Schaick
Director. Violin. Viola. Music Together
Rafaela Schaick started playing the violin when she was 8 years old in a Suzuki program in Brazil where she grew up. In 2006 she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul/Brazil. She came to the US that same year to pursue her Masters at the University of New Mexico in Violin Performance and Suzuki Long Term Training with Susan Kempter. Following graduation she then obtained an additional Master’s degree in Viola performance at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and a second Suzuki Long Term Training with Vera McCoy-Sulentic. Mrs. Schaick has also become trained and registered in the internationally recognized early childhood program called Music Together®. She began teaching violin and viola for Strings, Inc. in August of 2010, and she lives in Jasper with her husband Matt. Currently Rafaela is pursuing a degree in Music Therapy at the University of Kentucky.
malakai fleming
Violin Instructor
Malakai Fleming, age 16, is a Junior at Jasper High School. He has played violin with Strings, Inc for five years and has been teaching for one. Malakai is a member of the JHS band program where he plays clarinet and saxophone in the concert, jazz, and symphonic bands, and is in his 2nd year as Drum Major for the marching band. After high school, Malakai plans on pursuing a degree in the field of music. Malakai lives in Jasper with his mom, sister, and several pets. In his free time, Malakai likes to hang out with friends, keep up on the latest Drum Corps International performances, and play in community violin concerts.
lauren popp
Assistant
Lauren Popp is a native of Holland, Indiana and currently resides in Jasper. She has played piano since the age of five and has obtained a Bachelor's Degree in both Music and Education. She has over fifteen years of experience accompanying various instruments for Solo & Ensemble contests, full stage musicals, vocal soloists, and choirs.
She assists with the violin program at Jasper Elementary School and accompanies the Strings recitals.
board members
2022
Julie Heitz-Cassidy
Beatriz Cobo-Becerra
Michelle Emmert
Anna Goins
Linda Kaiser
David McGimpsey
Jaime Fleming
