Meet the teachers of Tinge Studios
Philip Tinge · Gina McIsaac ·John Brighton · Marie Menninga · Andrew Tinge
Philip
Philip began playing violin in 1975 under the instruction of Chris Determan. After moving from South Dakota to the St. Louis Metro East area, he studied under Gloria Mayer. In high school Philip worked in the SIU Edwardsville Suzuki string program with tutorial instruction from John Kendall. While attending SIU Edwardsville, Philip studied violin under Dr. Kent Perry and John Kendall, viola under Robert Schieber. He graduated from SIU Edwardsville with degrees in both violin and viola performance, and a specialization in Suzuki pedagogy.
Philip has played with the Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra since 1978 and has served as concertmaster since 1994. He played violin and viola with the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra from 1981 to 1987 and has been a substitute player for the Illinois Symphony on various occasions. Since 1987 Philip has played with the Lewis and Clark String Quartet. He started performing at area churches in 1980 and began offering private instruction in 1981. The Belleville Philharmonic Suzuki program became Tinge Studios, in affiliation with the Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra, in 1996. In 2004, Philip began teaching in the Education through Music program at Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School. The program includes nearly one hundred students in grades K-8.
Philip is available for instruction in violin and viola. To contact Philip regarding lessons, please email tingestudios@gmail.com.
Gina
Gina began playing piano in 1981 under the instruction of her mother, Naomi Brunner. In 1983 she began playing violin. Between 1985 and 1987 she studied under the instruction of Tina Lin and John Kendall at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. From 1988 to 1993 she studied with Yuko Fisher of the St. Louis Symphony. From 1993 to 1995 she attended Lawrence University Conservatory of Music.
Gina played with the Belleville Philharmonic Youth Orchestra from 1983 until 1990. Between 1985 and 1993 Gina was a member of the Brunner Family Quintet. From 1990 to 1993 she was a member of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra. While Attending Lawrence University Gina was a member of the Lawrence University Symphony Orchestra. Gina has been a full-time member of the Lewis & Clark String Quartet since 1996, and a part-time member of the Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra since 2001.
Gina is available for instruction in piano and violin. To contact Gina regarding lessons, please email gmac98@charter.net.
John
John began playing violin at the age of three under the instruction of Linda Rikus. In 1990 he studied under Joe Kaminski. From 1992 to 2001 he studied under Philip Tinge. From 2001 to 2003 he studied under Mark Gurevich at Webster University School of Music in University City, Missouri. From 2003 to 2005 John attended Millikin University pursuing a bachelors degree in Music Performance in Violin. There he studied under Georgia Hornbacker. In 2005 he returned home to Belleville and is currently teaching for Tinge Studios and Schmitt Music.
John performed in Paderborne, Germany in 2001 as part of the Belleville / Paderborne Sister City program. John played violin in the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra for their 2002-2003 season. While at Millikin University John was a member of the Millikin Decatur Symphony Orchestra. Most recently John performed with the Trans Siberian Orchestra for their Christmas Tours in 2007 and 2008 in St. Louis. John is the Principal 2nd violin for the Alton Symphony. In addition to playing regularly with the Phil'zHarmoniks and Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra, John performs with the Jacksonville Symphony, and many Metro East area churches.
John is available for instruction in violin and viola. To contact John regarding lessons, please email falseharmonix@gmail.com. To contact John with questions about the website, please email webmaster.jsb@gmail.com.
Marie
Marie Menninga started studying piano at age six. During her elementary and high school years she studied under several teachers, most notably Laurie Kerringer and Cindy Wuebbels. In college, she studied with Dr. Patricia Spedden and Dr. Carol lei Breckenridge. She started playing flute in 1993 and received instruction from Jeanne Witt. In 1999 Marie started learning violin, and later viola, under the instruction of Philip Tinge. In college, she studied under Dr. Priscilla Hallberg and Dr. Mark Hartman. In May 2006, Marie earned a bachelor of arts degree in instrumental music education from Central College in Pella, Iowa, with focuses on flute, piano, and viola. She also received extensive training as an accompanist. She comes from Belleville, Illinois, and has played and sung extensively with community and school ensembles.
She currently performs with the Phil'zHarmoniks and the Cahokia String Quartet. She is also a substitute player for the Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra and the Centralia Orchestra. She was the pianist and musical consultant with the Cathedral Players Guild of Belleville, IL, from 1999 to 2006, playing in such shows as Godspell, Mame, and Meet Me in St. Louis. Marie taught K-12 band and choir at the Collinsville Christian Academy in Collinsville, Illinois from 2007 to 2008.
Marie is available for instruction in piano, flute, violin, and viola. To contact Marie regarding lessons, please email symphony35@charter.net.
Andrew
Andrew Tinge started playing piano at the age of 5 and bass at 11. Not long after he started playing bass did he develop an interest in the world of lutherie. He was notorious for taking violins apart – and sometime putting them back together. His interest bloomed over the years along with his expertise, part due to the opportunity to observe luthiers around the world including New York City, Paris, Brussels, and Mittenwald, Germany. In addition, he learned the art of bow-making and repair under Reid Hudson at the White River Artisans School, Arkansas.
Mr. Tinge studied under the late Henry Lowe, principal bass of St. Louis Symphony. He obtained his Bachelors in Music Performance on bass at Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville and studied at the St. Louis Conservatory of Music in pursuit of his Masters degree. He also attended the Lemmins Institute in Leuven, Belgium.
Andrew currently plays as a section member with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and Illinois Chamber Orchestra. He has performed with the New York National Orchestra. Abroad, he has held musicianship with the Neo-Chamber Ensemble and Westflamms Orchestra in Belgium. Locally he has played with the St. Louis Philharmonic and several other groups in the St. Louis area.