Joan Topper studied under the tutelage of Toby Appel at The Juilliard School and earned her Bachelor’s degree in violin and viola performance from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, where she studied with world-renowned violinist Ilya Kaler and Chicago String Quartet violist Rami Solomonow.

As a violist, Miss Topper has performed with Ballet Next, New York’s elite independent ballet company founded by international ballet stars Michele Wiles and Charles Askegard, as well as the AXIOM ensemble of Lincoln Center and MusicNow, the contemporary ensemble of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

She has been a member of The Steve Edwards Orchestra in Chicago, and The Jellyroll Band in Philadelphia for a cumulative 15+ years. In these ensembles she has acquired vast experience learning string parts for popular songs by ear and performing them for high end clientele.

She currently teaches violin and viola lessons at her home in Glenside, PA.

Now accepting in person and online students!