Meet Ms. Moss

Teaching in Yakima Washington,
Vanessa Moss brings joy and direction to learning the violin.

At the age of six, Vanessa started violin lessons. They quickly became a pivotal part of her development, learning skills as a child that would transfer beyond the violin and into every part of her life. Today, she is a professional violinist living and working in Central Washington.

Ms. Moss is concertmaster of Mid-Columbia Symphony and is a member of the Yakima Symphony Orchestra and Northwest Sinfonietta. She is founder and Artistic Director of Sempre Chamber Music, a resident chamber music ensemble at Yakima’s Seasons Performance Hall. Ms. Moss is in demand as recitalist and soloist around the Northwest, recently performing the Franck Sonata for Piano and Violin, Brahms Sonata No. 2, Bach’s Partita No. 2 in D minor, and Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughn Williams.

Teaching violin has been part of Ms. Moss’ musical life for over a decade. Her students have been selected to perform at State Solo and Ensemble, won concerto competitions, been accepted to prestigious programs such as Idylwild Arts Academy, and have graduated high school to pursue music at the collegiate level. She has adjudicated orchestra competitions, Solo and Ensemble, and been a guest teacher and master-class clinician for studios across the state. Ms. Moss is also honored to be on a team of teaching artists with Yakima Music en Acción (YAMA) an equity driven youth orchestra program inspired by Venezuala’s El Sistema program.

Ms. Moss’ teaching is informed by the Suzuki Method, Paul Rolland, and Mimi Zweig. She is thankful for the privilege of quality music education she has received throughout her life from teachers Katrin St. Clair, Rhonda Marsh, Carrie Rehkopf-Michel, and Denise Dillenbeck.

Ms. Moss lives in Terrace Heights with her husband, percussionist Joshua Gianola. When not practicing, rehearsing, or teaching, they can be found spending time outside, hiking with Gilly (bio below) or trying out new recipes.

Meet Mr. Hirsch

Students of Moss Violin Studio will collaborate regularly with Aaron Hirsch as accompanist.

Since moving to central Washington in 2014, Aaron Hirsch has become a fixture of collaborative performing and musical education. A skilled pianist and organist, Aaron works as a collaborative pianist and vocal coach in Ellensburg, WA, where he works closely with faculty, students, and guest artists. He teaches class piano and secondary applied lessons at Central Washington University, and has served as an adjudicator for WA State Solo and Ensemble contests, and other regional scholarship competitions.

Aaron is the Assistant Conductor of the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, Adjunct Professor of Orchestral Studies at Central Washington University, and a conductor in the Yakima Music en Acción organization.

The common thread between all of Hirsch’s activities is a drive for greater collaboration with human beings on stage. He is always looking forward to his next collaboration, and is happy to support Vanessa’s violin students in their musical journey.

Head of Security

Gilly Gianola-Moss

Gilly is head of security, though she’s transitioning to the nap department more and more each day. You probably won’t see her often because of the long shifts she pulls (napping), but she loves hearing you play violin in her house every week!