Dr. Melissa Gerber Knecht is Professor of Music at Hillsdale College. She is a performing musician and string specialist. As a violist and violinist, she has performed as a member of various orchestras and chamber groups both in the United States and abroad including:  the Florida Orchestra (assistant principal), American Chamber Orchestra (Chicago), Spoleto Festival of the Two Worlds in Italy and Charleston, S.C. (principal viola), Filharmonica de Caracas, and the Toledo Symphony. As a string specialist, Dr. Knecht has participated as music director, instructor, chamber music coach, and guest clinician for both public and private teaching institutions at all levels. She is a frequent clinician at the national ASTA conferences, has served on the faculty at Interlochen Fine Arts Camp, and is presently educational consultant for the Toledo Symphony and Director of the MASTA Michigan Solo Competition. Her research interests include music perception and learning. She has published in American String Teachers’ Association Journal and Music Education. Her awards include the Emily Daugherty Teaching Award and Who’s Who in America. Dr. Knecht graduated from the University of Michigan with high distinction, completed her MM from Indiana University and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. She has studied with Donald McInnes, Yizhak Schotten, and Angel Reyes.