E.J. Koeppel

E. J. Koeppel began his violin career in 1970 when he first started taking lessons in 3rd grade at Smallwood Elementary School in Amherst, NY. Soon after, he began studying privately with Buffalo Philharmonic 1st violinist Matthew Tworek and continued for the next 9 years. Throughout his school years, E. J. was selected to perform with the Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra, Erie County orchestra and The All State Orchestra on both violin and viola. While in High School, he joined the Cheektowaga Symphony Orchestra as a member of the first violin section and was awarded a scholarship towards his college education.

E. J. attended the University at Buffalo majoring in violin performance and later, music education studying under Alan Heatherington. He received the Most Valuable Player and Most Improved player awards in the University Philharmonia. While at U. B., he began teaching at the Villa Maria Institute of Music, the Creative Jazz Workshop as well as many music stores in the WNY area. He joined the Norris Quartet, a new acoustic band, in 1981 which became the catalyst for his interest in jazz violin along with meeting jazz violin great Stephane Grappelli and The Turtle Island String Quartet.

After graduating from U. B. with a BFA in music education and a MA in education from Canisius College, E. J. began teaching in the Buffalo School system, and in 1989 accepted his current position as instrumental music teacher in the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda School District. He enjoys teaching elementary orchestra and band and has arranged may full scores for his groups including Peter Gunn, Night Train, Killer Joe, Jurassic Park and All Blues.

E. J. plays on a 1934 John Juzek violin and has recently purchased a Yamaha electric violin. He has performed on the Variety Club Telethon, WBFO radio, toured with Liza Minelli and Dudley Moore, Jammed with David Grisman and performed with Al Tinney, Sam Falzone, The Joanna Cousins Quartet, The String Brothers and many more fine musicians from the Buffalo area.

When E. J. is not teaching, gigging, bowling or golfing, he enjoys spending time and traveling with his beautiful and very understanding wife Laura and his Daughter Amanda, who is following in her fathers footsteps studying violin.