UW-River Falls

Giselle Hillyer

Lecturer of Music

Giselle Hillyer

Lecturer of Music
Applied Violin, Viola
String Techniques, Chamber String Ensembles

D.M.A. Violin Performance, University of Kansas
M.M. Violin Performance, New England Conservatory
B.M. Violin Performance, University of Adelaide (Australia)

Office Phone: 715-425-3778
e-mail: giselle.hillyer@uwrf.edu

Giselle enjoys an international, multi-faceted career, balancing roles as soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player and teacher. Since August 2006 she has been based in Hudson, Wisconsin, and has taught violin and viola at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Prior to this she lived in Macon, Georgia from 2000 - 2006, where she was an associate professor of violin and viola at Mercer University. She received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kansas, the Master of Music and Graduate Diploma from the New England Conservatory, and she is originally from Auckland, New Zealand.

Dr. Hillyer has been praised by critics for her full, round tone and poetic interpretations. Recent concerto performances include the Mendelssohn Concerto for Violin and Piano with the Dekalb Symphony Orchestra in May 2006 and Chausson's Poeme with the Macon Symphony Orchestra in March 2005. Recent chamber music recitals have taken place in Wisconsin, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Maine, New Hampshire, New Caledonia and New Zealand. Dr. Hillyer has performed as a duo partner with renowned violinist Robert McDuffie, and in chamber music ensembles with faculty from the New England Conservatory, Penn State University, the University of Kansas, Georgia State University, Georgia Southern University, Columbus State University, Dickinson College, the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and with members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

As an orchestral musician Dr Hillyer has played under such conductors as Yuri Bashmet, Seiji Ozawa, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Jeffrey Kahane and Eduardo Mata. She has played with the St Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Minnesota Opera Orchestra, and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and was concertmaster of the Macon Symphony Orchestra. Her first CD, Sonatas and Images , was recorded with her husband, pianist Roger McVey, and released by ACA Digital in May 2005. Aside from her professional career, Giselle stays busy raising their son, Kieran, who was born in July 2006.

Ms. Hillyer teaches violin and viola at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls.

Ms. Hillyer can be reached by email at giselle.hillyer@uwrf.edu, or by phone at 715/425-3778.