Welcome

Michelle  Quinn, Executive Director of JHYO and MusicLand, is a longtime resident and music educator in Jackson Hole. She developed the JHYO to provide talented young adults a creative outlet to appreciate and perform  classical music in and around Jackson's natural splendor. Joining  Michelle are Vince Gutwein, Orchestral Director for both JHYO and Teton  County School Districts Middle and High Schools, and Brian Carr, content developer and Creative Director.

Numerous other individuals have also provided guidance and support to the Jackson Hole Youth Orchestra.

JHYO  encompasses every aspect of traditional orchestra participation, from  auditions to public performances. Additionally, JHYO gives participants opportunity to interact with like-minded young adults, cultivate  advanced repertoire, and promote dedication to instrument practice and  to the complexity of music theory.

MusicLand acquired this program originally founded by Michelle Quinn in 2008 and formerly known as the  JH Music Academy.  MusicLand is excited to be offering private and group classes in violin, viola, cello & piano under Dr. Shinichi Suzuki's Method of teaching in aural learning. 

Teachers include Michelle Quinn-Violin, Vince Gutwein- Cello, Melody Welde-Piano.

Classes are held weekly at the Center for the Arts in the MusicLand office. Private  & Group lessons can begin as early as 4 years old!  Recitals are held in December and June. 

Scholarships are available through One 22, Boundless (through a school counselor)and MusicLand.  Please refer to our Scholarships and Aid page for more info.

MusicLand attained their directorship in December 2021 to host Music Together early childhood education classes for children 0-5 and their caregivers in Jackson, Wyoming.  Classes are held Winter, Spring Summer and Fall sessions.  All classes are indoors and held at the Riot Act Space, 3rd floor, Center for the Arts.  In Summer, classes are held at Mike Yokel Park on Kelly Avenue. 

Teachers: Kyle Anderson, Kateryna Rakova, Lacy Dean

Michelle Quinn started studying the violin at age 6 in a Suzuki in the schools program in Richmond, VA. Rex Britton, principal second violinist in the Richmond Symphony Orchestra was her teacher through high school.  She competed in all county, all-region and all-state orchestras during high school. She was a member of the Richmond Symphony Junior Youth Orchestra for three years and the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra as Principal Second Violin for four years until graduation. She went on to attend and graduate from James Madison University.  She was actively involved in the JMU Symphony Orchestra and studied privately with Paul McEnderfer. She moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming after college and helped to form the “Orchestra of the Tetons” a non-profit organization which is now called the JH Symphony Orchestra 501c3 which she was the Executive Director for several years.  After forming  her quartet, “Snake River Strings” over 15 years ago, she actively supports both the JHSO and her quartet. She began teaching in her  Suzuki studio -JH Music Academy in 2008. She is a Certified SAA teacher with the Suzuki Association of the Americas and certified through Book 5. She has attended the International Music Teacher’s Exchange conference in Germany since 2016 working closely with Charles Krigbaum and Kerstin Wartberg. Her past experience with non-profit work was Board Member and Chair for JH Therapeutic Riding Association for 12 years. She and her husband pioneered their event "Stomping the Divots" as to what it exists as today..  Michelle started the Jackson Hole Youth Orchestra/MusicLand non-profit in 2019. Michelle and her husband, David have lived in Jackson for over 26 years and have two children- Henry & Colin.  She enjoys spending time with her family, x-c skiing, horseback riding, hiking, pickleball,  and being with her dog-Willow.

Vince is in his 18th year as the Director of Strings at Jackson Hole High School and Jackson Hole Middle School. Vince teaches chamber, concert, and middle school orchestras.  He currently is the music director and conductor of MusicLand's JH Youth Orchestra present.

Vince received his Bachelor and Masters in Music Education from the University of Wyoming and is a National Board Certified Teacher. Vince studied cello with Barbara Thiem at UW and has held such positions as the Wyoming American String Teachers Association (ASTA) president, and the National Association for Music Education (NAFME) Orchestra Vice President and Jackson Hole Symphony Orchestra Director.  Vince is a Certified Suzuki Instructor with SAA:  Every Child Can, and Suzuki Book I. He is currently accepting new students for private and group lessons.

Vince has a vast performance background and enjoys performing and recording music with local musicians.  Vince  resides in Jackson and  enjoys skiing/ snowboarding, backpacking, and fly fishing with his wife Shannon, son August and daughter Iris.

Melody is Piano Accompanist for MusicLand’s Suzuki Program group lessons and recitals. She’s studied piano since 5 and accompanied since her own middle school years in Pennsylvania. Growing up was packed with private lessons and participation in multiple performing groups, leading to travel within the States and to Europe. She had begun cello at 9 and majored in cello at Wheaton Conservatory of Music near Chicago. While raising five children, Melody was pianist and organist at First Presbyterian Church of Cody. Melody’s a certified Suzuki Instructor with SAA: Every Child Can and Suzuki Book 1. She is currently accepting new students for private and group lessons. As a veteran ‘home school’ educator, her students have included a child with severe hearing loss and three adopted from Latvia managing brain injuries from fetal alcohol. Her household includes young adults and together they garden, bake, hike, read, listen to music, and sometimes travel to be near her parents and newest grandbaby!

Brian Carr holds the rank of Fire Captain and Paramedic with Jackson Hole Fire/EMS. In addition to his career with the fire department, Brian has experience in strategic branding and messaging. He holds degrees in classical Greek and Latin and taught classical literature, history, and tradition at universities in Tennessee, Georgia, and New York City. Distinct from classical Greek and Latin, the Japanese novelist Yukio Mishima, study of Renaissance Humanism, and the history of sculpture all hold his attention. He appreciates Baroque Classical Music (Corelli, Rameau), SF Jazz Collective, and second-wave and hardcore punk. He is an amateur cook on the quest for the perfect traditional cassoulet.

Isaac has always held a fascination for how things work and an enjoyment for troubleshooting and solving various mechanical, electrical, and computer problems.  His true passion lies in all things technological, but mostly robotics and its applications in space exploration.  Isaac also has a love for the arts, including photography, printmaking, and music.  He particularly enjoys film  photography because there is something magical about the complex process  from choosing the right film, to creating the perfect shot and lastly, developing the film. 

Isaac graduated from Hanover College with a BA in Computer Science and minor in Art and Design in which he earned the distinguished award in Computer Science, as well as achieving the Dean’s list twice.  For his coursework, he studied many computer science topics such as algorithms, desecrate math, and app development.  In art, he developed his interests and honed my skills in printmaking and photography.  Aside from his coursework, he served as a computer science tutor and lab assistant, where he helped his professors configure and set-up the computer lab as well as tutored students with their lab assignments. 

Isaac has played the violin for 16 years, during this time he has performed many solo recitals and orchestral concerts.  His orchestral journey began in Louisville KY, where he was a member of the Louisville Youth Orchestra for 7 years, then in college he was a member of Hanover’s  community orchestra.  After college, he also participated in the Jackson Hole Symphony  community orchestra as well as volunteering in MusicLand’s youth orchestra program. 

David is a seasoned family office executive renowned for his expertise in investment management, with an impressive career spanning over thirty years. His journey in the investment realm began after a strong educational foundation, leading him through pivotal roles that emphasize his skills in financial stewardship and strategic development. He currently has his real estate associate Broker's license with Keller Williams Jackson Hole as well as part-time fishing and wildlife expert for Reel Deal Anglers. 

David held the position of Executive Officer at The Certior Group, a firm that specializes in serving affluent clientele. His responsibilities included oversight of trust administration and acting as a key advisor for wealthy families navigating their unique financial challenges. This experience finely honed David's ability to manage complex financial portfolios while building trusting relationships with clients.

Prior to that, David achieved remarkable success as President and Managing Director at Melody Ranch Investments and Melody Ranch Developments. Reporting directly to Paul Von Gontard, a prominent member of the Anheuser-Busch family, David was instrumental in steering investment operations in various sectors such as land development, land acquisitions, aggregate mining, and oil and gas ventures across Wyoming and Montana. His leadership was vital in orchestrating complex investments while managing multiple cattle ranches and developing polo fields for The International Jackson Hole Polo Club, showcasing his diverse capabilities within the investment landscape.

An adaptable professional, David’s earlier experience includes serving as an Equity Sales Trader at Lehman Brothers, where he developed his skills in market analysis and strategic trading. He has also shown proficiency in options trading as a specialist at PACIFIC COAST OPTIONS, LLC, and gained valuable insights during his tenure as a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch, where he guided clients through their investment decisions, establishing a reputation for sound financial advice and strategic investment guidance.

David's educational background is rooted in a deep exploration of English Language and Literature, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado Denver. He is also a graduate of Avon Old Farms Prep School in CT.  

He currently enjoys downhill skiing, fly fishing, yoga and being with his wife, Michelle, their two boys, and dog- Willow.