When it comes to all things strings, we’ve got it covered. Not only can we play every last inch of our instruments, we can also teach you to do the same. The Valenches name is synonymous with music in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and rightly so. We’ve taught hundreds of students and have played at thousands of events. Whether you want to learn to play a stringed instrument, or you’d like strings to perform at your event, we’re the experts.
As a fun fact, our musicians have played with many notable names including: Frank Sinatra, Al Martino, Tony Bennett, Bing Crosby, Liberace, Bobby Vinton, Engelbert Humperdinck, Olivia Newton John, Bread, Moody Blues, Johnny Mathis, Bob Hope, Rosemary Clooney, Richard Harris, Cathy Rigby, Canadian Brass, The Irish Tenors, Regis Philbin, Susan Lucci and Clay Aiken.
Fritz Valenches: Violin & Viola Lessons & Performance
Fritz Valenches, named after the famed violinist and composer Fritz Kreisler, was born into an exceptionally talented musical family. His father, local artist, Leon Valenches, started Fritz on the violin at age two and by age ten, he began studying in New York with Inez Lauritano. He later studied with William Kroll of the Mannes School of Music and Ivan Galamian, head of the string departments at both the Juilliard School and Curtis Institute of Music. He began his professional orchestral career as a member of both the Scranton and Wilkes Barre Philharmonics at the young age of eleven.
Fritz Valenches is both a Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic Member and director of the Valenches Music Company. He currently teaches violin and viola in Scranton, Stroudsburg, and at the Baptist Bible College. He founded the Valenches Music Company as a nurturing and innovative string-instrument school and professional musician group with his wife Leah Valenches. Together they have a quartet of little Valenches’: Juliet, Gisele, Cruz and Giada. Fritz and Leah regularly perform throughout Northeastern PA with the Valenches Music Company. Together they also create young music enthusiasts through the Sinfonia Youth Orchestra and its sub group “Virtuoso.”
Peter Brubaker: Cello & Piano Lessons & Performance
Peter Brubaker has studied cello with Janet Marshall in Illinois, Richard Kapuscinski at Oberlin College, and Moshe Amitay at Kent State University. He has performed with the Savannah, Akron and Colorado symphonies, among others, and has appeared as soloist with the Elgin Symphony, the Fox Valley Symphony and the Elmhurst Symphony in Illinois.
Currently, Peter is a member of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic. He regularly performs with the Valenches Music Company and various other local events. He privately teaches cello at the Suzuki School for Strings in Plains, PA and at the Valenches Music Company. He is married to cellist Jean Supplee Brubaker and together they have a son, Benjamin, who is of exceptional musical talent.
Joe Cole: Bass & Electric-Bass Lessons & Performance
Professional Bassist Joe Cole has both classical training, having studied with Brian Liddle and jazz training, studying with Steve Gilmore and Francois Mouton. He boasts more than 40 years experience as a freelance performer with orchestras and ensembles throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania including the Valenches Music Company, the Choral Society of NEPA and most recently with Phil Woods and Warren Bichet.
Joe teaches bass with the Valenches Music Company and throughout the Scranton area. With over 25 years of teaching experience, his students gain the advantage of learning from the professional bassist’s perspective as one of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s premier jazz bassists. Joe teaches all elements of the bass from repertoire, technique and sight reading to bass line writing and improvisational skills.
Other Members of the Team
Leah Valenches
- Owner: The Valenches Music Company
- Artistic Director: Sinfonia Youth Orchestra
- Owner: Valenches Music House, LLC
- Professional musician with the Valenches Music Company
Lynn Hurst
- Violin, Viola & Piano Instruction: Kingston, PA
- Music Teacher: Wilkes Barre Area School District
- Professional musician with the Valenches Music Company
Jule Supplee
- Violin Instruction: Suzuki School for Strings
- Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic Member
- Professional musician with the Valenches Music Company
Gerard McGlone
- Viola Instruction: Suzuki School for Strings
- Professional musician with the Valenches Music Company
Jean Brubaker
- Cello Instruction: Suzuki School for Strings
- Licensed Kindermusik Educator
- Professional musician with the Valenches Music Company
The Sinfonia Youth Orchestra
Founded over 20 years ago by Fritz Valenches, the Sinfonia Youth Orchestra is Northeastern Pennsylvania’s best kept musical secret. This group is a unique opportunity for the area’s gifted young musicians, and the young at heart, to commence and share their talents.
This group boasts immersion to the core. The orchestra largely works as a mentorship program in that our more experienced players play alongside and guide our less experienced players, often as young as 2 years old. The orchestra often features youth soloists and youth chamber music, providing an opportunity for the students that they would not have otherwise. The SYO provides a little something for everyone.
Virtuoso
“Virtuoso” is a self contained violin orchestra featuring our most talented young players.These young gems can be found performing anything from the technical difficulties of Paganini’s Caprices to the heartwarming melodies of Christmas. Listen to their engaging sound before various NEPA Philharmonic concerts and many other venues throughout the area.
