Preparatory Strings
Described as artistic, refined and passionate; Vera Nji succeeds in combining a vivacious energy with the resounding tone of the viola. She studied with Pamela McConnell and performed under the direction of conductor Thomas Sleeper as a member of the University of Miami Symphony Orchestra and accompanied them on a tour of Nassau, Bahamas. She also performed in the world premiere of Bernadette, a one-act opera by Ramon Dominguez at the Roca Center for the Performing and Visual Arts in Miami, Florida and the international debut at Sacre Couer under the direction of Dr. Candace Wicke.
Her performances have ranged from classical to new music premieres and popular music with artists such as Kanye West and Chaka Khan at the MTV Music Video Awards and Ricky Martin at the Latin Billboard Awards. She graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor’s of Music in Viola Performance and a minor in Broadcast Communications as a Bertha Foster Scholarship and Woodson Williams Scholarship Finalist recipient. During her studies she served as a Hurricane Staff Writer for the Miami Hurricane and as the Ensemble Librarian for the Frost School of Music.
Her love for education led her to the intern position of Assistant Orchestra Manager which involved working closely with young musicians in grades six through twelve, for the American Festival for the Arts from 2001-02. As a string instructor she has had the pleasure of working with ensembles from Our Lady of Lourdes Academy and the Greater Miami Youth Orchestra.