Meet Our Teachers

This page presents short bios of our teachers. They are professional musicians who are not only active in performance and/or teaching, but also willing to go the extra mile to provide first-class music education and chamber coaching to students in our community.   

Dimitar Petkov
Mr. Petkov is a Bulgarian violist. He performs with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP) and several chamber orchestras in the Greater Boston area. He also serves as the Principal Violist at the Claflin  Hill Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Petkov teaches Chamber Music, Violin, and Viola at the New England Conservatory (NEC) prep school. He also teaches Violin and Viola at Phillips Exeter Academy and maintains a private studio in Arlington and Westford. Mr. Petkov holds an Artist Diploma from Longy School of Music. He won several competitions in Bulgaria and at Longy School of Music. He lives with his wife Krasi and their two children Emma and Martin.
Shan Liu - Flute
Shan Liu earned her Bachelor’s degree in music at Wuhan Conservatory and her Master’s degree in flute performance at Indiana University. After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree, she played for the National Symphony Orchestra of China (then known as the Central Philharmonic) for over 6 years before coming to the United States. While earning her Master’s degree, she played in the Southwest Michigan and Elkhart Orchestras and taught at St. Mary's College and Indiana University. She currently teaches over 50 students at her private studio in Westford in addition to being a flute faculty member of Indian Hill Music Center.
Nadejda Krasteva - Violin

Ms. Krasteva is a violinist. She started her career in music at the age of 6, taking violin lessons with Professor Tatiana Krasteva. At 13, she won her first violin competition “Svetoslav Obretenov”. As a member of the National Radio Orchestra, she participated in recordings and concert tours throughout European. In 2000, she joint the Autonomous University of Nuevo León in Monterrey, Mexico. Currently, she performs with Claflin Hill Symphony and Brockton Symphony, and teaches Violin and Viola at Shrewsbury Middle School and her private studio in Hudson and Westford. Ms. Krasteva holds a Master’s degree from the State Academy of Music in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Mario Portev - Cello
Mr. Mario Portev has been an active performer and teacher for over 20 years. He is experienced in preparing students for entrance exams into local conservatories and has served on the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Exam and as a judge for the Central District Festival in MA. He holds a M.A. degree in Music Education and Performance from the State Conservatory of Music in Sofia, Bulgaria. 
Jody Harmon - Violin
Ms. Jody Harmon is the instructor for the mini-class entitled "Learn to Improvise, Create Variations and Melodies."
Ms. Jody Harmon is a violinist and author of several improvisation materials. She maintains a vibrant studio in Westford, with students ranging from beginning Suzuki to advanced concerto players. Jody has developed numerous fun, user-friendly materials and recordings to help students explore theory, improvisation and creativity. She will share her newest publications of creative variations in this course. 
Viki Tchertchian - Violin
Ms. Tchertchian teaches violin and chamber music at several schools including Powers Music School in MA and St. Paul’s School in NH. She currently performs with Portland Symphony, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Boston Pops, and other orchestras and festivals. In her earlier year, Ms. Tchertchian participated in solo, orchestra and chamber concerts throughout Europe. At the end of high school, she played with the Plovdiv Symphony Orchestra as a soloist. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and her Master’s degree in violin performance from the Longy School of Music in Boston. 
Julie Ottesen - Viola
Mrs. Julie Ottesen is the middle school orchestra teacher in Westford, MA at the Blanchard Middle School and Stony Brook School. She taught AP Music Theory at Westford Academy and believes that the more you understand composition and sound, the better you can experience music as a performer and a listener.