Woodstock Strings Teachers & Staff

Meet Our Amazing Team!

Tiffany Watson Ray

Owner & Director of Woodstock Strings | Violin & Viola Teacher

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance, University of North Texas | Suzuki Training Certification, Atlanta Suzuki Institute
EXPERIENCE: Over 15 years of experience teaching private violin/viola lessons and group ensembles | Classy Chicks Trio, violist & violinist | High-school Member of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra | Accompanying artists/ensembles such as Michael Buble, Rod Stewart, David Crowder Band, Passion Conference, and Trans-Siberian Orchestra!
LOVES: Hanging with family and friends | Salsa Dancing | Hiking | Performing with all different types of music artists!
FAMILY: Middle sibling of 3 | Product of public and home education | Married to a Singer/Songwriter & Music Pastor | Mother of 1 sweet boy & precious little girl
CLASSICAL FAVORITES: Composer: Brahms and Tchaikovsky | Violin Piece: Zapateado by Sarasate
FAVORITE MUSICAL EXPERIENCE: Performing in front of 15,000 people with Rod Stewart | Getting to introduce my students to Charlie Daniels before one of his last live performances!

Melissa Loga

Violin & Viola Teacher

EDUCATION: B.A. in Music, UGA '13; Master of Music, Viola Performance, UGA '15; Suzuki Certifications- ECC, Violin and viola books 1-3
EXPERIENCE: 25 years of playing violin, 18 years of playing viola. Five years in a small touring rock band called ZALE. Six years of professional teaching, but I've taught violin and voice since 2014 (so sevenish years?). I played and rehearsed with several orchestras in Italy in 2014, my favorite cities being Torino and Milan.  I got to play in the orchestral premier of Bela Fleck's banjo concerto at UGA. I also loved playing with the artist Kishi Bashi in 2015, playing in his acoustic ensemble. My favorite venues in Georgia to play at are: GA Theatre in Athens (my favorite used to be The Caledonia until it closed last year due to the cost of covid), The Loft in Columbus, and Terminal West in Atlanta.
LOVES: Yoga, Kayaking, Reading, Large Dogs (the bigger the better). I love to learn about new cultures and would like to travel more when it's safer to.
CLASSICAL FAVORITES:  Composers: J.S. Bach, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Shostakovich. Solo Pieces: Brahms F Minor Viola Sonata, Vieuxtemps Capriccio for Solo Viola in C Minor (my favorite key), Dance of the Knights from Prokofiev's Romeo & Juliet suite. Orchestral/ensemble pieces: Borodin's 2nd string quartet, Tchaik 6, Overture from Candide by Bernstein, and Grofe's Grand Canyon Suite.

William Goodwin

Cello Teacher

EDUCATION: Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Music, University of Louisville
EXPERIENCE: Over 10 years of study on the cello | 4 years experience in private teaching | Played in both chamber groups and youth orchestras throughout the Atlanta area, including Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra | Has traveled the country to attend and participate in various music festivals
LOVES: Philosophy and ethics | Video games and movies | Being with friends and family | Art and Music in its many forms
FAMILY:Middle sibling of 3 | Received both private and public education | Son of a Psychiatrist and a Lawyer
CLASSICAL FAVORITES: Any of the J.S. Bach suites for cello | Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, and Beethoven  
FAVORITE MUSICAL EXPERIENCE: Performing a solo cello piece called Julie-O at my High School senior dinner and getting to share my love of music with my classmates

Colleen Lively

Violin & Viola  Teacher

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, Violin Proficient, Tennessee Temple University. | Suzuki Teaching Certification, Mid-Southeast Suzuki Institute.
EXPERIENCE: Nearly 40 years experience teaching private violin/viola lessons and group ensembles. | Johnson Ferry Baptist Orchestra | Minot Symphony Orchestra | Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra | Cadek Symphony Orchestra | Church Pianist | Freelance Violinist.
LOVES: Reading & Hiking
FAMILY: Married with four adult kids and a lovely dog! All four kids did Suzuki musical training growing up!
CLASSICAL FAVORITES: Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto.
FAVORITE MUSICAL EXPERIENCE: In the early 90s, The New Young Messiah tour came through our city. As a member of the local orchestra, I had the privilege of playing with them, and it was definitely a highlight of all my musical experiences!