Meet The Quartet

The Signature String Quartet was formed in 2004 and has since provided musical elegance for events throughout all of West Michigan. The members of the quartet have a combined total of over 80 years of quartet and orchestral playing including frequent performances with the West Michigan Symphony in Muskegon. Each member also possesses an undergraduate or graduate degree in music as well as numerous years of private teaching and orchestra instruction in the public schools. We have played for countless weddings, receptions, and other events at venues throughout all of West Michigan and beyond. Our varied repertoire includes classical standards, traditional wedding selections, jazz tunes, tangos, contemporary pop selections, and holiday music.

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Jennifer Kotchenruther, 1st Violin and Manager

Jennifer is a native of New York where she began her violin studies at age three. She earned her Bachelors of Music degree in Music Education and Music Performance from Hope College and has completed numerous graduate courses at Michigan State University. Jennifer teaches orchestra in the Grand Rapids Christian Schools and is the former director of the ASTA Junior High String Camp. She is an auditioned member of the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra and maintains a large private violin studio. She enjoys performing at several area churches and conducting sectionals for local youth orchestras. 

Carol Johnson, 2nd Violin

Carol teaches 5th through 8th Grade Orchestra in the Jenison Public Schools. She has earned both her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education from Michigan State University, majoring on the violin and piano. Carol has served as Music Director at MASTA Elementary String Camp, conductor at the MSBOA Middle Level String Clinics, and has been co-director of the St. Cecelia Youth Sinfonia in Grand Rapids. She has also been a featured presenter at the Michigan Music Education Conference, is a popular clinician in school orchestra programs, and has performed regularly with the West Michigan Symphony. 

Becky Bush, Viola

Becky Bush, orchestra teacher and founder of the Hudsonville Public Schools Orchestra Program, is co-author of Sound Differentiation for Beginning String Orchestra, published by Alfred Music. She was String Acquisition Editor and Suzuki Strategist at Alfred Music Publishing, Adjunct Professor of Music Education at Grand Valley State University and Calvin College, Youth Orchestra Director at St. Cecilia Music Center, and orchestra teacher at Jenison Public Schools. A graduate of the University of Michigan and Grand Valley State University, she has been Music Director at the n Michigan ASTA String Camps, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and the Phillips Family Fiddle Camps. She has presented multiple sessions at state and national music conventions, and has been an active guest conductor throughout Michigan.

Anne Thompson, Cello

Anne graduated from Western Michigan University with a degree in Cello Performance, Music History and Music Education. She received a Master’s degree in Cello Performance and Literature from the University of Notre Dame. She is a certified Suzuki cello instructor and has a private cello studio. Anne has served as Assistant Director of the ASTA Elementary String Camp, Secretary of MSBOA District 10 Executive Board, and is a member of Phi Delta Kappa Educational Honor Society. Currently, Anne has performed as a cellist in the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra, and is the orchestra director at Forest Hills Eastern Public Schools.