At West Genesee schools she is responsible for teaching group lessons, preparing two elementary orchestras for biannual concerts, and recruiting new students annually. While at West Genesee she has adapted her beginner program to respond to the changing needs and ages of her young students. In addition, she has created, initiated, and annually teaches a Jump Start Violin Program that allows students to begin violin instruction the summer before fourth grade in a weeklong intensive.

Mercer maintains a small private studio of violin students ages 4-17. In her studio she prepares students for recitals, concerts, and auditions for county and state select organizations, as well as for college auditions. She also taught as a licensed Kindermusik instructor for many years. She has guest-conducted elementary all-county orchestras in Nassau County, Monroe County, Onondaga County, Broome County, and Oswego County.

Mercer maintains an active performance career, playing violin in the Rosewood String Quartet, Syracuse University Summer Festival Orchestra (concertmaster), and numerous ensembles in the Syracuse area. She has played in the Syracuse Symphony, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra (principal second), Glimmerglass Opera Orchestra, Skaneateles Festival Orchestra, and Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Mercer holds an undergraduate degree in music education and violin performance from Ithaca College (1987) and a master of science degree in early childhood education from State University of New York at Oswego (1993). At Ithaca College she studied with Linda Case and played in master classes for Henryk Szeryng and Joyce Robbins. Mercer was a two-time winner of the Ithaca College Concerto Competition. She also studied with Sally Thomas and Ann Setzer at the Meadowmount Summer Music School.

Education

• M.S., SUNY Oswego
• B.M., Ithaca College