Priscilla Hallberg
Dr. Hallberg is the founder and lead teacher of String Academy of the Southwest. Priscilla brings an impressive background of education and achievement documented elsewhere on this site.
Though originally located in Garden City, KS (website here) the String Academy relocated to Albuquerque in 2017. In Garden City “Strings and Friends” was an important part of the community offering. In addition to performances for the schools and public the artists provided an invaluable resource to our students. The guest artists, recognized leaders in their fields, represented the many specializations in string playing as documented in this video.
As in Garden City, our mission is to provide a positive force for the development and promotion of Strings. Priscilla is assisted in her efforts by her husband, Gordon, and enthusiastic board members as listed below.
Our President and Secretary
Gordon Hallberg
A latecomer to string playing and teaching, Gordon’s first career was as a trombonist (work history). His retirement has focused to string teaching with public school positions in Texas, New Jersey, Iowa and New Mexico. Click for videos from:
Public School Teaching in Marshalltown, IA,
String Beans in Garden City KS and
Teaching the Navajo’s in To’hajillee (New Mexico).
Gordon is also the school’s photographer and webmaster.
Board Members of the
String Academy of the Southwest
Executive Director/Lead Teacher: Priscilla Hallberg
President: Ross Holmen
Secretary: Sandra Holmen
Board Member: Gordon Hallberg
Diane Polasky, formerly Board Member of the String Academy of the Southwest, was a dynamo, who often stayed up all night writing a course and several books for people who wanted to improve their health. She was my Doctor of Oriental Medicine, but she couldn’t resist getting involved in my work, too, and she wanted to help children learn about classical music, especially those who wouldn’t be able to do so without support of some kind, financial or spiritual. So she joined our board in 2019 and we had little discussions about my school while she put needles in my back. She was totally involved and committed to living life to the fullest and we are so sorry to lose her. Sometimes the spirit is stronger than the body, and this was the case with Diane. Her body wore out but never her spirit. She will continue to speak to the effort of preserving classical music for the children of tomorrow through me and the other members of our organization. She will live in the music the children make and through the love of music she shared with them. Rest in Peace, Diane. You will not be forgotten.