MEET THE STAFF

**OREN KRONICK & KATHY REILLY**
Vermont Violins and the Burlington Violin Shop are owned in partnership by the husband-wife team of Kathy Reilly and Oren Kronick. They have together run the shop since its conception in 1994. The pair met at Oberlin College where Kathy pursued a viola performance degree and Oren studied history in the college. While Kathy pursued a Masters in Botany at the University of Vermont’s Field Naturalist Program and Oren worked for entrepreneurial businesses in Vermont, the two merged their passions in the building of a violin shop in Central Vermont. Teaching, Performing and running a violin shop created a life rich in musical rewards as they devoted themselves to supporting a vibrant musical community in the state of Kathy’s childhood.
Outside of the shop, Kathy and Oren enjoy skiing, hiking with their dog Ziya, and taking care of their donkeys Dr. Sheffield, Holliana, and Satura at their home in the mountains of Duxbury.

MARY REILLY (& LILLY)Mary, Kathy’s Mom, has been a part of the company for years; helping with everything from receiving to childcare & dogwalking! She recently took on a more active role in Receiving and Accounts Payable. Outside the shop, Mary enjoys gardening and studying French..and excellent writer and photographer! — **MARY REILLY (& LILLY)**
Mary, Kathy’s Mom, has been a part of the company for years; helping with everything from receiving to childcare & dogwalking! She recently took on a more active role in Receiving and Accounts Payable.

Outside the shop, Mary enjoys gardening and studying French..and excellent writer and photographer!

Ceile Kronick — **CEILE KRONICK**
As Production Manager, Ceile fills has found joyful fulfillment surrounded by all our wonderful toys: bandsaws, drill presses, CNC machines, laser scanners, 3D printers, planers and enough vacuum power to tidy up a small city! He manages all the machines and programming: adding CAD/CAM to his list of gadget wizardry. He is a passionate photographer (responsible for all the wonderful instrument photographs seen all over our webpages), a very talented violinist and a tinkerer responsible for the creation of new toys like lining clamps and carbide blades.
When not in the shop, Ceile can be found in his home, similarly filled with gadgets and toys, happily planning his next invention.

TOBY FULLER

Toby started his life in Chicago, Illinois and can not remember any other kids in his grade school that were obsessed with Beethoven. Although Toby did not have much musical training in his youth, he was recognized for achievements in mathematics and engineering and attended the University of Illinois for Mechanical Engineering. After college he skied. He skied for many years in Alaska, Wyoming and Idaho before coming to Vermont expecting to find the “Rockies of the East”. While the skiing was indeed rocky, the New England charm was unique and the maple syrup highly addictive.

While in the Burlington area Toby has worked and consulted for many area Architecture firms. He began playing violin as an adult over a decade ago and continues to enjoy the challenge of the instrument, the joy of exploring music as an adult, and the incredible craftsmanship and science of string instruments. At Vermont Violins Toby will be assisting with CAM production and programming, and whatever else will keep his hands busy. When he’s not in the shop you might spot Toby running, sampling food truck cuisine, or tucked in a quiet place with his violin, trying to get the notes just right.

**JOSHUA HEAPHEY**
Los Angeles-based violinist/violist Joshua is a passionate orchestral, chamber, and recording artist proficient in diverse styles, from solo to Broadway. He's performed at major Southern California venues like Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl, and on numerous Emmy and Academy Award-winning soundtracks. A longtime principal violist with the Golden State Pops Orchestra, he's collaborated with renowned composers and conductors. Also a luthier with 15 years' experience at Cauer Violins, Joshua is eager to support the Upper Valley's arts community.

**CHRISTIAN DRMACICH**
Christian hails from the snowy tundra of Western New York. He began actively listening and exploring the realm of rock and metal music during his formative years. In doing so he found his love for playing the drums and guitar. These passions would lead him to SUNY Fredonia's unique Music Business program. In the midst of his college days, he would start exploring the world of craft beer. Going down this rabbit hole, he would go on to work in the beverage industry for eight years and eventually move to the Green Mountain state. The perfect combination of Vermont's beautiful scenery, world class breweries, and small town vibes were a perfect storm to convince Christian to finally burst out of his hometown bubble. Nowadays you can spot him walking trails, snowboarding, or enjoying a pint.

**SORIA NGUYEN**
Soria grew up in San Francisco, beginning violin at the age of four through the Suzuki method. At the time, she was the only musical member of her family, but was soon joined by her younger sisters who also took up the instrument. She received a Bachelors Degree in Violin Performance from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2022, and in 2024 she completed a Master’s degree in Violin Performance with a certificate in Suzuki pedagogy for violin from the University of Denver. Soria loves teaching and playing chamber music with friends. She also enjoys reading, baking, and hiking!

**GENEVA YAWGER**
Geneva joined our team in July 2025 as purchaser and bookkeeper. She was raised and attended college in Pennsylvania and, since moving to Vermont in 2015 for graduate school, has made herself quite at home here. She came to us with a diverse educational and professional background, having spent much of her life as an academic researcher (studying and teaching psychology and statistics) and then as a healthcare office manager for several years. Behind it all, though, ran the throughline of her lifelong love for music. She was introduced to the piano at age 5 and the violin at age 7, and since then, music has been an integral part of her life – from spending just about every day after school rehearsing with various student ensembles, to playing in the pit orchestra for a dozen musicals across high school and college, to joining the Burlington Civic Symphony Orchestra here in Vermont. She spends much of her free time reading, traveling, crafting, and playing games with friends.

**MONA PATEL**
As Marketing Director, Mona brings leadership and experience to our marketing efforts, both local and online, digital. She comes to us with over fifteen years of experience, most recently as a Deputy Manager of Marketing for Skechers in Mumbai, India. She is a world-traveller, and enjoys Photography, Music and Drawing….and loves her little pets Bella and Tasha.

**KRISTINA TURNER**
Kristina Turner grew up in the "City of Subdued Excitement" - Bellingham, Washington. As a youth, she enjoyed performing in multiple school ensembles including chamber ensembles and Strolling Strings. She attended Eastern Washington University and studied Violin with Kelly Farris while performing in the EWU Symphony Orchestra and Gonzaga University Symphony. Kristina transferred back home to finish her Bachelor of Arts in Music at Western Washington University, studying Violin with Walter Schwede and continuing to perform in Symphony, Chamber, and New Music Ensembles. Kristina was a member of the Whatcom (now Bellingham) Symphony Orchestra from 2007 until 2019.
Kristina taught in Bellingham from 2003 until 2019 when she moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where she teaches at the prestigious Gifted Music School and in private studio. Kris’ joyful playing perfectly matches her V. Richelieu viola that serves as her primary instrument. As an Artist Representative of the V. Richelieu line of instruments, she is frequently travelling through the western United States to promote her favorite instrument. She is a registered and active teacher with the Suzuki Association of the Americas.

ZIIY3YAHHHA REILLYThe brains behind our whole operation, Ziiy3yahhha (pronounced Ziya) works both as a motivational figure and shop security officer (watch out: she can lick you to distraction). You can find her sleeping all day in the basement, or … — **ZIIY3YAHHHA REILLY**
The brains behind our whole operation, Ziiy3yahhha (pronounced Ziya) works both as a motivational figure and shop security officer (watch out: she can lick you to distraction). You can find her sleeping all day in the basement, or seeking attention from every customer who walks through the door.