Music is All in the Family for David and Wynne Wong-Rife

Wynne, Melissa, Molly and David Rife

David Rife, TSO Assistant Concertmaster, is a native of South Carolina. He received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Violin Performance from the Eastman School of Music and a Master of Music Degree in Violin Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music. He has studied with Donald Weilerstein, Mazuko Ushioda, Jerry Lucktenburg, and members of the Cleveland Quartet. David is a dedicated violin teacher. In 2005 he was awarded the teacher of the year of the state of Arizona by the American String Teachers Association. His students have won local and statewide competitions and are presently attending major music schools throughout the country.

Wynne Wong-Rife attended Brichta Elementary, Roskruge Junior High and Cholla High School, here in Tucson. She was a member of her public school orchestras from 5th grade through high school, played in Tucson Junior Strings, Tucson Youth Symphony (which was sponsored by the TSO) and attended TSO concerts (at Palo Verde HS). Wynne is also a dedicated teacher and loves helping people of all ages learn to play and love the violin.

Wynne and David met at the Eastman School of Music, where she earned her Bachelor of Music Degree in Violin Performance with Distinction. They became engaged when students at Eastman, but Wynne wouldn't walk down the aisle with David until she had her MM degree and at least the prospect of a job. Both David and Wynne attended the New England Conservatory and earned their MM's, then married in the summer of 1983.

They returned to Tucson to raise their family in Wynne’s home town. David joined the TSO in 1983 and Wynne joined in 1985 (she was pregnant with Melissa when she took her first audition). David and Wynne are the violinists of the TSO String Quartet, but are on sabbatical from the String Quartet for the 08/09 season.

David and Wynne have two daughters, Melissa and Molly, who are ècellists. Both Melissa and Molly have attended Interlochen, were members of the Tucson Junior Strings, Tucson Philharmonia and have been winners in the TSO’s Young Artist Competition. Melissa recently graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington in May 2008, with a Bachelor’s degree in Cello Performance, and is currently performing with her string quartet on the Summit ship of Celebrity Cruises. Molly is a Cello Performance Major at ASU. David and Wynne also have two cats, Daisy and Lucky, who sing.