The Grand String Quartet was established in 2000 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, now beginning our tenth year of performing together. We are a group of musicians who perform throughout the year and whose interest is providing quality music for weddings, receptions, social and private events. We travel and perform throughout west and central Michigan and enjoy an active schedule.
The quartet includes a 1st violin, 2nd violin, violist and cellist.
If you are planning a small wedding on the beaches of Lake Michigan or an extravagant affair, the Grand String Quartet will help make it a event to remember.
Deb Crosser, Violin
Debbie is currently working toward a degree in Music Education from
Calvin College. She is an active teacher and is in her 6th year of
teaching Suzuki violin for Grand Rapids Community College's Arts
Outreach Program. Debbie began studying violin at the age of 3.
Growing up, she was a member of St. Cecilia Music Clubs and Youth
Orchestras and the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony In addition to playing
and performing chamber music with the Grand String Quartet, Debbie
currently performs and is a founding member of Grand Rapids Community
College's Mariachi Azul y Oro, a Mexican folk music performing group
and Tango Folias, an Argentinian Tango group. She has been a recipient
of several music scholarship awards including the Clossen Jones and
Budres Music Scholarship.
Michelle Sikora, Violin
Michelle began her violin studies at the age of 7. Throughout her Jr. High & High School years, she was a member of Saint Cecilia’s Music Clubs, performed with the Great Lakes String Quartet and was Associate Concertmaster of the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony. Michelle began teaching Suzuki violin her Senior Year of High School and also studied music at Grand Rapids Community College & Cedarville University. She continues to perform both solo and with music ensembles (including the Grand Rapids Community College Mariachi). Currently, Michelle is working toward her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Grand Valley State University.
Leanne King MacDonald , Viola
Leanne King MacDonald studied viola with Professors Igor Fedotov at Western Michigan University and Masao Kawasaki at the Cincinnati Conservatory. She became a member of the Grand Rapids Symphony in 2007. In 2001, she performed the viola concerto in G major by Georg Telemann with the West Shore Symphony chamber orchestra, where she continues as the symphony’s Principal Viola. Since then, she has been active as a chamber and orchestral musician, having recently performed as violist with the Virio String Quartet in Kalamazoo. An advocate for new music by living composers, she has performed solo and chamber works by renowned composers Kenji Bunch, Frederic Rzewski, and Moritz Eggert. Throughout her career she has performed with an array of artists ranging from violinists Joshua Bell, Itzhak Perlman, and Hillary Hahn to pop artists, Josh Groban, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Leanne lives in Grand Rapids where she is an active music educator and freelance musician.
Tom Paauwe, Cello and Manager
Tom holds both an associates degree in music and criminal justice from Grand Rapids Community College. He studied cello under Robert Madura and was the recipient of the Clossen Jones Music Scholarship for 2 years. Tom was also a student music teacher at Tri-Unity Christian Schools while attending college.
Before forming the Grand String Quartet in January, 2000, Tom lead numerous adult and youth vocal and instrumental ensembles and has written and produced a full scale musical production. Tom lives in Hudsonville with his wife and 3 children.
