Strings

Wynne Wong-Rife

Violin II

Wynne Wong-Rife is a Tucson native. She was a member of her public school orchestras from fifth grade through high school, played in Tucson Junior Strings and the Tucson Youth Symphony. After studying with John Ferrell at The University of Arizona for one year, Wynne transferred to the Eastman School of Music where she studied with Peter Salaff of the Cleveland Quartet, and was awarded a B.M. with Distinction in Violin Performance. At Eastman she met and became engaged to David Rife, and in 1981, both decided to attend New England Conservatory of Music. Wynne graduated from the New England Conservatory in 1983 with a M.M. in Violin Performance, and thereafter returned to Tucson with David to marry and start a family. Wynne has a multi-faceted career as a member of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Second Violin section, the Southwest String Quartet, and the RRM String Quartet. She retired from the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Quartet/Quintet after over 25 years of service. Wynne maintains a large class of violin and viola students, several of whom have placed in local and national competitions and soloed with orchestras. She is also on the faculty of Rocky Ridge Music (Estes Park, CO). Wynne and David have two daughters, Melissa and Molly (both ’cellists) and three cats. In addition to teaching and performing, Wynne also enjoys photography, knitting and Starbucks (not necessarily in that order).