About Us

Bärbel Pafford

Cellist • Teacher • Manager

Bärbel Pafford is a cellist, a Bozeman native and the manager of Big Sky Strings. She completed her undergraduate music education degree at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. She was also a member of the Columbia Philharmonic, the Myrtle Beach Symphony and the Charlotte Symphony, and founded and managed the Palmetto String Trio. After moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, she started the Cedar River String Trio, home schooled her children and taught with a String Outreach Program. Bärbel returned to Bozeman in 2009 and began teaching with the Bozeman Public Schools. She currently manages Big Sky Strings, teaches privately at home and performs with the Bozeman Symphony. She also co-manages the Bozeman Summer String Jam, a camp for 5th through 12th grade string students.

Michael Certalic

Violinist • Teacher

Michael Certalic is a violinist, teacher, and conductor. As of June 2024 he completed a 28 year tenure as the Director of Orchestras in the Bozeman Public Schools where he directed six high school orchestras, a middle school Honor Orchestra, and Montana’s only designated high school chamber music program. He has since dedicated his efforts to his studio, having taught privately for the past 34 years. Michael has extensive experience as a soloist, studio musician, chamber musician, orchestral player, and in recital. He has performed as Concertmaster and Principal in several orchestras and continues to play in that capacity. He performs on a violin custom built for him by Montana luthier Mark Hollinger. Michael lives in Bozeman, Montana with his wife Kimberly.

Kayla Mallory

Violinist • Teacher

Kayla began studying violin in high school and continued her training at Montana State University in Bozeman, attaining her undergraduate degree in Music Education. She had the privilege of studying under esteemed teachers throughout her scholastic career including Johan Jonsson, Carrie Krause, Stephen Cepeda and Angella Ahn. Native to Bozeman, Kayla has performed as both section player and section leader in many of the area's local performing groups such as the Bozeman Symphony, Intermountain Opera Orchestra, and Montana Ballet Company Orchestra. She has also performed with Ellen Theater productions and Black Box Theater productions. Currently, she can be found raising her children and building her private studio where she endeavors to instill her love of music and learning in future generations.

Cindy Stone

Violist • Teacher

Cindy Stone hails from Tennessee. She became enamored with Montana after visiting her grandparents in Bozeman and decided to raise her family here. She is a violist who has studied with James Batts, Tanya Solomon, Rebecca Janda, and Anna Jesiatis. Cindy graduated from James Madison University with a bachelor degree in Music Education and from the University of Georgia with a Master Degree in Music Education. She taught orchestra for 7 years in the Atlanta area, influencing many young students to become lifelong lovers of music. Cindy is now fulfilling her dream by starting an Orchestra program in Belgrade and has established Montana's first Rock Orchestra. She performs regularly with the Bozeman Symphony and has performed with various orchestras in Europe and across the Southeast. Cindy is passionate about performance and music education and passes that passion on to her students.

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