Dennie Miller was born and raised in Brevard County.  She started playing and performing cello at the age of 10. Shortly after she began playing the cello, she started to learn the piano as well.  During her piano studies, she competed in the District and State level for the Piano Federation of Music Cups.  She also performed cello in music festivals and in All-County orchestras.  While attending Merritt Island High School she graduated with honors and received the National High School Orchestra Award. She also attended Brevard Community College and at the University of Central Florida where she received scholarships to perform. She received her Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Central Florida in 2000. Her teachers were great influences to her which include: Joan Markstein (principal of Brevard Symphony Orchestra), David Cedel (principal cellist of the Jacksonville Symphony orchestra), and Dr. Melissa Kraut (currently a professor at the Cleveland Institute of Music). She has performed in orchestras, small ensembles, and orchestra pit's locally, as well as in France.  Dennie has been teaching orchestra in the Brevard Public Schools for 10 years as an itinerant string teacher. She teaches in 10 schools in the Cocoa, Rockledge, and Merritt Island public schools. In addition she has been teaching privately for many years with her students going on to receive music scholarships themselves.

What is your favorite aspect about being a musician?  My favorite part about being a musician is being able to play music that people enjoy. 

Which composers most inspire you? Beethoven, Dvorak, and Saint-Saens

What is your favorite recording?  Antonin Dvorak's Concerto for Cello in B minor, op. 104 performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Daniel Barenboim conductin and  Jacqueline du Pre on the cello.

What piece are you looking forward to most in the SCSO's 2010 - 2011 Season?  I'm most looking foward to performing Dvorak's Symphony No. 9.