Mr. Austin (Violin, Viola & Alexander Technique instructor) is an active chamber and orchestral performer in the greater NYC area where he is a member of the Manhattan & Bergen Symphonies. In addition to his classical roots he has recorded and performed live with numerous folk, jazz, and hip-hop groups. Mr. Austin served as the University of North Carolina School of the Arts viola teaching assistant while pursuing his undergraduate degree in viola performance there. He was also a member of the Asheville and Winston-Salem Symphonies while in NC. Mr. Austin is an AmSAT certified Alexander Technique teacher. He has taught AT lessons and lectured at Columbia and McGill Universities. He was trained at the American Center for the Alexander Technique in Manhattan. Often described as Zen for westerners plus driver’s ed for the body; practice of the Alexander Technique leads to freedom from chronic muscular and skeletal pain, improved coordination, increased range of motion, fuller and easier breathing, clearer and fuller voice and speech, increased tone in the musculature, decreased anxiety, clearer thinking, and a stronger sense of presence.