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Martha Bachelder Kaufman, is a member of the second violin section of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. Ms. Kaufman, a native of Kingsport, TN, began studying the violin at the age of five as a student of the Suzuki Talent method. Martha attended Indiana University where she received her Bachelor of Music degree while studying with Peter Marsh. She earned her Master of Music degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music under the direction of David Cerone and Kathleen Winkler. While at Cleveland she was the winner of the the school's annual concerto competition.

After college, her first orchestra position was principal second violinist of the Savannah Symphony (GA). A year later, she won the position of associate concertmaster of the Knoxville Symphony, a position she held for 10 years. In 1999 she was appointed the position of second violin with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra.

She has enjoyed working at the Kennedy Center and learning many new operas and ballets. Of special interest has been learning the works of Wagner and she is looking forward to performing the Ring Cycle with WNO in 2016.

Martha lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and two daughters.