Madlen H. Breckbill, viola and violin, grew up in Stoughton, Wisconsin and learned to play the violin in the Madison music scene—the Suzuki Strings of Madison, WYSO and with Gene Purdue of the Buddy Conservatory of Music. She continued her studies at UW-Madison and then at the Glenn Gould School of Music in Toronto, Ontario. Her mentors and teachers during her university and conservatory studies included Prof. David Perry, Paul Kantor, Barry Shiffman, Erica Raum and Steven Dann.
For the last four years, Madlen lived in Berlin (Germany), working as an orchestral trainee with Konzerthaus Berlin, the violist of the TAIGA String Quartet in Denmark, and a chamber music player for Villa-Musica in Rheinland Pfalz. Since her early years, Madlen has developed a love for the many-layered, communicative world of chamber music. Here are some of her highlights: learning from the Jupiter String Quartet at Madeline Island Music Camp, playing with dear friends and violist Steve Dann at Domaine Forget (Quebec), enjoying the camaraderie and landscape of Music By The Sea (British Columbia) and falling in love with Denmark at Hvide Sande Masterclass. In the summer of 2019, Madlen started the Stoughton Chamber Music Festival, which continues today. As a teacher, Madlen enjoys working with both children and adults and is certified as a Suzuki teacher.