About Us
Authentic -|- Soulful -|- Orchestral
The String Queens is an award-winning, genre-defying string trio celebrated for its dynamic performances that seamlessly blend classical music with jazz, hip-hop, R&B, and popular styles. With a mission to create musical experiences that inspire diverse audiences to love, hope, feel, and imagine, the ensemble is committed to breaking down barriers in the performing arts while championing equity, access, and representation both on stage and in the classroom.
Renowned for their artistry, versatility, and engaging stage presence, The String Queens have performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages and platforms. Their notable appearances include the 2021 “We Are One” Presidential Inauguration Concert, NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series featuring Coco Jones, ESPN’s Wimbledon Championship campaign, and collaborations with the National Symphony Orchestra and Capital City Symphony. The trio has also been featured at premier venues and festivals including the Hollywood Bowl, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Birdland Jazz Club, Blue Note Jazz Club Napa, the DC Jazz Festival, and the Saratoga Jazz Festival, as well as the Capital Jazz Festival and Capital Jazz SuperCruise, and the Geffen Playhouse in California. Most recently, The String Queens were invited to perform at the 2026 U.S. Open, one of the biggest stages in the world of tennis, further expanding their presence on a global platform.
Their collaborative spirit has led to performances alongside iconic artists such as Regina Carter and Coco Jones, as well as appearances at nationally recognized events including the BET Honors and NAMM’s Conference Rally for Music Education. Through these collaborations, The String Queens continue to expand the role of string music within contemporary culture while honoring its classical roots.
The trio’s discography, including The String Queens (2019), Our Favorite Things (2020), and RISE (2022), showcases their signature sound and commitment to innovative programming.
On Juneteenth, June 19, 2026, The String Queens released their powerful single “Troubled Liberty,” accompanied by a compelling music video that brings the song’s message to life. Featuring an introduction by the late, celebrated poet Nikki Giovanni, the release is a thought-provoking artistic statement that explores the complexities of freedom, truth, and the American experience. Through their signature fusion of classical strings and contemporary musical influences, The String Queens invite listeners to reflect on the nation’s ideals, its history, and the ongoing pursuit of liberty and justice. Building on the momentum of this release, the trio is preparing to unveil another new single, continuing its commitment to creating music that resonates across genres, generations, and cultural experiences.
Their work has earned critical acclaim and multiple honors, including WAMMIE Awards for Best Classical Group and Best Classical Song, the Aspire Award from the Atlanta Symphony, and the Jazz Education Award from the DC Jazz Festival, along with national media recognition on CBS Mornings and Voice of America.
Beyond performance, The String Queens are deeply committed to arts education and community engagement. As U.S. Department of State Cultural Ambassadors through the American Music Abroad program and Voting Members of the Recording Academy, they use their platform to promote cultural diplomacy, global artistic exchange, and the advancement of the music industry. As experienced educators and clinicians, they have presented workshops, masterclasses, and keynote addresses for organizations such as the Save The Music Foundation, Carnegie Hall, El Sistema USA, and institutions nationwide.
At the heart of The String Queens’ work is a belief that music is a powerful vehicle for storytelling, connection, and social impact. Through both performance and education, they continue to inspire the next generation of musicians while reshaping the landscape of string music to be more inclusive, relevant, and reflective of the communities it serves.
Violin
Kendall is originally from Houston, Texas, although she’s lived in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area for the past 16 years. Her instruments of focus include violin, piano and voice.
Though classically trained on all three instruments, Kendall’s niche is performing a wide range of musical genres on violin including, R&B, jazz, “Top 40”, gospel, contemporary, and hip-hop. She has performed at a variety of legendary venues all over the country with artists including Roberta Flack, Josh Groban, Fantasia, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kurt Carr, and Kim Jordan, to name a few. In March of 2018, Kendall was featured as the lead arranger, performer, and strings contractor for the “March for Our Lives” concert where she led a string quartet under the direction of Adam Blackstone in collaborative performances with Ariana Grande, Andra Day, Common, Jennifer Hudson, Miley Cyrus, and many more leading artists of our generation.
After finishing her Bachelor of Science degree (in Biology) at Howard University in 2011, she began teaching middle school science. In 2014, she was invited to found one of KIPP DC’s middle schools (Northeast Academy) as the inaugural orchestra director. There, she created a strings program that prioritized excellence, character building, creative expression, and commitment. She later became a vice principal and instructional coach at the school. Though she loved coaching adults, Kendall longed for the classroom and later transitioned to another KIPP DC campus where she founded a second strings program. After 4 years, Kendall made the tough choice to transition out of the teaching profession to shift into a brand new role. She currently works at Bishop McNamara High School in Prince George’s County, Maryland, where she is the Director of Enrollment Management.
Kendall is also a graduate of The George Washington University where she earned a Master of Arts degree in Education Policy and Administration.
Kendall understands that with God, all things are possible, and above all, she seeks to bring Him glory in everything she does.
Kendall Isadore
Viola
Named as the recipient of the 31st Annual Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Performing Arts Teaching in Washington, D.C., Dawn Michelle Johnson is a graduate (B.M, M.M) of The Juilliard School in New York City and has been recognized by her alma mater for her “Outstanding Achievement and Leadership in Music” as a recipient of the Jerome L. Greene Fellowship, the Irene Diamond Scholarship, and the Peter Mennin Award in Music.
A native of Miami, FL, Dawn is a violist and music educator who has been featured as soloist with the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, the New World Symphony, the Santa Fe Virtuosi, and the Ars Flores Chamber Orchestra. In addition, her contributions to the field of music education have earned her recognition as a quarter-finalist for the 1st Annual GRAMMY Music Educator Award, a recipient of KIPP DC’s Executive Director’s Award, and the title of one of GLAMOUR Magazine’s “Top 10 College Women”.
She has previously served as a member of the viola faculty for The Killington Music Festival in Vermont and the DC Youth Orchestra Program in Washington, D.C.
Dawn Johnson
Cello
Élise Sharp, a native Washingtonian, began playing the cello in the DC Youth Orchestra Program (DCYOP) when she was eight years old. As a student at DCYOP, she was afforded the distinct honor of performing under the baton of the late, great cellist and conductor, Mstislav Rostropovich, and was selected to tour with the orchestra to China and Taiwan. Inspired by the rigorous training and diverse experiences that she received as a student at DCYOP, Élise continued her musical studies in music education at Howard University.
She has graced some of the world’s most renowned stages in performances alongside musical legends Whitney Houston, Tye Tribbett, Donnie McClurkin, Aretha Franklin, and Dionne Warwick, to name a few. In addition, Élise has performed for three former Presidents of the United States of America including, George H. W. Bush, William J. Clinton, and Barack Obama.
Élise went back to the DC Youth Orchestra Program, where it all started, and served as cello instructor and conductor of two ensembles for over twenty years. Currently, she is the director of a high school orchestra program in Maryland and serves as adjunct professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.