About the Inventor

The Acoustifoam shoulder rest was invented and patented by Tamsen Beseke , a professional violinist in Southern California .  If you have any questions about the shoulder rest, feel free to contact her at:

Tamsen is an active soloist, chamber, studio and orchestral musician, performing over 125 concerts a year. Being a promoter of new works, she has given several world and area premieres of concertos, chamber music, operatic and orchestral works.  Her career over the last 25 years has included performances with such notable artists as: Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Jose Carreras, Zubin Mehta, Henryk Szeryng, Joshua Bell, Gil Shaham, The Beaux Arts Trio, and The Sequoia Quartet.  In addition to these classical musicians, Tamsen has performed and recorded with the following popular artists:  Lalo Schifrin, Frank Capp, Ray Charles, Diane Schuur, George Benson, Barry White, Doc Severenson, Jay Leno, Michael Jackson, James Galway, Roger Williams, David Foster, and Bobby Vinton. 

Tamsen has been concertmaster of the Crystal Cathedral Hour of Power Orchestra, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Los Robles Master Chorale, and West Coast Symphony.  She performs with the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra and New West Symphony and has been principle second violin with these ensembles as well as for the Glendale Symphony.  Her other orchestral and recording experience includes The Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, and Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra.  Tamsen has been a violinist for the Los Angeles Piano Trio and the Calvarola String Trio that have been finalists in competitions and have toured.  She is the first violinist for the active Avanti String Quartet.  Check out their website below for upcoming performances.  

She has taught the violin and viola for over 25 years.  Tamsen is an avid tennis player, loves painting and drawing and holds a patent for the violin and viola shoulder rest, “Acoustifoam”.  

Avanti Quartet Web Page