Faculty
2012 Institute Faculty
| Guitar
Violin
Bluegrass Fiddling
Irish Fiddling |
Viola
Cello Orchestra Eurythmics
Piano Accompanist Family Chorus |
Meet the Faculty
Loren Abramson (violin) recently retired from teaching instrumental strings for the Parkway School District Shenandoah Valley Elementary School in West St. Louis County after twenty five years. She taught elementary, middle, and high school orchestra levels. She maintains a private violin studio and is an active performer in the greater St. Louis area. Ms. Abramson, a nationally recognized Suzuki clinician, has served on the faculty on many summer institutes and winter workshops. She has a Bachelor of Music Degree from Ithaca College and a Master of Arts Degree from Lindenwood College. She received her Suzuki training from Sanford Reuning and John Kendall. Loren enjoys running with Mimi, her second golden retriever, nature photography, biking, swimming, and eating chocolate in whatever spare time she can find.
Kathy Almquist (viola/violin) received a Bachelors Degree from the Hartt School and a Masters degree at the Yale School of Music. Her viola teachers include Patricia McCarty, Harold Coletta, Lawrence Dutton, Rosemary Glyde, Jesse Levine, and Scott Nickrenz.
After completing studies at Yale, she went on to Long Term Suzuki Teacher Training in viola as well as violin with Teri and David Einfeldt at the Hartt School of Music. Suzuki training continued with Carol Smith, Carrie Reuning-Hummel and Elizabeth Stuen-Walker. She has been a faculty member of The Hartt School Suzuki Program, The Suzuki School of Newton (MA) and was Upper Strings Coordinator and viola faculty for Intensive Community Program of the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras. In addition to a growing private studio in Ann Arbor, MI, Kathy is a frequent guest clinician at Suzuki Workshops and Summer Institutes.
A former member of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, she has often performed with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and has been a substitute player at the National Opera of Finland.
Her students have included two featured violists on Public Radio’s From the Top, a 2011 Virtu Foundation Scholarship recipient, the winner of the 2010 Rosemary Glyde Scholarship from the New York Viola Society, the 2009 winner of the A-muse the World Competition, as well as a semi-finalist in the 2008 New England String Ensemble Concerto Competition in addition to principal violists in every orchestra of the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras. Current and former students have continued their studies at such places as Harvard University, Amherst College, Oberlin College, the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, Bates College, University of Michigan, the Walnut Hill School, the Meadowmount School of music, and the Tuscia Opera Festival in Rome, Italy.
Tim Anderson (orchestra) grew up in and around Atlanta and is a graduate of the Fulton County School system. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and a masters degree from University of Georgia, both in music education. He has been the orchestra director at Autrey Mill Middle School in Johns Creek, GA since 2004. Prior to that he taught at Pinckneyville Middle School in Gwinnett County. His orchestras have performed twice at the GMEA In-Service Conference in 2002 and 2012. In 2003 he was selected as the teacher of the year. In addition to being active as a teacher and clinician, Mr. Anderson serves as the director of the American String Teachers Association Summer Orchestra Camp, serves on the GMEA orchestra standing committee, and performs regularly as a cellist throughout the Southeast both live and as a studio session musician.
Kristy Baker (accompanist) has been an accompanist for the Atlanta Suzuki Institute for many years and is one of the accompanists for North Atlanta Talent Education. She is a certified middle school teacher and has been the musical director for Crabapple Middle School’s productions of “Wizard of Oz”, “A Night of the Arts”, “Seussical the Musical” and “Alice in Wonderland”. She is a self-taught musician. She is also a Suzuki mom to her daughter (violin) and son (cello).
Reagan Brasch (violin) graduated with a Bachelors of Music in violin performance and received her Masters in Suzuki Pedagogy from the University of Denver. After teaching with Denver Talent Education for five years with James Maurer, she moved to Chicago to teach at the Music Institute of Chicago under the direction of Gilda Barston. Mrs. Brasch gives both private and group instruction in Suzuki. She also teaches early childhood musikgarten classes to toddlers and preschoolers as the part of the Music Institute’s SMART Start program. Her most recently published article was in the Suzuki Journal concerning teaching pretwinklers. Mrs. Brasch has taught extensively at Suzuki institutes and workshops around the country.
Amanda Brown (family chorus director and accompanist) received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music from the University of Georgia. An accomplished vocal coach and pianist, she currently teaches and accompanies at North Atlanta Talent Education in Roswell, Georgia. She is also a Suzuki mom to her sons, Graham and Ellis.
Tanya Lesinsky Carey (cello teacher trainer) has presented master classes and concerts in over thirty states and fifteen countries. Her orchestral experiences include the post of assistant principal of the Milwaukee Symphony and prize winning recordings with the Rochester Philharmonic. As a soloist and chamber musician, she has presented concerts in Tully and Carnegie Halls, performed concertos with orchestra, and has two records with the Lydian Trio including a commissioned Trio by Pulitzer Prize winning composer Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, the Trio by Heitor Villa-Lobos, and Faure and Dvorak Piano Quartets. The lastest release is a CD with her flutist husband called Golden Celebration.
She holds a BM and MM from Eastman and a DMA from the University of Iowa. The topic of her essay is A Study of Suzuki Cello Practices as Used by Selected American Cello Teachers. She has served on the ASTA National Board, ASTA National Solo Contest Commission, the ASTA Syllabus Revision Committee and most recently as the chair of the ASTA Committee on Studio Instruction for the 2002 Studio Teachers Forum. In the SAA she has served as President in 1990-1992, on the Board of Directors, chaired the Teacher Training Task Force which established guidelines for Teacher Training, was editor of the Cello Column, was chairman of the Cello Committee creating the Suzuki Cello School, International Cello Committee Advisor, and represented the SAA on the ISA Board and the MENC Task Force on String Education.
She has earned the Faculty Excellence, Faculty Merit, and Outstanding Teacher Awards from Western Illinois University, and the Suzuki Chair Award from the American Suzuki Institute. She was named the “Outstanding Studio Teacher of the Year” by the ASTA-Illinois Unit. She is listed in Who’s Who in America 2002. Her students have won prizes in major contests in the United States including Aspen Festival, St. Louis Symphony, Chicago Symphony, and MTNA. She has served on the collegiate staff of University of Illinois, Wheaton College, Knox College, and Michigan State University. Currently she is Artist Teacher at Roosevelt University CCPA In Chicago, teaches at the Music Institute Chicago Academy Program, is professor emeritus from Western Illinois University, and maintains a busy workshop and performance schedule. She has a major commitment to cello teacher training in South America where her materials have been translated into Spanish. Celloplayingiseasy.com is the place to access her book of the same name and video materials on teaching.
She plays a Joseph filias Andreas Guarnarius cello made in 1704.
Michele Higa George (violin teacher trainer) is a violinist and educator. She serves the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) as a teacher trainer, and has been a member of the SAA board and teacher development committee. She is executive producer of the award-winning documentary Nurtured By Love – the life and work of Shinichi Suzuki.
Ms. George was appointed to the faculty of The Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) in 1986 where she designed and implemented the Master of Music degree program in violin performance and Suzuki pedagogy. She served as Director of Suzuki Studies at CIM for sixteen years.
Since 2000, Michele has devoted her energies to furthering the Suzuki method in the underserved communities of East Cleveland, Ohio, and Hartford, Connecticut. She is founder and co-director of Rainbow Suzuki Strings, whose members were invited to perform at the Suzuki Association Conference opening ceremonies in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Currently, Ms. George is string ensemble director at the Greater Hartford Arts Academy, and on the faculty of the Hartt School.
Her most recent pursuit is the development of two Suzuki programs in Africa. The Suzuki program in Tanzania, East Africa, was begun in 2001 and belongs to Umoja, a non-profit school, offering violin, cello, piano and guitar, as well as dance and art to local families. In 2005, Ms. George spent a month in Zimbabwe training teachers and prospective Suzuki families at the International School of Harare, where there are currently forty families participating in Suzuki education, as well as a new Suzuki program in the local orphanage.
Since 2007 Ms. George has resided in West Hartford, Connecticut, with husband, Mark, and daughter, Emiko.
Trina Carey Hodgson (cello) has enjoyed a varied and distinguished musical career. For more than three decades Trina has honed her craft of musician and teacher. She has performed as both soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe and the United States.
Mrs. Hodgson’s performing career has taken her around the U.S. and Europe. She was principal cellist with the Graz Opera Orchestra and toured with them throughout Austria and Italy. She was a member of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in Norway. While with them, she toured all over Scandinavia and northern Europe. She is a charter member of the Haydn String Quartet and the Amore Chamber Players as well as the professional cello quartet, Quatracelli! She has performed with John Tesh, Joel Grey, Michael Bolton, Ed Asner and Rene Auberjonois. Her love of Irish music even took her to play in a Celtic Band. Mrs. Hodgson has recorded with the Bergen Philharmonic, the Norwegian Radio and the Pasadena Symphony. Movie credits include “True Identity” and “Steal Big, Steal Little.” Video game recording credits include Bio Quest. Currently, Mrs. Hodgson plays in the Pasadena (CA) Symphony and freelances in Los Angeles.
For nearly twenty years, Trina directed the Pasadena based cello program, A-Cello-Rondo. She is a popular clinician at institutes and workshops around the world, including Korea, Europe, Scandinavia, Canada, South America, and the United States. Mrs. Hodgson was invited to represent the American Suzuki Teachers at a special performance at the opening of the Winter Olympics in Nagoya, Japan. Her students attend major music schools and have successful careers in orchestras and universities around the country.
Drawing upon the performance and teaching insights into group dynamics, communication and creativity which she gained over the course of her musical career, Trina has created programs that help others enhance their leadership, decision making and communication skills. As a group facilitator, consultant and key-note speaker, Trina integrates musical performance into workshops and presentations in settings that range from the corporate conference room to school music programs.
Mrs. Hodgson studied at the Eastman School of Music with Robert Sylvester, and received her Bachelor of Music degree at University of Illinois, studying with Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi. She received her Master of Arts degree at UC Santa Barbara, studying with Ronald Leonard. Other teachers include Tanya Carey, Alan Harris, Karl Fruh, Paul Katz and Irene Sharp.
She currently serves on the orchestra committees of the Pasadena Symphony. Past service includes the boards of ASTA, the Los Angeles Violoncello Society and the Suzuki Music Association of California and is past president of the Los Angeles Branch. She is the founder and facilitator of the annual Los Angeles Cello Teacher Retreat.
Kevin Horne (violin) studied with Jascha Brodsky at the New School of Music in Philadelphia and with Linda Cerone at the Cleveland Institute of Music. After performing in several and orchestral ensembles in Philadelphia he attended the American Suzuki Institute at Stevens Point with Ed Kreitman. He then continued his teacher training up to book 7 with Linda Fiore, Martha Shackford, and Cathy Lee. He became a sought after Suzuki teacher in Philadelphia teaching at the Darlington Fine Arts School, the Sibelius Academy and his home studio. From 1999-2002 Mr. Horne was the Suzuki Department Head at the Wilmington Music School, in Delaware. Currently he maintains a full studio as a member of the Ann Arbor Suzuki Institute, and teaches at the Great Lakes Suzuki Institute in Canada.
Kimberly Meier-Sims (violin teacher trainer), Director of the Sato Center of Suzuki Studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music became one of the youngest registered Suzuki Teacher Trainers in the country in 1988. As a faculty member of the Cleveland Institute of Music, she oversees the Master of Music in performance and Suzuki Pedagogy degree program, conducting long-term teacher training & practicum courses. From 1996-2004, Ms. Meier-Sims was a full-time faculty member at the University of Memphis where she conducted long-term teacher training, was the Coordinator for the University of Memphis Suzuki String Program and Director of the University of Memphis Suzuki String Summer Institute. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in education and performance from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, where she studied with John Kendall, the first American Suzuki pioneer. At Western Illinois University she received her Master’s degree in performance, studying violin and pedagogy with Almita Vamos. The summer of 1986, Ms. Meier-Sims traveled to Japan for a six-week study with Dr. Suzuki. From 1984-1996 Ms. Meier-Sims was a violin instructor at the Preucil School of Music in Iowa City, where she also served as Suzuki Teacher Trainer, Faculty Program Assistant and Chamber Music Coordinator. She has published articles in the *American Suzuki Journal* and the *Tennessee Musician*. An active performer, Ms. Meier-Sims has played with the Memphis Symphony and has held the positions of associate principal second violin and first violin in the Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra. In 2001 she was recognized as one of Tennessee’s outstanding educators by the Tennessee Governor’s School of the Arts. She was the Violin Coordinator for the 2002 10th SAA National Conference in Minneapolis. In April 1999, she attended The Thirteenth World Suzuki Method Convention in Japan. Ms. Meier-Sims has taught Suzuki workshops in Cork, Ireland and throughout the U.S. She has taught summer institutes at Atlanta (GA), Chicago (IL), Columbus (OH), Denver (CO), Hartford (CT), Fairbanks (AK), Fort Worth (TX), Ithaca (NY), Louisville (KY), Memphis (TN), Spartanburg (SC), Stanford (CA), and Stevens Point (WI).
Carrie Reuning-Hummel (violin teacher trainer) began the study of the violin at the age of five with her parents, Joan and Sanford Reuning in Ithaca, New York. She was one of the first Suzuki students in the U.S. and studied with Shinichi Suzuki on numerous occasions.
Carrie is very active as a Suzuki teacher and a registered Suzuki Teacher Trainer. She has taught at hundreds of institutes and workshops throughout the continental U.S. as well as in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and Israel. In 1986 she was honored to receive the Shar Distinguished Young Teacher Award. Carrie served on the national Board of Directors of the Suzuki Association of the Americas for six years.
Carrie received a BA in Psychology from the University of Iowa and is a professional violist and an active performer. She recently completed a Master’s of Science degree in Communications at Ithaca College, writing a thesis on powerful learning experiences. Carrie home-schooled her two children and is interested in exploring parent/child practice partnerships with families. She has written a book called “Time to Practice: A Companion for Parents.” Her website is www.carriereuning.com.
MaryLou Roberts is a classical guitarist and an active teacher trainer in the SAA and ESA. Currently serving on the board of directors of the Suzuki Association, offering training courses in the US, Peru, Argentina, Paraguay, Colombia, Mexico, Ireland and Australia offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with guitarists and Suzuki teachers world-wide. MaryLou received a Bachelor’s degree in Guitar Performance from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, studying with John Holmquist and Gilbert Biberian, and her Master’s Degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she received the Valedictory Award and was elected a member of Pi Kappa Lambda. She is Coordinator of the Ann Arbor Suzuki Institute of Music, with the support of many amazing teachers there. She has served as the Guitar Conference Coordinator in 2008 and 2012, and serves on the Teacher Development Advisory Committee for the SAA. MaryLou has recently been named Chair of the ISA Guitar Committee, which works on the core materials for the Suzuki Guitar editions, and has recently co-authored an article with Mychal Gendron, printed in the GFA Soundboard entitled “The Suzuki Guitar Experience”. Master classes she has performed in include Manuel Barrueco, Sharon Isbin, Angel Romero, Tanya Chagnot, Gilbert Biberian, John Holmquist and David Russell, Steven Dodgson, Reginald Smith-Brindle, and Toyohiko Sato. MaryLou participated in extensive Suzuki training with Frank Longay, Bill Kossler and David Madsen, and attended Suzuki master classes with John Kendall. Graduates from her studio have been accepted into guitar programs at the Cleveland Institute of Music, the University of Denver, University of Southern California, Peabody Conservatory, Florida State University, and North Carolina School for the Arts. She is director of the Ann Arbor Suzuki Guitar Institute held each summer, and is on the adjunct faculty at Schoolcraft College.
Katherine Irwin Thomas (Irish fiddling) is an Irish and Scottish fiddler in Atlanta, Georgia USA. She is the director of The Atlanta Irish Music School in Atlanta, Georgia and orchestra director at Riverwood International Charter School in Atlanta, Georgia. She opened her private fiddle studio in 2006 and several of her students have since placed at The Midwest Fleadh Cheoil and The Mid-Atlantic Fleadh Cheoil in fiddle, concertina, piano and duets, qualifying for the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Tullamore, Ireland. Katherine holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree cum laude from TTU, Master of Education degree from KSU and a Teastas i dTeagasc Ceolta Tire (traditional music teaching certificate) from Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann in Dublin, Ireland and has taught Irish fiddle at several summer camps in the U.S. and Canada. As an advocate for quality world string styles in the orchestra classroom, she just completed a workbook series for Irish fiddle for school orchestra and recently wrote an article for Strings Magazine, “How to Make Irish Music Sound Irish” (2010). Katherine has was a speaker at The American String Teacher’s Association National Conference 2009 and The Georgia Music Educator’s Conference 2010 and on fall 2009, she was named A Star of The South by Irish America Magazine.
Katherine has been featured in Irish Music Magazine, The Atlanta Journal Constitution and as the fiddler at Emory University’s Celtic Christmas. Performing at a myriad of concert halls, festivals and other venues across the southeast, she last performed at Spivey Hall with piper, John Maschinot and with The Chieftains and her U15 Ceili Band at The Fox Theatre in February. She is featured on albums The Road to Swannanoa, Letting go… and Fuar. A U.S. Scottish Junior Fiddle Champion, Katherine is originally from East Tennessee where her grandfather, Frank Irwin, inspired her playing. As a teen, she studied with Bert Murray of Aberdeen and most recently has studied with Brian Conway of New York and Siobhan Peoples of Ennis.
Katherine specializes in teaching Irish fiddling to classical musicians through educational concerts, workshops and summer camps and enjoys playing and performing Irish & Scottish music.
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June 14, 2010 1:42 pm