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T. Elly SchmidtViolinWith over 30 years of solo/chamber/orchestral experience, Elly is an accomplished musician and educator. She's studied under many renowned musicians, is a registered Suzuki teacher, and has a B.M. in Violin Performance. She has been Orchestra Director at Oak Park Music Conservatory, Beginning Strings Director at the Kadima Conservatory, and a clinician for southern California youth orchestras and Suzuki camps. She is a member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas and serves as V.P & Publicity Director of the Suzuki Music Association of California, San Diego Branch. In addition to Elly's love for teaching, improvisation, and studies in child development and pedagogy, she continues to perform as a freelance artist throughout San Diego.
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Marguerite JayasimhaViolin, Early Childhood EducationMarguerite began her training as a violinist at age five, developing a lifelong love of music. She is a trained Suzuki Early Childhood Education Teacher and Suzuki Violin Teacher. Marguerite also has training and experience in Kodaly and Music Mind Games. Marguerite performed with the La Jolla Symphony, Redwood Symphony and numerous string quartets. She developed a love of Indian classical music and plays East/West fusion with her husband, an accomplished Tabla player. During her two-year stay in Singapore in between San Diego and the Bay Area, Marguerite taught children from many different countries and backgrounds and enjoyed being a student herself, learning the Sitar! She was an active member of the International Women’s Choir of Singapore singing, playing violin and serving as a substitute director.
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Jonathan SmithViolinJonathan began his musical studies at the age of 4 in Toledo, OH. He is a registered Suzuki violin teacher, has a B.M. from Otterbein University, and a Masters in Music from Bowling Green State University, where he studied with Vasile Beluska and Ioana Galu. Before joining the SD Suzuki School of Music in 2013, Jonathan enjoyed working with children in a wide range of ages in his private teaching studio, as well as with the Toledo Symphony Suzuki program. He has been working with orchestras in the Ohio and Michigan areas since 2007. He was the Principal 2nd violin in 2011 and the Co-Concertmaster in 2012-2013 of the Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra. Jonathan is very excited to be in San Diego continuing his professional teaching and performing career.
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Danielle KravitzViola, Violin, Early Childhood EducationDanielle started playing Suzuki violin at the age of four. She began playing viola at age twelve. She attended the University of Evansville as a music scholar where she studied music therapy. Her former teachers include Rebecca Campbell, Carol Dallinger, and Chi-Yuan Chen. She has played in a number of orchestras, including the La Jolla Symphony.
Her past professional writing work includes publications for the Suzuki Music Association of California - San Diego Branch quarterly newsletter, Strings Magazine, and over a dozen published manuals. She successfully runs several blogs including her Suzuki education blog, Rethinking Genius. Danielle is the Director of San Diego Suzuki Institute at Point Loma Nazarene University. The non-profit institute was founded in 2017. She is a faculty member with the San Diego Suzuki School of Music and has been teaching full time since 2008. Her students have won string competition awards and earn top positions in youth symphonies. |
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Catherine goddenCelloCatherine grew up in a musical family in Nottingham, England; starting both the cello and piano at an early age. She received an M.A. in Music from Cambridge University and completed Advanced Cello Studies at the Royal College of Music in London. She has played with many orchestras in both the U.K. and the U.S., including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Concert Orchestra, San Diego Symphony and was a member of the San Diego Chamber Orchestra for many years.
Her love of the Suzuki method developed when she became fascinated by the ability of very young children to learn. After moving to San Diego 25 years ago, she became a registered Suzuki teacher and started a private teaching studio. She has also been a homeschooling mother and Suzuki parent, and over the years has developed a real passion for finding creative ways to teach children. |
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Emily BalderramaCelloEmily has been teaching privately for 10 years and began her Suzuki training in 2016. She was drawn to the method with the belief that every child can and that through music studies children can grow immensely. She has completed Suzuki cello training in books 1-7 with Dr. Alice Ann O'Neill, Abbey Hansen and Jean Dexter. Emily is dedicated to continued education and a strong believer in lifelong learning. She is currently finishing up her Master’s of Music at CSU Fullerton in cello performance under the tutelage of Bongshin Ko. Besides Suzuki training, Emily has taken training in the Dalcroze Method and Music Mind Games.
Beyond her passion for teaching cello, she is an avid performer, and has performed solo, orchestral and chamber music in Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Austria, Luxembourg, South Korea and New York City in addition to Southern California venues. In 2015, Emily made her Carnegie Hall Debut with the CSUF Chamber Orchestra and Choir. Additionally she has had the opportunity to play in the masterclasses of Misha Maiksy, Clive Greensmith, Richard Aaron, and the Kronos Quartet. |