T. Elly Schmidt - Violin
With 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.
Danielle Kravitz - Violin, Viola
Danielle started playing Suzuki violin at the age of four. She has participated in Suzuki Institutes in both Colorado and California. Danielle began playing viola at age twelve. She attended the University of Evansville as music scholar where she studied music therapy. Danielle has played for both the San Diego Youth Symphony and the Civic Youth Orchestra. She was section leader for the University of Evansville Orchestra and a member of the prestigious Crescent Quartet. Danielle is a registered Suzuki violin and viola teacher and a member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas. She teaches violin and viola in Encinitas and is a contributing author to Strings magazine, as well as the Suzuki Association of the Americas' quarterly journal.
Jonathan Smith - Violin
Jonathan 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.
Caitlin Fahey Crow - Cello
Caitlin began her cello career at age six after seeing a child-size violin and asking her parents for music lessons. Her cello teachers have included Anne Cole, Dr. David Schepps and Vivian Barton. She currently studies with Yao Zhao, principal cello of San Diego Symphony. Caitlin holds a B.U.S. in Pre-Med Studies with a German minor from the University of New Mexico, a M.Ed. from Loyola University and a Montessori Primary Diploma from the Association Montessori Internationale. Her primary passion is string pedagogy with particular respect to the Suzuki Method, which she studies under the guidance of Dr. Tanya Carey. She is currently registered in all 10 Suzuki Cello Books. Caitlin maintains a private cello studio in North Park, freelances with various chamber ensembles and holds the Assistant Principal Cello position in the La Jolla Symphony. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, surfing and practicing yoga.
Isaac Crow - Bass
Isaac Crow is a drummer, bassist, and music educator who is a registered Suzuki Bass teacher and holds both a B.M. and M.M. in jazz performance from San Diego State University. Isaac has taught music in San Diego for over 16 years. He has a particular interest and passion for teaching aural skills and music theory, and making the trickier musical subjects accessible to all! In addition to his teaching studio, Isaac maintains a busy performance schedule as a jazz, orchestra, and theater musician.
Marguerite Jayasimha - Violin
Marguerite 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.
Elly, Danielle, Jonathan, & Caitlin with piano accompanist, Anna Tsai