CMS Suzuki Workshop 2024

Dr. Crystal Chu-Sharp holds a D.M.A. in Percussion Performance with a secondary area in Wind Conducting from the University of Oregon. Previously, Crystal earned her M.M. from New York University, B.M. from the National University of Singapore, and studied in an exchange program at the Peabody Institute. Originally from Hong Kong, Dr. Chu-Sharp is happy to call St. Louis home with her family. Her doctoral research is concerned with cross-disciplinary art and creative performance practice, including its pedagogical value. Dr. Chu-Sharp specializes in performing new music by living composers, solo marimba, and percussion chamber music. Her teaching style is suitable for all ages and goal-oriented, and she always aims to provide an inclusive learning environment for her students. Crystal is a licensed Kindermusik instructor and early childhood program coordinator at Webster Community Music School.

Siri Heglund Geenen, received her Bachelor of Music in violin performance from Northwestern University and her Master of Music in violin performance and Suzuki pedagogy from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She has been concertmaster of the Columbia Civic Orchestra since 2003 and also a violinist in the Missouri Symphony Orchestra since 2005.  In 2019 Siri received the Missouri ASTA "Studio Teacher of the Year" award.  Siri runs a Suzuki violin studio out of her home in Columbia, Missouri and enjoys teaching students of all ages and abilities. Siri also helps direct a music program through the City of Refuge that pairs advanced high school string players with young refugee children who want to learn the violin. One of her biggest joys in life has been sharing her love of violin and music with her two daughters, Solveig and Linnea who are both pursuing music degrees in college. As an empty nester, Siri enjoys spending time exploring her love of the outdoors with her husband Rich, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

Vera McCoy-Sulentic is the retired Director of the Suzuki Program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She has been a registered teacher trainer for the Suzuki Association of the Americas since 1991 and conducts long term Suzuki teacher training at SIUE. A frequent clinician at Suzuki workshops, she has traveled throughout the United States and Canada, and has taught in Bermuda, Sweden, Taiwan, and Brazil. She was the recipient of SIUE’s Excellence in Teaching award in 1996 and has been a faculty member and director of the SIUE Suzuki Program since 1997. Additionally, she has ten years of string teaching experience in the public schools of Edwardsville, Illinois and Eugene, Oregon. In 1988, Vera earned a Masters in Music Education from SIUE which included long term teacher training with John Kendall. Other Suzuki training has been with Mihoko Hirata, Yuko Mori, Evelyn Hermann, and Doris Pruecil. Academic degrees include a B. M in Music Education from the University of Oregon and a B. A. in French from the University of Iowa. Thanks to two wonderful sons who studied violin and cello, she also has had two decades of Suzuki Parenting experience.

Alyssa Avery has been playing violin for two decades. She graduated from Webster University with a bachelor's in Music with an Emphasis in Jazz Performance. She has become known as one of the most versatile violinists in the area. She regularly performs with a klezmer band, jazz ensembles, in pit orchestras, while touring nationally with her modern folk trio Mt. Thelonious and hip-hop producer tristaño. She previously taught fiddle classes at the Folk School and currently teaches improv, fiddle styles, student ensembles and private lessons.

St. Louis cellist Ranya Iqbal maintains a busy performance schedule and an eclectic mix of musical output. You may find her performing as principal cellist of the Salem-St. Louis Chamber Orchestra, with the Metropolitan Orchestra of St. Louis or with the Winter Opera orchestra. Additionally, she is a member of the Zafira String Quartet - an electric string quartet. She is often collaborating with great local Jazz, World, and Folk musicians in special concerts and on albums. In that realm, some of the groups she performs with are Autumn’s Child (Native American flute), Triosity (a ukulele, voice, and cello jazz trio), and Acoustic Element (Latin jazz). When Ranya is not performing, she enjoys teaching cello privately.

Andrea Yun is an active performer and teacher. She believes in the power of a child’s autonomy. Andrea is a member of the Detroit Opera; Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra; and Baroque on Beaver Island orchestra (principal). Andrea is one of 40 Suzuki cello teacher trainers in the Americas and is on Paul Katz’s CelloBello teacher training team. Andrea has held teaching positions at the University of Michigan, University of Texas at San Antonio, Bowling Green State University, Ann Arbor Pioneer High School, and Okemos Chippewa Middle School. Andrea holds a dual bachelor's degree in music education and mathematics; master's in cello performance; and doctorate in cello performance and pedagogy. Her solo and chamber performances have been heard on CBC Radio (Canada), WKAR-East Lansing, WRCJ-Detroit, Blue Lake Public Radio, and Interlochen Public Radio. Andrea was awarded the 2020 Teacher of the Year award by the Michigan chapter of the American String Teachers Association. Andrea lives in Ann Arbor, MI, where she homeschools her daughter. She is an avid swing dancer and park roller-skater.