Centenary Suzuki Institute
June 5-8, 20242024 Faculty
We are honored to announce our faculty for the 2025 Centenary Suzuki Institute:
And more will be announced soon!
Mark Mutter, Violin
Mark Mutter is a registered Teacher Trainer with the Suzuki Association of the Americas. He received his Bachelor and Master of Violin Performance studying with Walter Schwede, Angel Reyes and Camilla Wicks. His orchestral career began in Hong Kong as the Assistant Principal Second Violin of the Hong Kong Philharmonic. He also taught at the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts. Mark studied Suzuki pedagogy with John Kendall, Ronda Cole, Teri Einfeldt, Jacquie Maurer and Geri Arnold. He is the Executive Director of the Suzuki Music Academy of Michigan formerly known as Suzuki Royal Oak Institute of Music. He oversees 10 teachers that teach over 150 students. He has been a clinician at Workshops and Institutes throughout the U.S. and Asia. Mark has led the SMA Tour Group on concert tours throughout Europe and Canada as well as two performances in Carnegie Hall. He is presently on the conducting staff of the Wu Family Academy, the Detroit Symphonies youth orchestra program. He conducts the Concert Orchestra and Pizzicato String Ensemble.
James Hutchins, Violin
James Hutchins lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, with his wonderful and gorgeous wife and his fabulous and entertaining son. He grew up in the Suzuki Method, has been a Suzuki teacher for over 25 years and is a proud Suzuki dad. James is a registered teacher trainer who has taught at workshops, institutes and classes around the world, including South Korea, Iceland, Peru, Lithuania, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Bermuda, the Bahamas and throughout the States. In 2018, James was a guest Clinician at the 67th Suzuki Method Summer School in Matsumoto, Japan. His studio has performed for former Secretary of State and First Lady Hillary Clinton at the White House, at the National Zoo, the U.S. Capitol,the Maryland State Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, the National Aquarium and on the Millennium Stage and with the National Symphony at The Kennedy Center. They have also played the National Anthem for the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Wizards and Nationals. James also had the honor of performing for Dr. and Mrs. Suzuki at their home in Japan.
Joanna Binford, Viola
Joanna Binford is currently a viola and violin instructor with the Suzuki Strings Program at the Academy of Music, based in Norfolk, VA. She freelances in the Hampton Roads area and performs frequently with the Virginia Symphony.
Her education includes an M.M in Viola Performance, B.M. The University of Kentucky; post degree viola studies with Paul Neubauer (The Juilliard School); solo and chamber music studies included participation at Banff and Kneisel Hall summer festivals, violist of the Endless Road Strings, Niles Graduate String Quartet (Univ. of Kentucky) and participation in the Lexington Baroque Ensemble.
Awarded the Kentucky Chapter of the American String Teachers Association 2013 “Outstanding Service” award and District 7 KMEA “Outstanding College/University Music Teacher of the Year”, she is a sought after Suzuki institute and workshop clinician around the country. Ms. Binford is a member of the Suzuki Teachers Association of Hampton Roads. She prepared viola students to perform on the STAHR tour of Peru (June 2014). In addition to her Suzuki classes, Ms Binford also teaches a Fiddling in D class, coaches chamber music and offers an Improvisation Techniques Workshop, upon request. She is featured on several recordings, including the 2016 release of “Almost Home” by the Endless Road Strings, an ensemble specializing in alternative styles.
In addition, Ms. Binford has served as a back-up musician for celebrities such as Arlo Guthrie, Mark O’Connor, Dave Brubeck, Anne Murray, Bob Hope, Ray Charles, Rod Stewart, Ray Price, David Gates, Dinah Shore, Ann Hampton Callaway, Natalie Cole, Stewart Copeland, and the Moody Blues. As a member of the Lastinger Ensemble, she appeared in the movie Simpatico, which starred Jeff Bridges and Sharon Stone.
Jillienne Bowers, Violin
Violinist Jillienne Bowers began her musical studies at the age of eight in her native town of Seal Beach, California. After two years at Chapman University in Orange County, California, she ventured to the east coast to continue her studies. Jillienne received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music of John’s Hopkins University and pursued graduate studies earning her Master of Music degree from the University of Boston. She later completed her Post-Baccalaureate in Music Education from Eastern Michigan University. During this time, she studied with Janice Radford—Luna, Dr. David Margetts, Charles Libove, Raphael Druian, Camilla Wicks and Paul Kantor. She was also fortunate to work under Alexander Schneider in the New York String Orchestra for two years allowing her to perform in Carnegie Hall in New York and the National Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington, D.C. She has given solo performances and chamber recitals in California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, and abroad, in Taiwan, Hong Kong, England, and Germany. Currently, Jillienne performs with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra as 4th chair first- section violinist and has been a member for 30 years.
Jillienne’ s introduction to the Suzuki philosophy began after a friend gave her the book, “Nurtured with Love” by Shinichi Suzuki. Deeply influenced by this man’s philosophy, that every child can learn to play a musical instrument, Jillienne sought out training in this method beginning with Joanne Bath. Future training were with Suzuki trainers, Nancy Lokken, Ronda Cole, Alice-Joy Lewis, Wendy Azrak, Linda Stieg, Kimberly Meier-Sims, Linda Fiore, Linda Case, Tuesday’s with John Kendall, and Master teacher, Cathryn Lee. She teaches thirty students in her home town as well as in Toledo, Ohio. Some of these students have successfully pursued musical careers while others have pursued other successful careers. She is a proud mum of three grown boys, Christopher, Colin, and Charles, all raised to play musical instruments. She currently resides in Adrian, MI, with her husband, Bryan and their miniature dachshund, Vinnie. In her spare time, Jillienne loves spending time outdoors in the summer or winter, swimming, walking her dog, skiing, gardening, or reading.
Anya Burgess, Fiddle
Administrative staff
Daniel Santelices, Chamber Program Director
dtmsantelices@yahoo.com
(318) 773-8673
Charles Regauer, Suzuki Institute Director
cregauer@centenary.edu
(505) 504-8456