Centenary Suzuki Institute

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.

Irene Mitchell, Violin

Irene Mitchell was fortunate to experience a diversity of cultures in her youth, living in ten countries throughout Latin America, Europe and Asia. This shaped her appreciation for a wide range of music, eventually leading her to earn a BM and MME at the University of North Texas. After exploring theatre, violin performance and orchestral conducting, she discovered her life-long passion in teaching the Suzuki method. Irene studied twice with Dr. Shin’ichi Suzuki at the Talent Education Institute in Matsumoto, Japan; returning to establish Suzuki Strings of Dallas in 1981. Irene teaches in her home studio in Dallas, TX, and serves as a clinician for Suzuki programs throughout the world.

Nicolette Solomon, Violin

Nicolette Solomon, Director Emeritus of the Suzuki Music Institute of Dallas, was born in Laingsburg, South Africa. She began her violin training with Neil McKay in Port Elizabeth, continuing her studies with Pierre de Groote at the College of Music in Cape Town, and completing her University studies under the tutelage of Alan Solomon. She obtained a Bachelor of Music (Honors) and Higher Education Diploma (Post Graduate) at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.
In 1975 she played at the International Festival of Youth Orchestras in Scotland and later toured Europe and Israel. She has played in the International Festival Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall, London and performed in Israel, Taiwan and Hong Kong with Harmonia Juventia. She studied Chamber Music from 1974–1981 with Betty Pack and Alan Solomon. She has also been both an Adjudicator and Examiner for music competitions and examinations in South Africa and the USA. After her introduction to the Suzuki method, she became a fervent proponent and pioneer of the method in South Africa, founding and directing the Solomon Suzuki School in Johannesburg in 1980. She expanded her training with Christophe Bossuat in Lyon, France, and in 1992 she studied with Dr. Suzuki himself at the Talent Education Research Institute in Matsumoto, Japan. While in Japan, she taught at a private studio in Nagano City, Japan and at Shinshu University. In 1994, she attended the International Strings workshop in France, playing in the Eduard Melckus Baroque Ensemble. She has led violin and viola workshops and master classes internationally, and trained and conducted String Orchestras in South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and throughout the USA and Central America. In 2000 she emigrated to the United States, where she served as string specialist and then Director of the Suzuki Music Institute of Dallas. She is married to Carl van Wyk, has two adult children and two grandchildren, and divides her time between their home in Dallas, their retreat in Dripping Springs and her teaching commitments internationally. 

Joy Yang, Choir/Orff

Joy is an energetic and caring music teacher of eleven years with experience teaching band, choir, elementary and general music across three different states!  She earned her bachelor’s degree in Music from Southern Utah University and a master’s degree in Music Education from Boston University. Joy is currently pursuing certification in both Orff and Kodàly music teaching methods and has two children in the Suzuki program.

Daniel Santelices, Chamber Program Director

dtmsantelices@yahoo.com

(318) 773-8673

Charles Regauer, Suzuki Institute Director

cregauer@centenary.edu

(505) 504-8456