NIU Suzuki Strings share in vigil for Elijah McClain
The NIU Suzuki Strings, under the direction of Ann Montzka Smelser, performed Flourence Price’s “Adoration” for a Vigil along with other artists, musicians and poets. They honored the life of violinist, Elijah McClain from Aurora, Colorado who died in police custody last summer.
Tags: Picture, Suzuki, User Newsletter Photo
Date: August 21, 2020
Ann Montzka-Smelser is a Suzuki Student, Teacher, Parent and Suzuki Teacher Trainer. In between receiving her Bachelors of Music Education and Masters in Performance and Pedagogy at Northern Illinois University, Ann studied with Dr. Shinichi Suzuki at the Talent Education Institute in Matsumoto, Japan.
Ann has performed in many orchestras and ensembles and is currently principal 2nd violinist with Camerata Chicago and concertmaster of the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Ann is on the music faculty of Northwestern University teaching Suzuki Pedagogy and Director of the NIU CSA Suzuki Strings Program at Northern Illinois University. Ann maintains a studio of 35 violin and viola students and enjoys working with Suzuki families at Festivals in Lima, Peru, Singapore, Mexico, Costa Rica and though out the US. Ann lives in DeKalb, IL with her husband Linc. Their Suzuki-raised children, Benjamin and Genevieve are currently professional musicians.
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