Nora Grafton

In Japan, at 17 years old, Nora joined the two-year Teacher Training Program at Dr. Suzuki’s Talent Education Institute, graduating in 1973. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree as a music major from University of Alaska, 1977.

Nora has been teaching violin and piano, based in the Suzuki method, in Northern California for over 40 years. She is past President and currently Graduation Chair and is SANC Representative of the Suzuki Association of Northern California, a branch of the Suzuki Music Association of California. Nora is an evaluator for Certificate of Merit exams for her local branch of the Music Teacher’s Association of California.

Nora’s own children, whom she raised with her husband of 40 years, Ron (a dentist), grew up playing cello. One son graduated from Cleveland Institute of Music, before retraining as a dentist; the other became an airline pilot. Both still enjoy playing the cello.