Ms. Elly Schmidt

With over 35 years of solo/chamber/orchestral experience, Elly is an accomplished musician and educator. She co-founded and continues to serve as a director of the San Diego Suzuki School of Music. She’s studied under many renowned musicians, has a B.M. in Violin Performance, and served on the board for 10 years with the San Diego Branch of Suzuki Music Association of California. Performing with various professional orchestras she has shared the stage with notable artists, such as Midori, Zubin Mehta, and Mannheim Steamroller. She has been Orchestra Director at Oak Park Music Conservatory, Beginning Strings Director at the Kadima Conservatory, and a clinician for southern California youth orchestras. Her students have earned top positions in youth symphonies and string competition awards. In addition to Elly’s love for teaching, improvisation, and studies in child development and pedagogy, she continues to perform as a freelance artist throughout San Diego.

Additional Training and Workshops -

Group Class, 2009 Michele Higa George, 2017 Edmund Sprunger
Child Development for the Suzuki Teacher, 2011 Edmund Sprunger
Bow Development from Twinkle to Mendelssohn, 2016, 2017 Cathryn Lee
Music Mind Games, Level 1 2018, Level 2 2023, Michiko Yurko
Teaching With An Open Heart, 2020 Edward Kreitman
The Reflective Studio Teacher, 2020 Edmund Sprunger
Supplemental Repertoire Bk 6-8, 2021 Charles Krigbaum
Driving the Body for Violinists and Violists, 2023 Daina Volodka-Staggs

Suzuki Association of the Americas Conference (Minneapolis, MN)—2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018
Suzuki Method World Convention (Matsumoto, Japan)—2013