Jessica McNamara

Jessica McNamara is the director and teacher of violin, viola and beginning cello at Ridgefield Suzuki School. Jessica began violin at the age of 6 in a Suzuki program in her elementary school.  After playing violin throughout her childhood, Jessica went to Providence College on a full scholarship and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Music Education. She also holds a Masters Degree in Music Education from the Hartt School of Music. 

Jessica taught middle school orchestra in the Westport public schools for 11 years and later went on to found the Ridgefield Suzuki School.  Jessica and her colleagues at Ridgefield Suzuki School enjoy inspiring children as young as 3 years old to begin playing violin, viola, cello or piano and continue to make music an important part of their lives as they grow into adults. Since 2009, Jessica has been a conductor with the esteemed Norwalk Youth Symphony. Jessica also conducts with the Fairfield County Summer String Orchestra and Band, a summer program she and her husband founded in 2009. Beginning with just one level and 50 students, the program has developed to a four-tiered organization for students in 3rd to 12th grades, with over 200 students participating. In recent years, Jessica has had the pleasure of experiencing the third point of the Suzuki Triangle as Suzuki mom to a 3 year old cellist and 6 year old violinist (whom she also teaches!)