Metamorphosis from Student into Artist Teacher, Part II
Job Interviews and Setting up a Studio

Carrie Beisler, lives in Anoka, MN where she maintains a private Suzuki violin studio through her program Evergreen String Academy. Additionally, she is a faculty member at St. Joseph School of Music in St. Paul, MN and she serves on the staff of the Colorado Suzuki Institute.

From 2017 to 2019 Carrie lived in Beirut, Lebanon, founding and co-directing the American Lebanese Suzuki Talent Education Program. Carrie is passionate about expanding the Suzuki community with her work in the USA and Lebanon and loves the experience of teaching across different cultures and bringing students together though music. She is committed to creating the opportunity of quality musical education for students across the world.

Growing up a Suzuki student, Carrie began her violin studies with Nancy Lokken in Minneapolis. She received a Masters of Music and Suzuki Pedagogy from The University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Music from The University of Iowa.

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Dr. Colleen Ferguson has been playing and teaching violin nearly all of her life. After earning both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in music from UT Austin, where she was also a faculty member of the UT Austin String Project, Dr. Ferguson taught general music and orchestra in the El Paso, TX public schools and also played professionally as a member of several orchestras in the El Paso, TX and Las Cruces, NM area. An enthusiastic teacher of students of all ages, she has completed numerous teacher-training courses with the Suzuki Association of the Americas and has given a number of presentations at the annual American String Teachers Association National Conferences across the United States as well as presenting at the Biennial Suzuki Association of the Americas Conference. Dr. Ferguson is currently an active teacher and performer in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids areas.

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Dr. Lucy Lewis enjoys an active career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral performer, and teaching clinician, and has appeared in these roles throughout the United States and internationally. At California State University San Bernardino, Dr. Lewis is Assistant Professor of Orchestral Music Education, and oversees the instruction of applied violin and viola, conducting the orchestral studies program, coaching string chamber music, and teaching string methods and pedagogy. At Loma Linda Academy, Dr. Lewis is the Director of the String Program, she conducts the Loma Linda Academy Symphony Orchestra, and also maintains a small private studio. Previously, Dr. Lewis has been on the faculties of the Preucil School of Music, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory Preparatory Department, Southwestern and Lake Michigan Colleges, the Citadel Dance & Music Center, and the Fischoff Chamber Music Association’s Mentor Program.

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Emily Rolka received her B.M. from the University of Michigan while studying with Yehonatan Berick, her M.F.A. from the University of Iowa studying with Dr. Scott Conklin, and her D.M.A. from the University of Minnesota studying with Mark Bjork. All degrees are in violin performance. Dr. Rolka began her Suzuki Teacher training in 2006 and since then has studied with Christie Felsing, Ronda Cole, Nancy Lokken, Brian Lewis, Teri Einfeldt, and long-term training with Mark Bjork for books 1-10. She taught for 3 years at a Suzuki Program in St. Paul, MN, and 7 years at the Suzuki Talent Education Program as director in Williamsport, PA. Starting August 2021, Dr. Rolka will be teaching with Elise Winters in Austin, TX.

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