Welcome to our new SAA Team Members!

Please join us in welcoming three new members of the SAA Team! As you’ll read below, each of them brings a great depth and wide variety of experiences, a commitment to fostering connections in our communities, and a passion for the Suzuki Method.

We are so fortunate that they are willing to offer their strengths and expertise to the SAA. You can learn more about their roles, skill sets, and how to reach them below!

Lucinda Ali-Landing

Community Engagement & Marketing Manager

Lucinda Ali-Landing is a passionate advocate for the arts, music education, and community engagement. With a rich background in entrepreneurship and a deep appreciation for the transformative power of music, Lucinda has taken on the role of Community Engagement and Marketing Manager at the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Lucinda’s journey into the world of music and education began early in life, as she discovered the violin as her instrument of choice. Her dedication and talent quickly became evident, and she pursued formal training with Suzuki lessons, later graduating from Northern Illinois University and DePaul University in Music Performance. This journey instilled in her a profound understanding of the importance of music education in shaping young minds and fostering a sense of community. Before joining the Suzuki Association of the Americas, Lucinda built an impressive career as the founding Director of the Hyde Park Suzuki Institute and  Development Coordinator at Chicago Sinfonietta, working cross-departmentally in fundraising, marketing, and community engagement. Her ability to merge her marketing expertise with her passion for music and education has been instrumental in promoting the arts and engaging communities. As Community Engagement and Marketing Manager, Lucinda brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to expanding the reach of the Suzuki Method. She is dedicated to connecting with teachers, students, and parents across the Americas, ensuring that the Suzuki Method continues flourishing and enriching lives. Lucinda is excited to play a pivotal role in furthering the mission of the Suzuki Association of the Americas and fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving community of musicians. With her dynamic approach, Lucinda Ali-Landing is poised to inspire and empower individuals to discover the joy of music through Suzuki education while strengthening the bonds of the community across the Americas. Lucinda can be reached via email at [javascript protected email address].

Dyane Protzmann Rogelstad

Membership Associate

Dyane is pleased to join the SAA team as Membership Associate. She is overjoyed to be able to support the organization which has supported her for most of her lifetime. Dyane completed long-term Suzuki Piano training in San Diego and has been actively teaching and pursuing ongoing professional development since 1982. She currently lives in Colorado and enjoys water sports and visiting with her three grandchildren. Dyane can be reached at [javascript protected email address].

Erin Rushforth

Learning Manager

Erin Rushforth is a violinist with an eye for detail and a penchant for planning. She is thrilled to step into the role of Learning Manager and brings with her a deep commitment to Suzuki education, a love of people and languages, and abundant leadership experience. Erin was a Suzuki kid and studied in high school with Mary West of the MacPhail Center for Music. At Brigham Young University, she earned a BA and MA in French, before embarking on her Suzuki pedagogy studies. Erin taught violin privately for two decades, while continuing her Suzuki training, as well as coaching and teaching in public and private schools. In 2019, Erin became Director of the Japan-Seattle Suzuki Institute. She helped form the Institute Leadership Team, where she has worked to foster a collaborative, inclusive community for Suzuki Institute directors and to build bridges of communication within the SAA community. Erin is eager to continue that work in this new role and help shape the future of Suzuki education. Erin can be reached via email at [javascript protected email address].