Ms. Elizabeth Ortiz

With over 20 years experience teaching violin and viola, Elizabeth Ortiz believes that music is for everyone. She loves starting children as young as 3 or 4 years old, and watching them grow, both as musicians and as human beings, from pre-twinkle to Mozart and beyond. She also welcomes older beginners, including adults, and enjoys helping more advanced students to further hone their skills. She believes that a strong technical foundation gives the student the freedom to become an expressive artist. After teaching for several Chicago area music schools, she is delighted to now be running her own home studio in Cary, IL.

Elizabeth graduated with honors from The Chicago School of Performing Arts with a bachelor’s degree in orchestra studies (violin). Her violin teachers have included CSO principal second violinist Joseph Golan, CSO assistant co-concertmaster David Taylor, and Rachel Barton-Pine. She has studied chamber music with CSO cellist Richard Hirshl, and Pacifica Quartet cellist Brandon Vamos. Elizabeth draws inspiration from her many fine Suzuki teacher trainers. She was thrilled to take violin book 9 and 10 training with Doris Prucel. Pat D’Ercole introduced Elizabeth to the magic of Suzuki education, and will forever be her roll model.

In addition to teaching, Elizabeth enjoys performing chamber music in the greater Chicago area. When not making music, she can be found gardening, cooking, reading, practicing yoga, or trying to learn Spanish.