Ms. Nancy Lokken

Nancy Lokken

Nancy Lokken has directed Augsburg University Suzuki Talent Education (AUSTE) in Minneapolis, Minnesota since 1989. She also teaches Suzuki pedagogy as a registered Teacher Trainer with the Suzuki Association of the Americas. She studied with Dr. Suzuki in Japan and is an active Clinician and Teacher Trainer at institutes, festivals and workshops throughout the United States, Canada, and Latin America. She is a founding member and first President of the Suzuki Association of Minnesota, and served on the board of the American String Teachers’ Association of Minnesota. She was the Coordinator of the 30th Anniversary Conference of the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) in 2002, has presented at several SAA and American String Teachers’ Association (ASTA) National Conferences, and served on the SAA Teacher Development Committees which developed the courses ECC!, “Every Child Can!, and SPA, “Suzuki Principals in Action.”

Ms. Lokken has taught in Bermuda, Canada, Spain, Japan, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Vienna and England. Her students have been recipients of numerous awards and recognitions, including performances with the Minnesota Orchestra and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. The AUSTE students were selected to perform in the International Ensembles Concert at the SAA Conference in 2004, invited to perform in Mexico City at the International CEDROS-UP Festivals in 2005 and 2010. AUSTE students have toured and performed in Salzburg, Vienna, Prague, Mexico, Spain and England. Ms. Lokken was honored by the American String Teachers Association with the award of Master Teacher for the state of Minnesota in 1998, and received the American Suzuki Institute Chair Award in 2012. In 2019 the Suzuki Association of Minnesota presented her with a Certificate of Appreciation with the naming of the “Nancy Lokken Summer Institute Scholarship,” to be awarded annually to a deserving student or teacher.

Ms. Lokken was a Suzuki parent to three children and is now a Suzuki grandparent. She is deeply appreciative of Dr. Suzuki’s contribution to music education and his philosophy that guides the teaching.