Strings Faculty
All Suzuki Music Winnipeg teachers have received registered training through the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA), and all are Active teacher members of the SAA. Because the Suzuki Method is an internationally recognized method of music instruction, there are many opportunities (nationally and internationally) for students, parents and teachers to further their education by attending workshops and summer institutes.
Karen Barg
violin, beginner viola
Karen Barg began violin instruction at the age of four through the Suzuki Program with Joanne Martin , and continued her studies at the U of M as well as McGill University with teachers Jack Glazter, Gwen Hoebig and, Madame Gho. Karen has obtained her Suzuki teacher training from Pat D’ercole, Joanne Martin, Karen Kimmett and Paule Barselou.
In addition to being a professional freelance violinist and Suzuki instructor, Karen keeps her musical journey stimulated by performing with various touring acts (Il Divo, Sarah Brightman, Sarah Slean, etc.), the Winnipeg and Thunder Bay symphonies as well as being a violinist and vocalist for Fred Penner since 2010. After having held the position of Program Coordinator for Suzuki Music Winnipeg Inc from 2012 to 2017, Karen keeps busy by arranging pop/rock and tv/movie music for her Luminous String Quartet and maintaining a full Suzuki studio in her home.
In addition to being a professional freelance violinist and Suzuki instructor, Karen keeps her musical journey stimulated by performing with various touring acts (Il Divo, Sarah Brightman, Sarah Slean, etc.), the Winnipeg and Thunder Bay symphonies as well as being a violinist and vocalist for Fred Penner since 2010. After having held the position of Program Coordinator for Suzuki Music Winnipeg Inc from 2012 to 2017, Karen keeps busy by arranging pop/rock and tv/movie music for her Luminous String Quartet and maintaining a full Suzuki studio in her home.
Domanie Billinghurst-Schadek
violin, Suzuki early childhood education
Domanie was born and raised in Winnipeg. She trained as a violinist under Caroline Bias and Carlisle Wilson and as a singer with Mel Braun and Valdine Anderson. She has enjoyed performing with the WSO, Manitoba Opera Chorus, for benefit concerts and many other freelance opportunities.
She has been teaching violin, voice and Suzuki Early Childhood Education for 15 years. A committed educator, she has taught for Suzuki Music Winnipeg, University of Manitoba Preparatory Studies, and most recently the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts. She passionately believes that music education should be accessible to every child and has been working to help develop and deliver music programming to Winnipeg’s underserved youth for the past several years.
She juggles her teaching with being a Suzuki wife and mom to two young children, her dogs, and volunteering for her favourite animal rescue.
She has been teaching violin, voice and Suzuki Early Childhood Education for 15 years. A committed educator, she has taught for Suzuki Music Winnipeg, University of Manitoba Preparatory Studies, and most recently the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts. She passionately believes that music education should be accessible to every child and has been working to help develop and deliver music programming to Winnipeg’s underserved youth for the past several years.
She juggles her teaching with being a Suzuki wife and mom to two young children, her dogs, and volunteering for her favourite animal rescue.
Jane Cory
violin
Jane Cory fell in love with the picture of a violin in a Sears catalogue at the age of five, and began Suzuki violin lessons soon after. At the age of seven, she discovered fiddle music through a Suzuki workshop, and has gone on to compete at many prestigious competitions across the country, perform at countless festivals, concerts and charities, has collaborated on several studio albums and has released her own solo album Road Between the Saints in 2014. She was a member of the Winnipeg Youth Orchestra for 8 years, and a member of the University of Ottawa Symphony Orchestra for 4 years.
Jane has become an established teacher around the country, both in the classical and fiddle styles. She has instructed with Frontier Fiddlers, a program through Frontier School Division that allows instruction to hundreds of children from several Northern Manitoba communities. She has taught at the International Music Camp, has been a private and group instructor for Fiddleheads Musical Theatre in Quebec, and has taught privately from her own home studio since 2013. Jane has recently graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Music performance degree.
Jane has become an established teacher around the country, both in the classical and fiddle styles. She has instructed with Frontier Fiddlers, a program through Frontier School Division that allows instruction to hundreds of children from several Northern Manitoba communities. She has taught at the International Music Camp, has been a private and group instructor for Fiddleheads Musical Theatre in Quebec, and has taught privately from her own home studio since 2013. Jane has recently graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Music performance degree.
Zohreh Gervais
violin, viola, Suzuki early childhood education
Zohreh Gervais was raised in Edmonton, Alberta, where she started playing the violin at age five. She studied violin and viola at the Alberta Conservatory before moving to Winnipeg to continue her studies at the University of Manitoba. An accomplished soprano, Zohreh earned a bachelor's of music degree under the tutelage of Tracy Dahl and Mel Braun. She is a member of the Canzona Choir and is a frequent soloist with The Musical Offering. Zohreh is on faculty at the University of Manitoba Preparatory Studies Division where she is a sought-after teacher and collaborator. She has performed as principal violist in the MUSAIC Orchestra and the University of Alberta and University of Manitoba Orchestras. Zohreh has released two albums: “Acquiescing,” (2004) an album of her original compositions for voice, piano and strings, and “My First Songs and Rhymes,” (2010) an album of children’s nursery rhymes and lullabies developed for use in the Baby Suzuki curriculum. She has studied Suzuki pedagogy with Joanne Martin, Karen Kimmett, Kathleen Spring, Joanne Melvin and Dorothy Jones.
Kristen Graham
violin
Kristen Graham began playing violin in the Suzuki Music program at the age of 6. Growing up, she played in the Winnipeg Youth Symphony Orchestra for 3 years and has experience playing in many string quartets and ensembles. Kristen has also received certificates for Basic and Intermediate Music Theory Rudiments with the Royal Conservatory of Music. After years of caring guidance from her Suzuki teacher Laurel Howard, she is now excited to be teaching Suzuki students of her own.
Laurel Howard
violin, viola
Laurel Howard has taught violin and viola for over twenty-five years. She taught for the University of Manitoba Suzuki program for sixteen years, and served as its coordinator for six. She has given masterclasses and taught at workshops and camps in Winnipeg, Brandon, Saskatoon and at the International Peace Gardens. In addition, she has adjudicated at over thirty music festivals and competitions across Manitoba, and in Regina and Victoria. During 2010, she was conductor of the Youth Strings, one of the three Winnipeg Youth Orchestras. She has a full studio of young violinists and violists and two string-playing children.
Laurel holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Saskatchewan, a Master’s degree in Musicology from the University of Michigan, and a Certificate in Education from the University of Manitoba. She had her first training in Suzuki pedagogy in 1990, and has pursued the study of string pedagogy at many institutes and workshops. As a student, Laurel attended The Banff Centre, played in the National Youth Orchestra, and spent a year in the Royal Conservatory’s Orchestral Training Program in Toronto. She played viola with the Saskatoon Symphony for ten years and the Brandon Chamber Players for seven years.
Laurel holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Saskatchewan, a Master’s degree in Musicology from the University of Michigan, and a Certificate in Education from the University of Manitoba. She had her first training in Suzuki pedagogy in 1990, and has pursued the study of string pedagogy at many institutes and workshops. As a student, Laurel attended The Banff Centre, played in the National Youth Orchestra, and spent a year in the Royal Conservatory’s Orchestral Training Program in Toronto. She played viola with the Saskatoon Symphony for ten years and the Brandon Chamber Players for seven years.
John Taves
violin
John Taves started playing the violin at age 6 in Winnipeg’s own Suzuki program. While growing up he performed in numerous festivals, concerts, competitions and was awarded two medals from the Royal Conservatory of Music. John has long had a passion for orchestral music and has frequently held concertmaster or principal second positions in the Winnipeg Youth Orchestras and the Brandon University Orchestra during his time in the ensembles. In his second year studying at Brandon University, John was awarded the Viktor Krahn Memorial Trophy at the Brandon Festival of the Arts. John’s love for music and learning has taken him to study violin both at Brandon University and the University of North Texas. His past teachers include Kerry DuWors, Philip Lewis, Simon MacDonald, Anna Bond, Karl Stobbe and Elana Hiller. John recently graduated with a Bachelor of Music Performance Degree from Brandon University.
Additionally, his enthusiasm for teaching music has led him to study Suzuki Pedagogy with Karen Kimmett, and violin pedagogy with Kerry DuWors. John has been teaching since 2013 and currently holds violin studios in Gretna, Morden and Winnipeg.
violin
John Taves started playing the violin at age 6 in Winnipeg’s own Suzuki program. While growing up he performed in numerous festivals, concerts, competitions and was awarded two medals from the Royal Conservatory of Music. John has long had a passion for orchestral music and has frequently held concertmaster or principal second positions in the Winnipeg Youth Orchestras and the Brandon University Orchestra during his time in the ensembles. In his second year studying at Brandon University, John was awarded the Viktor Krahn Memorial Trophy at the Brandon Festival of the Arts. John’s love for music and learning has taken him to study violin both at Brandon University and the University of North Texas. His past teachers include Kerry DuWors, Philip Lewis, Simon MacDonald, Anna Bond, Karl Stobbe and Elana Hiller. John recently graduated with a Bachelor of Music Performance Degree from Brandon University.
Additionally, his enthusiasm for teaching music has led him to study Suzuki Pedagogy with Karen Kimmett, and violin pedagogy with Kerry DuWors. John has been teaching since 2013 and currently holds violin studios in Gretna, Morden and Winnipeg.
Judy Tennenhouse
violin
Judy Tennenhouse has been associated with Suzuki Winnipeg since 1985. She has taught group and individual lessons from pre-twinkle to Book 4/5. Her four children are grads of the program. Judy maintains an active interest in continuing education and has trained with Joanne Martin. In addition to her love of classical violin, she has a passion for fiddle music and founded the fiddle program at William Whyte School. She has a studio and group program in north Winnipeg and is opening a new introductory course this year.
Allison Warrian
cello
Allison Warrian earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Manitoba and a Master of Music in Literature and Performance from the University of Western Ontario. A native of Winnipeg, her teachers have included Paul Marleyn and Thomas Wiebe. She performs as a freelance cellist in Winnipeg and throughout Southern Manitoba. Allison is a dedicated teacher and enthusiastically maintains a large private teaching studio.