SUZUKI ASSOCIATION OF THE AMERICAS - Key Persons
Alissa Tanguay has been a lover of music ever since she can remember. Her musical studies officially began at age 5, when her grandmother started teaching Alissa how to play the piano. From there, she took up violin at age 9, and has continued to add instruments such as viola, voice, harp, percussion, and more. Alissa graduated from Southern Adventist University near Chattanooga Tennessee with her B.Mus in music education, and has been teaching music classes and private lessons for students in grades TK-12 at Mesa Grande Academy in Calimesa, California. Alissa enjoys orchestral playing and chamber music with the Loma Linda University Church orchestra and string ensemble, as well as playing gigs in the Inland Empire area. When she is not busy teaching and playing, she enjoys writing, outdoor activities like hiking, reading, cooking, podcasting, and traveling. Alissa loves watching students experience the joy of exploring the violin for the first time, and she is also inspired by students who are working hard to better their skills and their lives through a commitment to music.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Latin American Advisory Committee
- Trainer from Argentina
Angelica Cortez (she/her) is a Los Angeles-born arts leader working at the intersection of music, education, and justice. She is excited to join a long legacy of educators who believe in the fundamental power of music education and its ability to impact the lives of young people. She served as Interim President and CEO of El Sistema USA, where she collaborated with member organizations across the country that provide music and youth development programming to young people who often face barriers in accessing music education. She started her career with the Los Angeles Philharmonic on YOLA, Gustavo Dudamel's signature program offering free music education and academic support to students around the country. Angelica was selected as a Sphinx LEAD (Leaders in Excellence, Arts, & Diversity) fellow, a two-year leadership program designed to evolve the industry landscape by empowering the next generation of executive leaders. She is an active speaker, educator, and consultant, and teaches at the University of Southern California as part of the Arts Leadership program. Outside of her work and healthy obsession with music, she loves writing, cooking, running, reading, and her community.
Job Titles:
- Registered SAA Viola Teacher Trainer
April Losey is a registered SAA Viola Teacher Trainer and maintains an active private studio in Redlands, California. April grew up as a Suzuki student in Alberta, Canada and has been an active Suzuki teacher for over twenty years. She has taken extensive teacher training in both violin and viola, continuing to be passionate about finding ways to inspire children to learn.
Ms. Losey holds a M.M. in Viola Performance from Arizona State University, a B.A. in Music and a B.S. in Communications (Public Relations) from Washington Adventist University, and has studied privately with Donald McInnes. In addition to freelancing throughout the Los Angeles area, April is a member of the Redlands Symphony Orchestra and San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra. April directed the Los Angeles Suzuki Institute from 2015-2022.
In her spare time April makes handmade artisan jewelry, and works on her historic house (which was built the same year Dr. Suzuki was born). www.aprillosey.com
Job Titles:
- Member of the Latin American Advisory Committee
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- Secretary of the SAA Board of Directors
- Professor of Violin at Western Kentucky University
- Violin Teacher
- Violin Teacher, Administrator
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- Member of the SAA SECE Committee
- History
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- Member of the Latin American Advisory Committee
- Guitar Teacher
In 1986, Dorothy began work on her school, Children's Talent Education Centre. Over the next few years, Dorothy and her daughter Sharon developed a curriculum that has become the Suzuki Early Childhood Education program throughout the world. Through correspondence with Dr. Suzuki, Dorothy established a number of programs at her school including a prenatal program for expectant parents, a weekly baby and parent class, a weekly preschool and parent class, a five-day Suzuki preschool, and a five-day Suzuki elementary school.
Dr. and Mrs. Suzuki were tremendous supporters of her school. Teachers from around the world came to Children's Talent Education Centre for training in Suzuki Early Childhood Education. At the 1989 Suzuki International Conference in Japan, Mrs. Suzuki herself introduced the Suzuki Early Childhood Program to the teachers in attendance.
Since retiring from the school she founded and directed for 12 years Dorothy has traveled the world extensively, focusing on Early Childhood Education Teacher Training. She has dedicated her life's work to promoting what Dr. Suzuki believed was the most important job for all teachers: preparing parents and children for lifelong learning by creating an environment in which success is possible and happiness can prevail. Dorothy was honored as the 2010 recipient of the SAA's Creating Learning Community Award (Read More about Dorothy and her contribution to the SAA).
In Dorothy's definition, SECE is "the realization of potential through active and reactive participation in the environment, which surrounds a child from birth. SECE is based on the premise that the potential for every child is unlimited. Believing that any country's most important resource is its children, Suzuki Early Childhood educators work in partnership with parents to create a stimulating learning environment. When the environment is rich and unpressured, Suzuki teachers observe that a child not only learns a skill but also gains a sense of purpose to life, an understanding of discipline, and an appreciation of beauty."
Job Titles:
- Editor, American Suzuki Journal
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.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Latin American Advisory Committee
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.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Bass Committee
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- Member of the Latin American Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Latin American Advisory Committee
- Violin Teacher
Job Titles:
- Member of the Latin American Advisory Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Latin American Advisory Committee
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- Member of the Bass Committee
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- Chairman of the SAA Board of Directors
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- Treasurer of the SAA Board of Directors
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- Member of the SAA SECE Committee
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- Member of the SAA Board of Directors
- Chairman - Elect / Los Osos, CA
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- Member of the Bass Committee
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- Member of the Latin American Advisory Committee
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- Associate Professor of Music at Columbia Basin College in Pasco
Bruce Walker is an Associate Professor of Music at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, WA, Music Director for the Walla Walla Symphony Youth Orchestra, Past President of the Washington chapter for the American String Teachers Association, on the Board of Directors for the Suzuki Association of the Americas, College/University representative for the Washington Music Educators Association, and the 2021 Music Educator of the Year by the Washington Music Educators Association. Previously, he held the position of Music Director for the Yakima Youth Symphony and Oregon East Symphony Youth Orchestras. During the summer months, Mr. Walker works throughout the United States and Canada at various Suzuki institutes, music camps, festivals, and retreats. Internationally, he has also worked with the Youth Excellence on Stage Academy in collaboration with American Voices, a non-profit, cultural exchange organization. Through this organization, he has conducted orchestras and taught cello in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.
As a conductor, Mr. Walker participated in many workshops and music festivals across the United States such as the Marrowstone Music Festival, Pierre Monteux School for Conductors and Orchestral Musicians, various workshops sponsored by the Conductor's Guild, Astoria Music Festival, Rose City International Conductor's Workshop, and the University of Oregon Orchestral Conducting Institute. He has appeared as guest conductor with the Central Washington University Symphony, Oregon East Symphony, Yakima Symphony, Portland Columbia Symphony, and the Musicians of the Spokane Symphony Orchestra. Memorable for his unique style of positive student engagement, analogies, and his knowledge of the orchestral repertoire, Mr. Walker is also in high demand as an adjudicator and guest conductor for many All-State and Honors Orchestras throughout the United States, most recently conducting All-State Orchestras in Oregon, Alabama, and Georgia. Upcoming engagements for the 2023-2024 season include guest conducting concerts with the Walla Walla Symphony and the Olympia Symphony, working with and adjudicating various school and honor orchestras throughout the Pacific Northwest and New Mexico, and being a clinician for the 2024 American String Teachers Association National Orchestra Festival in Louisville, Kentucky.
Mr. Walker earned Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education and Cello Performance from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and a Master of Music degree from Central Washington University focusing on Orchestral Conducting and Cello Performance. In the fall of 2019, he began his Doctor of Music Arts degree in Music Education through Boston University. When not in the classroom, on the podium working with ensembles, or teaching cello lessons, he enjoys hiking and traveling around the Pacific Northwest, enjoying time outside around a BBQ pit and smoker sampling new culinary creations, or shopping for and admiring argyle socks.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Latin American Advisory Committee
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- Member of the Bass Committee
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- Member of the SAA Board of Directors
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- Member of the Latin American Advisory Committee
- Recorder
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- Member of the Bass Committee
- Chairman / Chandler, AZ
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- Chairman of the SAA SECE Committee
Shinichi Suzuki, the man who developed the Suzuki Method, died on January 26, 1998, at his home in Matsumoto, Japan. Though he lived to be 99 years old, Dr. Suzuki always seemed young. He was full of energy, and was cheerful and loving to everyone he met.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Latin American Advisory Committee
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- Education Teacher Training
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- Editor, American Suzuki Journal
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- Teacher
- Trainer
- Teacher, Parent, Administrator
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- Member of the Bass Committee
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- Early Childhood Education Teacher
Job Titles:
- Member of the SAA SECE Committee