Faculty

Elly Schmidt

Violin, early childhood education

Elly is an accomplished violinist and educator. She has a B.M. in Violin Performance, is a founding faculty member of the San Diego Suzuki School of Music, trained Suzuki Early Childhood Education Teacher, and along with many enrichment courses in violin technique, music theory (Music Mind Games) and child psychology has completed training in all ten units of Suzuki violin. Performing with various professional orchestras she has shared the stage with notable artists, such as Midori, Zubin Mehta, and Mannheim Steamroller. She has been Orchestra Director at Oak Park Music Conservatory, Beginning Strings Director at the Kadima Conservatory, and a clinician for southern California youth orchestras and Suzuki institutes. Her students have earned top positions in youth symphonies and string competition awards. In addition to Elly's love for teaching, improvisation, and studies in child development and pedagogy, she continues to perform as a freelance artist throughout San Diego.

Marguerite Jayasimha

Violin, Early Childhood Education

Marguerite began her training as a violinist at age five, developing a lifelong love of music. She is a trained Suzuki Early Childhood Education Teacher and Suzuki Violin Teacher, having completed training in Units 1-10. She also has training and experience in Kodaly, Music Mind Games, Creative Ability Development, and enjoys teaching alternative styles and improvisation. She holds an Engineering degree and loves applying science and engineering to Suzuki teaching, from developing bow holds to parent education. Marguerite has performed with the La Jolla Symphony, Redwood Symphony, numerous string quartets and served as asst. conductor of the International Women’s Choir of Singapore. She has served on many Suzuki and cultural performing arts boards. Marguerite loves Indian classical music and plays fusion with her husband, an accomplished Tabla player. She is happy to be back in San Diego at the San Diego Suzuki School of Music, which she co-founded in 2005. She is a former director of the Advanced Suzuki Institute at Stanford and is a current asst. director of the San Diego Suzuki Institute. In addition to teaching at Suzuki Institutes and Workshops, Ms. Jayasimha also enjoys directing middle school orchestra in her local school district. Her passion for directing led her to learn and train up to level 4 Suzuki cello, which she now plays for (lots of) fun.

Jonathan Smith

Violin

Jonathan began his musical studies at the age of 4 in Toledo, OH. He is a registered Suzuki violin teacher, has a B.M. from Otterbein University, and a Masters in Music from Bowling Green State University, where he studied with Vasile Beluska and Ioana Galu. Before joining the SD Suzuki School of Music in 2013, Jonathan enjoyed working with children in a wide range of ages in his private teaching studio, as well as with the Toledo Symphony Suzuki program. He has been working with orchestras in the Ohio and Michigan areas since 2007. He was the Principal 2nd violin in 2011 and the Co-Concertmaster in 2012-2013 of the Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra. Jonathan is very excited to be in San Diego continuing his professional teaching and performing career.

Danielle Kravitz

Viola, Violin, Early Childhood Education

Danielle started playing Suzuki violin at the age of four. She began playing viola at age twelve. She attended the University of Evansville as a music scholar where she studied music therapy. Her former teachers include Rebecca Campbell, Carol Dallinger, and Chi-Yuan Chen. She has played in a number of orchestras, including the La Jolla Symphony.

Her past professional writing work includes publications for the Suzuki Music Association of California - San Diego Branch quarterly newsletter, Strings Magazine, and over a dozen published manuals. She successfully runs several blogs including her Suzuki education blog, Rethinking Genius.

Danielle is the Director of San Diego Suzuki Institute at Point Loma Nazarene University. The non-profit institute was founded in 2017. She is a faculty member with the San Diego Suzuki School of Music and has been teaching full time since 2008. Her students have won string competition awards and earn top positions in youth symphonies.

Emily Balderrama

Cello

Emily has been teaching privately for 15 years and began her Suzuki training in 2016. She was drawn to the method with the belief that every child can and that through music studies children can grow immensely. She has completed Suzuki cello training in books 1-10 with Dr. Alice Ann O'Neill, Abbey Hansen and Jean Dexter. Emily is dedicated to continued education and a strong believer in lifelong learning. She holds her Master’s of Music at CSU Fullerton in cello performance where she studied with cellist Bongshin Ko. In addition to Suzuki training, Emily has taken training in the Dalcroze Method and Music Mind Games.

Beyond her passion for teaching cello, she is an avid performer, and has performed solo, orchestral and chamber music in Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Austria, Luxembourg, South Korea and New York City in addition to Southern California venues. In 2015, Emily made her Carnegie Hall Debut with the CSUF Chamber Orchestra and Choir. Additionally she has had the opportunity to play in the masterclasses of Misha Maiksy, Clive Greensmith, Richard Aaron, and the Kronos Quartet.

FangFang Li

Violin

FangFang grew up in a musical family. She began violin studies at age 4 with her grandfather and father, and later studied with Wang ZhiLong from the Central-Conservatory of Music in Beijing. At age 14, FangFang was accepted to Idyllwild Arts Academy and studied under Todor Pelev. She attended the Aspen Music Festival with a fellowship her senior year, and met her college violin teacher, Kurt Sassmannshaus. Later that year, FangFang entered the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) with a full scholarship. She was a graduate teaching assistant and earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in violin performance, respectively.

At CCM, FangFang directed the Sassmannshaus Tradition, a well known string method and program for young children. She was also on chamber music faculty for the acclaimed Starling Preparatory String Project. FangFang was responsible for translating the comprehensive violin teaching website www.violinmasterclass.com into Chinese.
After moving to San Diego, FangFang taught at the San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory for many years. She is now pursuing her passion as a Suzuki teacher and parent. She serves on the board for the Northern San Diego Music Teachers Association of California, and coaches at several local school orchestras.