Faculty:
photo © Moya Studio
Ida Ivanovic (piano)
was born and raised in Belgrade, Serbia in South Eastern Europe. She graduated with honors in 1991 from former Yugoslavia’s most distinguished High School of Musical Arts ‘Stevan Mokranjac’ having studied piano performance and music theory.
She earned her BM in piano performance from the University of Belgrade in 1996, studying with eminent pianists of former Yugoslavia Aleksandar Sandorov, Dejan Sinadinovic and Jasmina Gavrilovic. During her studies she also attended master classes working with one of the founders of European Piano Teachers Association, Arbo Valdma from Cologne, Germany.
She was very active both as an author and translator for the Music Artists Society publication ‘Pro Musica’ and was awarded the First Prize at the National Competition for the article ‘Mozart and Free Masons’.
While exploring music history and its effects on style of piano music interpretation were her passions, the biggest challenge and the most important goal in her musical journey is to show children the beauty and joy of music making as well as help parents understand the enormous benefits these studies bring about through practice and performance.
Even during her studies, she started working with young pianists and right after graduation continued teaching at ‘Stevan Mokranjac’ High School of Musical Arts. During the war in her country, she worked as an accompanist at ‘Giuseppe Tartini’ Music School in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and shortly after came to Boston, MA with her family to work at Suzuki School of Newton, MA.
While accompanying at this Suzuki program, she was able to observe their group classes which sparked a great interest in this new method, not popular in Europe at that time. Supported by Sachiko Isihara, piano teacher trainer and director of the Newton school, she began her studies of Suzuki Piano Method in 2001. with two SAA Piano Committee members – professors Mary Craig Powell, OH (Chair) and Dorris Harrel, TX as well as Ms. Cristine Magasiner, one of the pioneers of Suzuki Method in London, England and Caroline Fraser from Peru.
She is an active member of Music Teachers National Association as well as board member of Palm Beach County MTA, where she serves as Chair for Judging Musicales.
Ida Ivanovic currently lives with her family in Boynton Beach and teaches at Palm Beach Suzuki School of Music from 2006.
was born and raised in Belgrade, Serbia in South Eastern Europe. She graduated with honors in 1991 from former Yugoslavia’s most distinguished High School of Musical Arts ‘Stevan Mokranjac’ having studied piano performance and music theory.
She earned her BM in piano performance from the University of Belgrade in 1996, studying with eminent pianists of former Yugoslavia Aleksandar Sandorov, Dejan Sinadinovic and Jasmina Gavrilovic. During her studies she also attended master classes working with one of the founders of European Piano Teachers Association, Arbo Valdma from Cologne, Germany.
She was very active both as an author and translator for the Music Artists Society publication ‘Pro Musica’ and was awarded the First Prize at the National Competition for the article ‘Mozart and Free Masons’.
While exploring music history and its effects on style of piano music interpretation were her passions, the biggest challenge and the most important goal in her musical journey is to show children the beauty and joy of music making as well as help parents understand the enormous benefits these studies bring about through practice and performance.
Even during her studies, she started working with young pianists and right after graduation continued teaching at ‘Stevan Mokranjac’ High School of Musical Arts. During the war in her country, she worked as an accompanist at ‘Giuseppe Tartini’ Music School in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and shortly after came to Boston, MA with her family to work at Suzuki School of Newton, MA.
While accompanying at this Suzuki program, she was able to observe their group classes which sparked a great interest in this new method, not popular in Europe at that time. Supported by Sachiko Isihara, piano teacher trainer and director of the Newton school, she began her studies of Suzuki Piano Method in 2001. with two SAA Piano Committee members – professors Mary Craig Powell, OH (Chair) and Dorris Harrel, TX as well as Ms. Cristine Magasiner, one of the pioneers of Suzuki Method in London, England and Caroline Fraser from Peru.
She is an active member of Music Teachers National Association as well as board member of Palm Beach County MTA, where she serves as Chair for Judging Musicales.
Ida Ivanovic currently lives with her family in Boynton Beach and teaches at Palm Beach Suzuki School of Music from 2006.
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Rita Hough (piano) has been registered with the Suzuki Association of the Americas since 2002, when she began teaching piano privately. She studied the traditional method of piano for ten years with a private instructor while growing up in Indiana. She received her first introduction to the Suzuki method at a concert featuring young Suzuki violinists from Japan. Greatly influencing her desire to teach, this led to her pursuing what was needed to teach Suzuki Piano. She began her teacher training at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan in the summer of 2000, with master teacher, Armena Marderosian. Soon after, Rita continued her study in Lima, Peru with master teacher Caroline Fraser receiving private instruction from her and upgrading her book levels. This enabled her to participate with two of her students at the South America Suzuki Festival in 2002. Further instruction included formal teacher training with Suzuki piano pioneer, Doris Koppelman in Lima, Peru and recently with Jane Kutscher Reed in North Carolina.
Always inspired by the spirit of learning and sharing, Rita has had the opportunity to observe and study with outstanding teachers throughout the years. This is reflected in her experiences and expertise as she instructs her students. Her passion for teaching and for passing music on to another generation is surpassed only by her love and commitment to each student and their families. Rita has lived in the Wellington area since 2002 with her husband Tom, after living in the Amazon Basin of Peru, South America for 20 years where they worked alongside the Indigenous peoples. Their oldest daughter, Melissa and two granddaughters live in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Their youngest daughter, Hannah is a Master’s student studying Voice Performance at the University of Florida. |
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Trace Johnson is an adventurous young American cellist whose passionate intellect and effortless musicality inspire all of his endeavors.
Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Trace now resides and works extensively throughout Florida as a performing cellist and teacher. Whether on stage or in the studio teaching, Trace is a devoted musician and thoughtful communicator.
Trace has appeared as a chamber musician, soloist, and orchestral musician in a wide variety of settings. Trace has performed as a soloist in Belgium, Holland, Germany, China, Canada, and the United States. In Florida, Trace holds positions with the Sarasota Orchestra, the Southwest Florida Symphony, and the Sarasota Opera; he has performed as a guest artist with the Nu Deco Ensemble, Miami City Ballet, Palm Beach Symphony, Palm Beach Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Atlantic Classical Orchestra, Boca Symphonia, Orlando Philharmonic, Kravis Pops Orchestra, Symphony of the Americas, Miami Symphony, Orchestra Miami, South Florida Symphony, and the New World Symphony. Trace has also served as guest principal cellist at the Nu Deco Ensemble, Southwest Florida Symphony, and the South Florida Symphony.
Trace has performed in chamber recitals with faculty from SUNY Purchase University, University of Toronto, Florida Atlantic University, Lynn Conservatory, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Florida International University, Shenandoah University, and Queens College in New York City. Recently, Trace performed with the Astralis Chamber Ensemble during their 2019 tour through North and South Carolina.
Trace was a fellowship recipient at the Atlantic Music Festival in Watertown, ME, Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, NC, and the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society, a nationally acclaimed chamber music festival in Madison, WI. At BDDS, Trace was a member of the 'Dynamite Factory' Young Artist Program (http://bachdancing.org/) for their 2017 and 2018 seasons. During summer studies in North Carolina and Maine, Trace collaborated with composers George Tsontakis, Donald Crockett, Ken Ueno, and Sol-bong Kim and performed their chamber works; Trace also performed with the Eastern Music Festival Orchestra, conducted by Gerard Schwarz, and shared the stage with eminent artists Midori, Anne Akiko-Myers, Stefan Jackiw, Awadagin Pratt, William Wolfram, and Nadja Salerno-Sonnenburg.
As a composer and arranger, Trace has had works performed at the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society in Madison, WI and the National Music Festival in Chestertown, MD. While performing with the crossover string octet, Barrage 8, during their 2015-16 season, Trace improvised cello solos in more than seventy concerts around the world, (www.barrage8.com). In April 2017, Mr. Johnson co-wrote the soundtrack for the indie movie Christmas Trees with Jack Whaley, Director of Photography at Shine United; Christmas Trees debuted at the Wisconsin Film Festival at Sundance Theaters in Madison, WI in the spring of 2017. Christmas Trees is available to view here.
In 2014, while a student at Lynn Conservatory, Trace performed the Brahms Double Concerto with the Lynn Philharmonia after winning its annual concerto competition. Later that year, Trace won first prize in the Lyric Chamber Society of New York's Chamber Competition with his piano quintet and performed at the Kosciuszko Foundation in NYC in May 2015. In March 2017, Trace won first prize at the John Oliveira String Competition at Lynn Conservatory. Trace won one-thousand dollars and performed works by Janáček, Barber, Beethoven, George Crumb, and Chopin in three different recitals throughout South Florida.
In addition to being an active and dynamic performer, Trace Johnson is a devoted educator; he has served as string instructor, group class leader, and private teacher in a variety of settings in Cleveland, Ohio and Southern Florida. Trace has also held teaching positions at U.B. Kinsey Elementary in West Palm Beach, Plumosa School of the Arts in Delray Beach, St. Andrew’s School in Boca Raton, and North Broward Preparatory School in Cocoanut Creek; Trace currently holds teaching positions at the Palm Beach Suzuki School of Music in West Palm Beach, Florida.
To learn more about Trace check out WWW.TRACELJOHNSON.COM. Take care!
Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Trace now resides and works extensively throughout Florida as a performing cellist and teacher. Whether on stage or in the studio teaching, Trace is a devoted musician and thoughtful communicator.
Trace has appeared as a chamber musician, soloist, and orchestral musician in a wide variety of settings. Trace has performed as a soloist in Belgium, Holland, Germany, China, Canada, and the United States. In Florida, Trace holds positions with the Sarasota Orchestra, the Southwest Florida Symphony, and the Sarasota Opera; he has performed as a guest artist with the Nu Deco Ensemble, Miami City Ballet, Palm Beach Symphony, Palm Beach Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Atlantic Classical Orchestra, Boca Symphonia, Orlando Philharmonic, Kravis Pops Orchestra, Symphony of the Americas, Miami Symphony, Orchestra Miami, South Florida Symphony, and the New World Symphony. Trace has also served as guest principal cellist at the Nu Deco Ensemble, Southwest Florida Symphony, and the South Florida Symphony.
Trace has performed in chamber recitals with faculty from SUNY Purchase University, University of Toronto, Florida Atlantic University, Lynn Conservatory, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Florida International University, Shenandoah University, and Queens College in New York City. Recently, Trace performed with the Astralis Chamber Ensemble during their 2019 tour through North and South Carolina.
Trace was a fellowship recipient at the Atlantic Music Festival in Watertown, ME, Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, NC, and the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society, a nationally acclaimed chamber music festival in Madison, WI. At BDDS, Trace was a member of the 'Dynamite Factory' Young Artist Program (http://bachdancing.org/) for their 2017 and 2018 seasons. During summer studies in North Carolina and Maine, Trace collaborated with composers George Tsontakis, Donald Crockett, Ken Ueno, and Sol-bong Kim and performed their chamber works; Trace also performed with the Eastern Music Festival Orchestra, conducted by Gerard Schwarz, and shared the stage with eminent artists Midori, Anne Akiko-Myers, Stefan Jackiw, Awadagin Pratt, William Wolfram, and Nadja Salerno-Sonnenburg.
As a composer and arranger, Trace has had works performed at the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society in Madison, WI and the National Music Festival in Chestertown, MD. While performing with the crossover string octet, Barrage 8, during their 2015-16 season, Trace improvised cello solos in more than seventy concerts around the world, (www.barrage8.com). In April 2017, Mr. Johnson co-wrote the soundtrack for the indie movie Christmas Trees with Jack Whaley, Director of Photography at Shine United; Christmas Trees debuted at the Wisconsin Film Festival at Sundance Theaters in Madison, WI in the spring of 2017. Christmas Trees is available to view here.
In 2014, while a student at Lynn Conservatory, Trace performed the Brahms Double Concerto with the Lynn Philharmonia after winning its annual concerto competition. Later that year, Trace won first prize in the Lyric Chamber Society of New York's Chamber Competition with his piano quintet and performed at the Kosciuszko Foundation in NYC in May 2015. In March 2017, Trace won first prize at the John Oliveira String Competition at Lynn Conservatory. Trace won one-thousand dollars and performed works by Janáček, Barber, Beethoven, George Crumb, and Chopin in three different recitals throughout South Florida.
In addition to being an active and dynamic performer, Trace Johnson is a devoted educator; he has served as string instructor, group class leader, and private teacher in a variety of settings in Cleveland, Ohio and Southern Florida. Trace has also held teaching positions at U.B. Kinsey Elementary in West Palm Beach, Plumosa School of the Arts in Delray Beach, St. Andrew’s School in Boca Raton, and North Broward Preparatory School in Cocoanut Creek; Trace currently holds teaching positions at the Palm Beach Suzuki School of Music in West Palm Beach, Florida.
To learn more about Trace check out WWW.TRACELJOHNSON.COM. Take care!
Melanie Riordan is a unique violinist, performer and passionate educator currently based in South Florida. A native of New Rochelle, NY, Melanie began taking violin lessons at the age of 10. She received her BFA from Carnegie Mellon University and her Master’s degree at McGill University. Since then she has had the privilege of performing in some of the worlds most prestigious concert halls and teaching hundreds of students across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia.
An advocate of contemporary music, she has appeared on Houston Public Media’s KUHA 91.7 as a member of the Houston New Arts Movement and was chosen to perform in the world premier of Marty Regan’s *The Memory Stone*, commissioned and produced by the Houston Grand Opera. Recent commissions include *L’Évidence Éternelle *by Philip Elder as a Da Camera of Houston Young Artist,* Tension Cycle* by John Arrigo – Nelson for the Mud Turtle Guitar Quintet, and various works by student composers as a member of the Contemporary Music Ensemble at Orford Musique under the guidance of Véronique Lacroix, Artistic Director of the Ensemble Contemporain de Montréal. A versatile musician, Ms. Riordan has performed with the Houston Baroque ensembles *Mercury; The Orchestra Redefined* and *Ars Lyrica*, and has performed at the Austin City Limits music festival.
As an educator, Melanie is passionate about using music as a way to uplift children. She was one of the first educators to launch the Houston Youth Symphony Coda Music program and has been a guest instructor for Sistemang Pilipino in Cebu City, Philippines, the Miami Music Project and the Nat King Cole “Generation Hope” music camp in partnership with Lynn University and the Plumosa School for the Arts. All of these programs are inspired by the famed Venezuelan music education program “El Sistema,” providing free music education and instruments to underprivileged and at-risk children. She received her pedagogical training from Mimi Zweig, Brenda Brenner, Rebecca Henry and Elizabeth Zemple at Indiana University and her Suzuki Violin Method Certification under the guidance of Charles Krigbaum at the Dallas-Fort Worth Suzuki institute. She is also highly influenced by her own violin teachers, Carole Cole, Kirsten Yon, Jonathan Crow and Cyrus Forough. Melanie is currently adjunct professor of violin at Florida Atlantic University and runs a private studio of young violinists in Palm Beach County.
To learn more about Melanie please visit her website:
https://melanieriordanviolin.com
An advocate of contemporary music, she has appeared on Houston Public Media’s KUHA 91.7 as a member of the Houston New Arts Movement and was chosen to perform in the world premier of Marty Regan’s *The Memory Stone*, commissioned and produced by the Houston Grand Opera. Recent commissions include *L’Évidence Éternelle *by Philip Elder as a Da Camera of Houston Young Artist,* Tension Cycle* by John Arrigo – Nelson for the Mud Turtle Guitar Quintet, and various works by student composers as a member of the Contemporary Music Ensemble at Orford Musique under the guidance of Véronique Lacroix, Artistic Director of the Ensemble Contemporain de Montréal. A versatile musician, Ms. Riordan has performed with the Houston Baroque ensembles *Mercury; The Orchestra Redefined* and *Ars Lyrica*, and has performed at the Austin City Limits music festival.
As an educator, Melanie is passionate about using music as a way to uplift children. She was one of the first educators to launch the Houston Youth Symphony Coda Music program and has been a guest instructor for Sistemang Pilipino in Cebu City, Philippines, the Miami Music Project and the Nat King Cole “Generation Hope” music camp in partnership with Lynn University and the Plumosa School for the Arts. All of these programs are inspired by the famed Venezuelan music education program “El Sistema,” providing free music education and instruments to underprivileged and at-risk children. She received her pedagogical training from Mimi Zweig, Brenda Brenner, Rebecca Henry and Elizabeth Zemple at Indiana University and her Suzuki Violin Method Certification under the guidance of Charles Krigbaum at the Dallas-Fort Worth Suzuki institute. She is also highly influenced by her own violin teachers, Carole Cole, Kirsten Yon, Jonathan Crow and Cyrus Forough. Melanie is currently adjunct professor of violin at Florida Atlantic University and runs a private studio of young violinists in Palm Beach County.
To learn more about Melanie please visit her website:
https://melanieriordanviolin.com