Green Mountain Suzuki Institute July 11-July 16, 2010

2010 Electives Teachers

Alexis Houston Maurya (Yoga) has been in private practice as a craniosacral therapist, massage therapist, and Reiki teacher for eleven years. She has studied meditation and yoga for sixteen years and has taught for six years. She received her training from the Green Mountain School of Yoga in Middlebury, Vermont, and incorporates years of additional coursework in the Iyengar style, Integral Yoga and Kripalu Yoga into her classes. Most recently she spent six months in India studying meditation with her teacher Swami Probuddhanada. This culminated in editing a book of his letters, entitled With Love, Swami Probuddhananda which will be used to teach meditation at Benares Hindu University, in Varanasi, India, and in other countries around the world. Alexis and her husband, also a practitioner run their practice East Reaches West, in Vermont and in Delhi, India.

Justine Jackson (Art) is a senior at Middlebury College. Before attending Middlebury she lived in Ghana, West Africa ,and studied traditional dance. Justine has run children's art and theatre camps for the many summers, in addition to teaching at the GMSI.

Erik Nielsen (Composition) has been composing for 30 years and his catalog includes works for chorus, orchestra, solo instruments, chamber music of many configurations and electronic music. He has had his works performed throughout the U.S., including such venues as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Erik works with composition students in Vermont and elsewhere throughout the United States through private lessons, summer camps and organizations like the Vermont MIDI Project.

Stuart Paton (Taiko Drumming) spent most of his childhood in Japan. His formal study of taiko drumming began in 1984 when he studied with Grandmaster Seiichi Tanaka, the founder of the first taiko group in North America. Paton founded the Burlington Taiko Group in 1986 and has been teaching the art of taiko to children of all ages and adults across New England for twenty years. He also co-founded and serves as the artistic director of Compana Dancers and Drummers (Cuban-Haitian), Orchestra Guayoyo (Cuban-Haitian), and Sambatucada (Brazilian). (Photo by Jeff Clarke.)

Sharon Pinsonneault (Hand Bells and International Folk Dancing) is a classroom teacher at The Bridge School in Middlebury, Vermont. She teaches all subjects, including music (chorus, dance, or hand bells) on a daily basis and plays the pipe organ at area churches. She and her husband attend folk dances and workshops as often as they can, and have conducted teacher training in folk dance as well.

Poppy Rees (Theater Games) has taught theater and directed shows with people of all ages. She especially loves theater games, improvisation, and creating original theater pieces with students. Her work in Vermont includes teaching theater at the Community College of Vermont, The Flynn Theater, and The Gailer School. She's worked on Broadway in the Makeup/Prosthetics dept. of Beauty and the Beast, built scenery at The Magic Theater in San Francisco, and spent a few summers with Bread and Puppet. She has a B.A. in Theater from Vassar College, an M.A. in Theater Education from Emerson College, and is licensed to teach Theater (K-12). She lives in Middlebury with husband JP and her two kids - Milo and Callie.

Pete Sutherland (Traditional Fiddling), though known especially for his way with Appalachian styles, would say he's more of a generalist, having spent quality time with Yankee, Irish, Scandinavian and French Canadian fiddling. He has taught and performed at dozens of folk festivals and camps. Pete currently teaches in Monkton and Burlington and is on the Applied Faculty at Middlebury College. The latest CD to feature Pete's fiddling is "Streak o' Lean" on his own Epact Label.

2010 Administrative Staff

Jody Woos (Executive Director) is a Suzuki piano teacher in New Haven, VT. She did her Suzuki teacher training with Marilyn Taggart and Cynthia Huard. She has also been influenced by the wonderful teachers of her two sons, Doug, age 20, and Tim, age 17, and by the teachers at GSMI. She is returning to the institute this year in her eighth year as director.

Susie Smolen (Associate Director, Sing, Move and Laugh) is a music educator and performer who has taught and entertained both children and adults in a variety of settings. After receiving her BA in Music Performance from Johnson State College (recorder) Susie went on to receive her Vermont Teaching License (Music K-8). Susie teaches guitar and recorder to both children and adults from her home in Rochester.

Piano Teachers

Violin/Viola Teachers

Cello Teachers

Flute Teachers