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Frances McLean (Weberpal) began music lessons at the age of 5 on piano and added violin at the age of 9. She went on to study violin performance and music education at Lawrence University where she double majored and earned her Bachelor of Music Degree in music education and violin performance. Soon afterwards, she completed her Suzuki teacher training and got her first job teaching 1st-3rd grade violin in Houston, TX.
Most recently, she has held the position of Head Orchestra Director at Garcia Middle School in Sugar Land, TX for the past 8 years. During her time there, she was able to enter and win the Midwest Clinic Concert, taking her entire orchestra to Chicago. She has also competed at multiple UIL contests, receiving consistent sweepstakes awards. She has recently served as the Fort Bend ISD Middle School Orchestra Coordinator and the Region 13 Middle School Orchestra Coordinator.
Frances' pedagogical beliefs center around the idea that every student can be successful with strong practice habits and quality scaffolding. Her teaching pulls influence from Suzuki, Roland, Orff, and Kodaly with a Suzuki based curriculum. She emphasizes music literacy, rhythmic competency, and exceptional performance skills and is passionate about sharing these with her students.
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A native of Nebraska, Grace Pugh began her violin studies at the age of 9 as part of the Lincoln Public Schools elementary strings program. She completed her Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance at St. Olaf College studying with Francesca Anderegg and Colleen McCullough, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Grace completed her Master of Music in Violin Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy at The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University studying with MingHuan Xu. Other former teachers include Hyeyung Yoon of the Chiara String Quartet, Ruth Meints of the Omaha Conservatory of Music, and Kim Osborne Salistean of Omaha Symphony.
An avid orchestral musician, she has toured Germany, Ireland, and much of North America. Grace has appeared at Carnegie Hall with the St. Olaf Orchestra and world renowned violinist, Sarah Chang. During her studies at St. Olaf College, Grace performed with the St. Olaf Orchestra as well as her string quartet, 22:30. At Roosevelt University Grace served as Concertmaster of the CCPA Symphony Orchestra and performed with the CCPA chamber orchestra and various chamber ensembles.
Grace embraces the Suzuki Method and Philosophy. She teaches students to be kind, confident, and to love the process of learning the violin. Grace has completed Every Child Can training with Avi Friedlander and has been certified in Suzuki Books 1-8 with Ann Montzka-Smelser.