Katherine Sullivan is a professional violinist and educator originally from New York and now based in Houston. She started playing the violin at age 4 and went on to study at the Manhattan School of Music pre-college division. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from DePaul University School of Music in Chicago, a Master of Performance degree in Orchestral Performance from the Royal College of Music in London and a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Nottingham.

Katherine has taught internationally at Stamford American International School in Singapore where she specialized in early years education and established a comprehensive Suzuki Strings program for students ages three to five. She also founded Elementary and Secondary Strings orchestras, arranging music for both ensembles and conducting them in performances and showcases. Katherine integrated the Suzuki Philosophy and the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP) Framework and served as Interim Head of Music.

The philosophy of the Suzuki method, centered on positive education and inclusivity, forms the basis of Katherine’s teaching methodology. Katherine most enjoys the long term impact and relationship that instrumental study offers the student, and creating a unique program of study to best fulfill the student’s potential.

British-American cellist and educator Ed Harper received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Houston, where he studied with Anthony Kitai of the Houston Symphony. He also holds a Master of Music Degree from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Sheffield. Ed is currently Adjunct Professor of Cello at Houston Community College and San Jacinto Community College, where he also directs the San Jacinto College String Orchestra. Additionally, Ed regularly leads sectional rehearsals and coaches chamber music ensembles for Houston Youth Symphony.

Ed has taught internationally at Stamford American International School in Singapore, delivering secondary school music instruction as part of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IB MYP). He also helped develop the school orchestral programs and string ensembles, arranged and directed whole school musical productions, and founded an after-school Suzuki strings program for students aged 5-7. Ed is a registered Suzuki cello instructor with the Suzuki Association of the Americas.

More recently, Ed has taught undergraduate music theory and aural skills classes at the University of Houston. In his teaching he aims to integrate practical skills, music theory literacy, ear training, and sight reading into a holistic instructional approach designed to develop the whole musician. Positivity, kindness, and excellence—foundational principles of the Suzuki philosophy— are the basis for this goal.

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.