Janai Fuller, violin

Janai Fuller holds a degree in music education and a master’s in violin performance. She has studied Suzuki pedagogy in Matsumoto, Japan with Shinichi Suzuki. Her U.S. Suzuki education has included institutes with John Kendall, Lorraine Fink, Doris Preucil and others. Many of her students have gone on to major in music and have teaching and playing careers. Janai plays in the Auburn Symphony and Quartet Con Brio.

Leah Hoffman, violin

Leah Hoffman has been teaching violin at the Suzuki Institute of Seattle since 2006. She is an active member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) and has completed Suzuki training courses with Cathy Lee, Allen Lieb, Joseph Kaminsky, Joanne Melvin and Judy Bossuat. She is also the viola coach for the Seattle Youth Symphony's Debut and Junior Symphonies as well as Marrowstone in the City. From 2001-2005 Leah was a member of the New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas in Miami Beach, Florida. She earned her Master's degree in viola performance from Rice University and her Bachelor's degree in viola performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music. 

Colleen Kennedy, piano

Colleen Kennedy joined the Suzuki Institute in 2002. She holds an M.A. in Piano Performance from the University of Washington. She has performed twice with the Honolulu Symphony, as well as locally with the Eastside Symphony and the Federal Way Philharmonic. As a collaborative artist, Colleen has partnered with a diverse group of performers, ranging from opera singers, actors, church choirs, string and brass players, and most memorably, a band specializing in movie theme songs of the 70's and 80's.

Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, Colleen began piano lessons at the age of 6 and at 12 began studying with acclaimed teacher and concert artist Ellen Masaki. Colleen credits her early exposure to music wtih helping her develop creativity and confidence, and is committed to providing a parent-inclusive environment in which students can discover and express their innate musical abilities.

Rebecca (Tina) Lowe, violin

Rebecca (Tina) Lowe received her BA degree from the University of Washington, where she majored in violin performance. Tina has worked as a performer and teacher for over thirty years. She received Suzuki teacher training from Alice Joy Lewis, Mihoko Hirata and William Starr, and taught at Suzuki Northwest School in Bellevue and privately before joining the Seattle Suzuki Institute in 1999. Tina has performed as Associate Concertmaster of the Charlotte, NC Symphony and the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra. She is currently a member of the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra, and has also performed with the Northwest Chamber Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera, the 5th Avenue Theater, and on numerous film recordings. She really loves working with very young children, and enjoys seeing them grow as people and as musicians!

Sharon Miller, violin

Sharon Miller earned her music degree from Indiana University.  She studied with Mihoko Hirata, William Starr and others for her Suzuki teacher training. She has taught in Seattle since 1976.  She also was a Suzuki parent for her three grown children.

Sarah O'Cain, piano

Sarah O'Cain began studying piano with Diane Williams at the Suzuki Institute of Seattle at the age of seven. She went on to graduate with a BA Music degree in Piano Performance from Thomas Edison State College.
 
Sarah has been a prize-winning pianist throughout Washington, performing concerts and soloing with the UPS orchestra on numerous occasions. She is a sought-after accompanist in the greater Seattle area.
 
In 2007, Sarah joined the teaching faculty at the Suzuki Institute of Seattle. She is a member of the Music Teacher's National Association, the Washington State Music Teacher's Association, and the Seattle Music Teacher's Association.

Diane Williams, piano

Diane Williams has headed the piano department at the Suzuki Institute of Seattle for over 30 years. She is a graduate from the University of Washington in Music Education where she studied piano under Randolph Hokanson and harpsichord under Prithee da Silva and Silvia Kind. She is a founding faculty member of the original institute and worked alongside those ambassadors trained directly by Dr. Suzuki in Japan. Ms Williams strives to enrich her students' lives with piano and a love for music while maintaining musical excellence.

As a professional musician, Ms. Williams accompanies both vocal and instrumental soloists and has composed musical scores for amateur theatre. She has been the organist, pianist, and choir director at the Green Lake United Methodist Church for 25+ years. She is an active member of MTNA, WSMTA, and SMTA and enters her students in festivals and competitions, frequently winning awards.

Student Competitions and Awards:
WA State Piano Adjudications**
Seattle Young Artist Music Festival**
NW Chopin Festival*
University of Puget Sound Concerto Competition*
Central Washington University Sonata/Sonatina Festival*
Simon Fiset Piano Competition*
WA  State Young Composers Project*
Simon Fiset Composition Contest*
NW Federation of Musicians Composition Contest*

*first place winners
**excellence awards

Peter Williams, cello

Since 2000, Peter Williams has been the Director of Cello at the Suzuki Institute of Seattle where he studied cello as a child. In addition, Peter is an active participant and teacher in area workshops and camps such as Marrowstone in the City and Vivace Chamber Players. When not doing cello, Peter enjoys playing "hot lava" and giving "sleeping bag rides" to his son.