Suzuki School Director:  Ute Brandenburg  

• Russell Hall 173- (319)273-2037   ute.brandenburg@uni.edu
• B.M., Hochschule für Musik und Theater, Hannover, Germany 

Ute Brandenburg, a native of Oldenburg, Germany began her viola studies at age 13 with Julienne Riedel. Ute credits Ms. Riedel with inspiring her love for the viola and her desire to become a string teacher. She went on to study at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hannover, Germany with Hatto Beyerle and Jaap Zeijl. Since moving to the United States, she completed Suzuki training with William Preucil, Nancy Lokken, and Helen Brunner. 

Ms. Brandenburg joined the faculty of the UNI Suzuki School in 1998, and currently serves as Administrative Director. Ute has also been a parent in the Suzuki program since 2001, an experience which has deepened her understanding of the Suzuki philosophy of teaching. 

Ute is currently a member of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony, she plays regularly with Orchestra Iowa, serves as the orchestral coordinator for the Metropolitan Chorale and is an active chamber player in the area.  Ute's interests aside from music include cycling, family history research, and studying the Feldenkrais Method of Somatic Education. 

   Artistic Advisor & Master Teacher; Therese Fetter  

• Russell Hall 73-- (319)273-6113   Therese.Fetter@uni.edu          
• B.M., Irish College of Music; M.M., University of Northern Iowa     

Therese Fetter, a native of Dublin, Ireland, began her violin studies at the Irish College of Music. She received a Master of Music degree in Violin Performance from the University of Northern Iowa.  Her Suzuki training has included work with Doris Preucil, Martha Holvik, Barbara Barber, Almita Vamos, Yuko Honda and Bill Starr.  She has had an extensive career as an orchestral performer in the US and abroad, most recently as concertmaster of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra.

Ms. Fetter joined the faculty of the UNI Suzuki School in 1978, served as Director from 1986-2000, and was named Artistic Advisor in 2010. Through her association with that school, she has touched the lives of hundreds of families in the Cedar Valley.  Under her leadership the UNI Suzuki School initiated two youth orchestras, created an outreach and performance group of advanced violinists (called "Fiddlesticks"), introduced a comprehensive theory curriculum, and added flute and clarinet programs.  In 1997, in collaboration with Center City Arts, she helped establish "Music Works," a program in Waterloo that provides subsidized violin lessons for inner-city children.                   

Over the past fifteen years Ms. Fetter has served as a role model and mentor for numerous student string teachers who now teach throughout the United States and as far away as Saudi Arabia.  Her former students have gone on to study and play the violin at such schools as Harvard, the Cleveland Institute, Northwestern, Indiana University, the Eastman School of Music, St. Olaf College and at virtually every college and university in Iowa. 

Suzuki School Coordinator: Cathy Craig    

• Russell 177 - 319-273-2508 or cathy.craig@uni.edu

Cathy Craig has been involved in the administration of the UNI Suzuki School since 1987.  She currently is the Suzuki Coordinator.  She has an education degree from the University of Northern Iowa and has completed several administrative training modules for her responsibilities with the program. Cathy has two children, Saylar (and daughter-in-law Tracy, and grandchildren Kalia and Harrison) and Mia (and son-in-law Scott, and granddaughter Anya).  Children and children in-law are all musicians and teachers.  Cathy lives in Cedar Falls with her husband Bill, and enjoys singing, reading, needlework and old house decorating. 

Those without office numbers teach in shared spaces.