Here are some of our former students in 1989. We encourage former UNI Suzuki School students to submit information about where they are and what they are doing.  You can send info and jpg photos to cathy.craig@uni.edu or use the Contact Us function under ABOUT US.

If you missed our events this year to celebrate our 35th anniversary, here are the highlights.  A lovely luncheon, a tour of the newly renovated Russell Hall and a play-in were attended by a number of current & former teachers, parents and students in December.  A great time was had by all.  Several alumni joined us for the spring concert in the May. 

• special guests:  Martha Holvik, William and Doris Preucil and Karen Holvik 
• parents: Patty Achey-Cutts, Bruce & Marcie Baillie, Margit Coltvet, Mary Grey, Stephany Harvey, Carolyn Hildebrandt, Kent & Paula Hansen, Sue Jacobs, Pam Johnson, Bobbi Kazenelson, Tom & Diane Manifold, Tom & Helena Mullen, Gerald & Vivian Ramsey, and Donna Schmeidel
• former teachers: Stephen Baillie, Margit Coltvet, Mia Craig, Saylar Craig, Mary Grey, Pam Johnson, Tanya Payne, Jackie Venter Ridder, Kathleen Sihler
• former students:  '90-Beth Behn, '91 Saylar Craig, '94 Tosha Payne, '96 Tanya Payne, '97 Stephen Baillie, '98 Mia Craig, Sarah Hansen, Tara Payne; '00 Emily Hansen, '03 Amy Schmeidel, '05 Sara Harken, Tara Lynn Ramsey; '06 Robert Espe, Michaela Gansen, Caitlyn Hurban, Carrie Manifold, Bryn Sumner; '07 Molly Arns, Katie Brandt, Sarah Pakala; '08 Jordan Bancroft Smithe, Sarah Larsen; '09 Jennifer Hurban, Heidi Klett, Nori Payne; and Jacob Kazenelson, Linnea Sumner, Steve Ramsey.

NEW ALUMNI

We welcome the following recent 2011 graduates to our growing list of alumni.  Their area of interest for the future in noted following their names.

• Jyothi Dhanwada--international studies and biology with a minor in French
• Joni Griffith--vocal performance with a minor in design or theatre
• Betrenna Jacobs--
• Hannah Howland--violin performance
• Dan Harter--engineering
• Emily Hurban--food service major
• Raquel Williams--music, theatre, literature, French, physical therapy

ALUMNI Entries:

 Tara Payne;

Tara Payne joined the UNI Suzuki School faculty in 2004 and left after the spring semester in 2011.  Tara is a native of Cedar Falls, and was a student in the UNI Suzuki School, where she performed with the Northern Iowa Youth Orchestra and "Fiddlesticks."  She was a violin student of Therese Fetter.  Tara received a bachelor's degree in Christian Education with a music emphasis from Embassy University and has studied Suzuki teaching at the Western Spring School of Talent Education, Chicago, Toronto and Stevens Point Suzuki Institutes with Ed Kreitman, Nancy Jackson, Joanne Melvin, Karen Kimmett and Alice Joy Lewis.  Tara has also pursued studies in linguistics, and enjoys cooking, biking traveling world-wide.  

Saylar Craig with his family, wife Tracy and children Kalia & Harrison.

Former Violin Faculty Saylar Craig (son of Cathy) now resides in Singapore with his wife Tracy (trumpet), daughter Kalia (cello), and son Harrison (violin).  But at one time, he was an eager young pre-Twinkle violinist in the UNI Suzuki School like many reading this page.  Eventually, he earned math education and music degrees while teaching violin and viola at the UNI Suzuki School, playing violin in the WCFSO, and electric violin in rock bands.  Now, he and wife Tracy are teaching for the Singapore American School; Tracy teaches elementary music & band and Saylar teaches geometry.  Previously they were located in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia where they taught at the school for Aramco.  There they both enjoyed playing in the Bahrain Concert Sinfonia as well as other community musical opportunities in their area.  During annual stateside visits, the entire family usually attends a summer Suzuki institute and resumes lessons with UNI Suzuki faculty. They are pictured here wearing their Suzuki Institute shirts and playing each other's instruments.