Faculty

The Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) is committed to Dr. Suzuki's belief that every child can be educated and that high ability can be nurtured in every child. With this commitment in mind the SAA has designed a comprehensive Teacher Development Program to assist teachers in creating the best possible learning environment for their students, an environment that puts a priority on the development of fine character along with excellent ability and musicianship.

Along with pedagogical skills for working effectively with students of all levels and different learning styles, the SAA emphasizes teacher development opportunities in all areas of parent and student support and engagement.  The SAA has formulated requirements to ensure high standards for teacher training, and to make possible the recognition of such training.

All Amarillo College Suzuki Program private lesson faculty have completed levels of specialized SAA training, and are encouraged to continue regular continuing education opportunities.  Many faculty also have state teaching certificates and other varied string pedagogy and educational training.
 

Beverly de la Bretonne

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Music Director, Violin Instructor and Ensemble Coach

Suzuki Association of the Americas Certified Teacher Trainer
Suzuki Violin Books 1-10 training with John Kendall and William Starr.
Suzuki Principles in Action (SPA) with Sharon Miller
Mark O'Connor Method Certified Teacher
Amarillo College Professor Emeritus, 2013
Bachelor of Music Ed, University Louisiana Monroe
Master of Music Ed, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville0

Music Building 305
Email
Phone: 806-371-5342

Beverly de la Bretonne retired in 2004 after twenty-five years as a full-time faculty member of the Amarillo College Music Department. She directed the AC Chamber Orchestra, taught Freshman Theory and Ear Training, String Methods Class and was the violin/viola and flute teacher. Mrs. de la Bretonne continues part-time on the music faculty at Amarillo College. A founding member of the Amarillo College Suzuki String Program in 1979, she is also currently Music Director of the AC Suzuki Program, a registered Suzuki teacher-trainer, teaches a full violin studio, group classes and is frequently invited to teach in workshops around the country. She has been  listed as an outstanding teacher in Whos Who in American Colleges.
A native of Monroe, Louisiana, her major areas of study were violin, flute and piano as she obtained her B.M.E. degree from University Louisiana Monroe. She was Music Department Honor Graduate and was listed in Whos Who in American Colleges. She received her M.M.E. degree (studying Suzuki Pedagogy with John Kendall) from Southern Illinois UniversityEdwardsville in 1969. After graduation, she was invited to coordinate John Kendalls Suzuki Program at the University. After ten years in this position, she moved to Amarillo to take the position at AC.
Mrs. de la Bretonne is a member of the Amarillo Symphony and the AC Faculty Trio/Quartet. She performs frequently in the community and in her church music program.

 

Camille Day Nies

Nies headshot 2022

Amarillo College Department of Music & Theatre Chair
Professor of Music at Amarillo College
Suzuki Program Viola Instructor and Ensemble Coach

Suzuki Every Child Can! (ECC) with Sue Baer.
Suzuki Violin Books 1-8 training with Beverly de la Bretonne, Marilyn O'Boyle, Stevie Sandven, Joanne Bath & Doris Preucil.
Suzuki Viola Books 1-6, 8 training with Elizabeth Stuen-Walker.
Suzuki Viola Book 9 training with William Preucil.
Suzuki Principles in Action (SPA) with Sharon Miller.
Mark O'Connor Certified Teacher.
Bachelor of Music Business, WTAMU
Master of Music Performance (voice), WTAMU

Music Building 308
Email
phone: 806/371-5346

 

Camille's Webpage with links to biography, schedules, etc.

 

Christian Anderson

ChristianCello Instructor and Group Leader, Ensemble
Bachelor of Music Education at VanderCook College of Music

 

Music Building: 107
Email
phone: 806-371-5340 (music office) 

 


Christian Anderson is a professional cellist and orchestra teacher in the Amarillo area. Starting cello at age 5, he fell in love with the instrument quickly and is an active member in the community, playing in local quartets, the Amarillo Symphony, Amarillo Opera and has worked as a coach with the Amarillo Symphony Youth Orchestra. He received his undergraduate degree at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, studying under Eran Meir and participated in several different chamber ensembles. He is excited to join the AC Suzuki Program to continue influencing childrens lives through the power of music.

 

 

Homero Campos

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Guitar Instructor and Group Leader, Ensemble
Suzuki Every Child Can! (ECC) with Beverly de la Bretonne
Suzuki Guitar Book 1 training with David Madsen
Suzuki Guitar Book 2 training with David Madsen
Master of Arts- Music Composition, West Texas A&M University
Bachelor of Music, Musicians Institute

Music Building: 201A
Email
phone: 806/371-5357


Homero Campos began teaching guitar at Amarillo College in 2007, emphasizing a mixture of classical and jazz styles in building student skill levels.  A versatile and active performer, he is called on for jazz, rock, blues, classical, fusion, theatre, country and folk work in the Amarillo area.  Building on a long history of private teaching, Homero has trained in the Suzuki method with teacher-trainer David Madsen, and began the popular guitar component of the Amarillo College Suzuki Program in 2014.

Diana Dow

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Violin Instructor
Suzuki Every Child Can! (ECC) with Jenna Potts
Suzuki Violin Book 1 training with Jenna Potts
Suzuki Violin Book 2 training with Mark Mutter
Suzuki Violin Books 3 & 4 in progress

Email
phone:806-371-5340
Music Building MB111

Diana Dow is a 1980 graduate of Amarillo High School where she participated in the amazing orchestra program taught by Ron Wells who led the orchestra to earning the TMEA Honor Orchestra in her sophomore year.  She was also a member of the TMEA All-state orchestra for 3 years and a student of John Sumerlin at WTSU.
She has had the privilege of playing with the Amarillo Symphony, Tupelo Symphony (Mississippi), Lubbock Symphony, and The Orchestra of the Pines located in Nacogdoches, TX.  She established and taught two homeschool string orchestras: The East Texas Home School String Orchestra in Lufkin, Texas and The Coastal Bend Strings in Corpus Christi, Texas.  She has taught private violin/piano lessons for nearly 30 years.
While homeschooling her 6 boys she was active in homeschool co-ops which gave her the opportunity to teach a variety of classes including: Ukulele, Recorder, a Charlotte Mason style music class, Latin and Crochet. Her 6 boys and their wives have blessed her so far with 14 grandchildren.
Diana also loves to teach the Bible to women and children.  She has a blog where she offers encouragement, ideas and original songs/hymns she has written: Bible Songs and More (www.biblesongsandmore.com).  She also has a second blog that is more family/home focused:  A Keeper At Home (www.dandidow.com).

Kay Fristoe

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Flute, Recorder and Group Fife Instructor, Ensemble
Suzuki Every Child Can! (ECC) with Beverly de la Bretonne
Suzuki Flute Book 1 training with June Warhoftig
Suzuki Flute Book 2 & 3 training with Pandora Bryce
Suzuki Flute 4 training with Sarah Murray
Suzuki Flute 6 training with David Gerry
Suzuki Principles in Action (SPA) with Sharon Miller
General Education degree

Email
phone:806-371-5340

Kay Hotmann Fristoe is thrilled to join the Amarillo College Suzuki Staff! Her history of flute teaching spans 27 years with students ranging from ages 3 to 65. Many of her students have been all-staters and some have continued their education as college music majors. 

In 1995, a Suzuki Piano teacher introduced her to teacher training for Flute Foundations and shes been hooked on the Suzuki method ever since. She then introduced other teachers to the summer training institutes and took them along as she went back for more teacher training classes, a masterclass, and two flute repair courses.   
In addition to flute lessons, Kay has had many exciting performance opportunities including symphonies in Plainview, Texas; Kingsport, Tennessee; and Roswell, New Mexico. She has adjudicated for the Kansas All-State band, all-city and all-region bands, several solo and ensemble competitions, the Kansas Lions Band, and the Kansas Ambassadors of Music. She was featured three times as a soloist with the Dodge City Cowboy Band and a Kansas Ambassadors of Music European tour. 
She has taught Elementary Music, Reading, English and Social Studies in grades 5 through 12, as well as private flute and ensemble classes at New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell New Mexico, Dodge City Community College in Dodge City, Kansas and in the pre-college department of Howard Payne Univeristy in Brownwood, Texas. She currently teaches 7th grade English/Language Arts and Reading at Bowie Middle School in Amarillo.

 

Tiffany McDaniel

Tiff.1Amarillo College Music Department and Suzuki Administrative Assistant
Suzuki Violin Instructor, Violin Group, Ensemble Coach, Workshop Coordinator
Suzuki Every Child Can! (ECC) with Beverly de la Bretonne
Suzuki Violin Books 1-4 training with Beverly de la Bretonne
Suzuki Principles in Action (SPA) with Sharon Miller
Mark O'Connor Method Certified Teacher
Bachelor of Music Business, West Texas A&M University
Associates in Applied Music, Amarillo College



Music Building 304, 310
Email
phone: 806-371-5340 (AC)

Tiffany Jackson McDaniel began playing the violin at age 3 in the Amarillo College Suzuki String Program, founded by the late Suzanne Grooms and Helen Gerald. Throughout her career she has studied with Beverly de la Bretonne and Annie Chalex. She was a member of the TMEA All-State Orchestra for 2 years, a 7 year member of the All-Region Orchestra, a four year winner of the National Orchestra Award (High School Division)  and won 'Outstanding' marks at both the Greater Southwest Music Festival, and UIL Solo Competition for 9 years. Tiffany was also a featured fiddler in "TEXAS:A Musical Drama"/"Texas: Legacies" for 6 years, and a member of the touring branch of the show, "Texas Express". Tiffany currently teaches Suzuki violin in the Amarillo College Suzuki Program, where she received training from Beverly de la Bretonne, and serves as administrative assistant for both the music department and the Suzuki program. She  performs regularly with the Amarillo Symphony, of which she has been a member since 1998, and is principal 2nd violinist of the Amarillo Opera orchestra. When she isn't playing or teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Chris, hanging out with her daughter, Hazel, and keeping up with their rambunctious dogs, Captain Crunch (C.C.) and Pearl.

For Tiffany's full bio please go HERE      

 

Philip Sebastiani

Suzuki Violin Instructor, Ensemble Coach
Suzuki Every Child Can! (ECC) with Beverly de la Bretonne
Suzuki Violin Books 1-3 training with Beverly de la Bretonne
Bachelor of Music Performance, Eastern Oregon University
Master of Arts in Music with emphasis in Music Education and Music Performance, Marshall University (WV)

Philip J. Sebastiani, professional violinist and educator, was born and raised in Anchorage, AK. A son to immigrant parents, he started playing violin in grade school. His degrees include a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Eastern Oregon University with honors and Master of Arts in Music with emphasis in Music Education and Music Performance from Marshall University (WV). His graduate studies included teaching the course, Music in Society, to non music majors, serving as Concertmaster of the Marshall University Symphony Orchestra and applied studies in violin, viola, and chamber music with Dr. Elizabeth Reed Smith.
As an orchestral player he has held positions with numerous professional orchestras in Alaska, Oregon, Kentucky, West Virginia, Texas, and New Mexico. Currently, he serves as Principal 2nd Violin of the Big Spring Symphony Orchestra. 
As an educator Philip started the String programs at St. Joseph Catholic School (WV) and Aspire! Conservatory of Fine and Performing Arts (KY) where he taught Orchestra and applied violin, viola, and cello. His students have been accepted into various honor ensembles and have received superior ratings in competition.

Philip is also a Special Education Teacher in Canyon ISD. He is a father to two boys, a sponsored ultramarathoner, and lover of board games. 

 

Additional Group Teachers


David Hinds, Orchestra/Ensemble

David is a retired Orchestra Director from Amarillo ISD.  In addition to conducting the AC Chamber Orchestra he directs the AC Suzuki Orchestra.  He received the BME degree from West Texas A&M University and the MME degree plus post graduate work from the University of North Texas.  He is an active composer with fifteen string orchestra compositions published by Excelcia Music, Carl Fischer Music and Ludwig Music (formerly Latham Music).  He was a member of the Amarillo Symphony for over thirty years and is a member of TMEA, TODA, ASTA and ASCAP.  David is also an active adjudicator for UIL orchestra competitions; serves as a region orchestra conductor/clinician and is a member of the board of directors for Greater Southwest Music Festival.

 

105492390 3228747033844005 2687301005031615410 nNatalia Korenchuk, Advanced Level Strings
Suzuki Every Child Can! with Beverly de la Bretonne
Suzuki Violin Books 1-3 with Beverly de la Bretonne

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Natalia Korenchuk is a prize-winner of many international competitions and has performed as a soloist, chamber and orchestra musician in the main concert halls in Europe and the USA. Natalia won Second Place in the American Protg International Piano and String Competition where she performed at Weill Carnegie Hall, New York. She also received The Best Gershwin Performance and Audience Prize in the Gershwin Brooklyn International Competition in New York.

Natalia graduated from the St. Petersburg Conservatory in Russia with the Master in Music Performance and Pedagogy, she holds a Master's degree in Music Performance from Wichita State University and a Graduate Certificate from Park Universitys International Center of Music.
Natalia has had extensive chamber music training with many renowned musicians, including Michael Stern. She has a passion for teaching and sharing her experiences with her students.

While in Kansas, she was a member of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and is currently an assistant concertmaster of the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas. Natalia is a violinist of the Chamber Music Amarillo ensemble, Amarillo Opera orchestra, and is a violin faculty at the Third Coast Chamber Collective.

 

1000002323Joanne Fryml, Rhythm and Movement
Joanne Fryml is a vocalist and former choral director as well as a fellow Suzuki parent with two sons in the Suzuki violin program. She received a bachelors degree in choral music education from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina where she met her husband, AC Choral Director Nathaniel Fryml. She taught high school choral music and private voice in South Carolina before moving to Los Angeles for her husband's schooling and taking time off from teaching to raise her three boys.  She has sung in community choirs in South Carolina and California, and she maintains an active presence in the Amarillo Master Chorale when her young familys schedule allows for it.  She developed a love for music at a young age and has sung in church choirs since the age of 5. She now enjoys serving in the music ministry at her church as well as listening to jazz, standards from the 1940s, classic Broadway showtunes, and movie soundtracks. She loves to cook, swim, pretend to be a movie critic, and she can often be found drinking re-warmed coffee while trying to keep up with her three boys. 

 

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Perhaps it is music that will save the world.

the great cellist, Pablo Casals,
upon hearing a group of Suzuki
students perform.