Zachary Ebin President
Dr. Zachary Ebin is the Director of the Suzuki Program at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music. Dr. Ebin holds a BA and an MA from Brandeis University, an MM from the Boston Conservatory, and a PhD from York University. In high demand as a guest clinician Dr. Ebin has taught and lectured all over North America at conferences, institutes, and workshops. His main fields of interest include: music education, string pedagogy, Suzuki pedagogy, music cognition and perception, and historical musicology. His research has appeared in journals such as the American String Teacher and the American Suzuki Journal, and has been presented at conferences such as the NYS-SL chapter meeting of the American Musicological Society and the International Conference on Music Cognition and Perception. In 2015, Dr. Ebin founded the Silent Voices Project. In the project, young composers write chamber music based on poems written by children during the Holocaust. The Silent Voices Project has been performed in both Canada and the United States, and is available as a recording. Before relocating to Nashville, Dr. Ebin founded and directed Arco Violini, an advanced precollege string orchestra dedicated to giving back to the community through performances at hospitals, senior residences, and charity events in Ontario. Dr. Ebin led Arco Violini in over 40 performances including two television appearances. Dr. Ebin currently serves as the music director of the Vanderbilt Commodore Orchestra. As a violinist, Dr. Ebin has performed extensively in the United States, Israel, and Canada. He has studied with Leslie Fayette, Jocheved Schifter, Lazar Gosman, Daniel Stepner, Joseph McGauley, and Jacques Israelievitch. Dr. Ebin’s debut recording is a collection of forgotten works of Ukrainian composers, titled Dreams: A Revival of Ukrainian Music. From 2014-2016 Dr. Ebin served as the artistic director of the Belfountain Music Festival, an annual chamber music festival in Caledon, Ontario. Email: president@middletnsuzuki.org
Trumpeter, pedagogue, and scholar Fred Sienkiewicz enjoys a diverse career as an orchestral performer, Suzuki trumpet teacher, solfège and musicianship pedagogue, and a leading researcher into the life and music of Armenian composer Alexander Arutiunian. Dr. Sienkiewicz is a member of both the Jackson Symphony Orchestra and the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra. He has performed with ensembles across New England and the Mid-South, including the Nashville Symphony, Vermont Symphony, Symphony New Hampshire, Knoxville Symphony, Gateway Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra Kentucky, and INTERSECTION (Nashville). As a soloist and recitalist, Sienkiewicz has appeared in venues ranging from Nashville Public Radio’s Live in Studio C to the International Trumpet Guild Conference. Dr. Sienkiewicz serves as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Musicianship at Vanderbilt University, runs a private studio of both brass and musicianship students, and is Tennessee’s first Suzuki Method-certified trumpet teacher. Sienkiewicz has previously served as chamber music and trumpet faculty for the prestigious Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and ear training teacher at Austin Peay State University, and trumpet instructor for Gordon College, Keene State College, and Plymouth State University. Sienkiewicz earned degrees at the University of Massachusetts (B.M.), the New England Conservatory of Music (M.M.), and Boston University (D.M.A.), studying trumpet in the studios of Eric Berlin, Charles Schlueter, Terry Everson, and Eric Ruske, interpretation with conductor Benjamin Zander, ear training and solfège with Dr. Gary Karpinski, Dr. Larry Scripp, and Marianne Ploger, and was Suzuki pedagogy with Ann-Marie Sundberg. His doctoral dissertation from Boston University is the first English-language investigation of the life and music of Soviet Armenian composer Alexander Arutiunian. Email: vicepresident@middletnsuzuki.org
Anne Landis Jetton Secretary Born and raised in Florence, Alabama, Anne Landis Jetton began classical training at the age of five and studied violin at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music. She is a founding member of Jet Set Strings, a professional string quartet and trio based in Nashville, Tennessee, and maintains a regular schedule as an instructor and freelance violinist. As both a soloist and ensemble member, Anne Landis performs at weddings and special events in the Nashville, Tennessee and Florence, Alabama areas. She resides in Nashville with her husband, Jeff Jetton, accordion player and frequent musical collaborator. In addition to performance and teaching, Anne Landis holds a graduate degree from Christie’s auction house (New York) in Connoisseurship and the Art Market. In 1999-2000 she worked as part of the musical instrument department at Christie's, which specializes in the auction of fine violins, violas, cellos and guitars. She has completed ECC and Unit 1 and is excited to be a part of the Middle Tennessee Suzuki community. Email: secretary@middletnsuzuki.org
Andra Prewett Treasurer Andra Prewett is the Executive Director of Franklin Suzuki Academy in Franklin, TN. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Viola Performance from Lawrence University. Originally from Chicago, she has performed with the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra, the Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra, and various theater companies and rock bands throughout the Midwest. Ms. Prewett is a seasoned improviser and worked as a freelance fiddler upon moving to Nashville, TN in 2010. She has completed long-term teacher training with Ed Kreitman at the Western Springs School of Talent Education, and Carol Smith at the Blair School of Music. Her principal teachers include Matthew Michelic, Peter Slowik, Roland Vamos, and Li-Kuo Chang. Ms. Prewett is married to record producer Ryan Prewett. In her free time she enjoys playing string overdubs for her husband, as well as supporting environmental conservation groups such as the Audobon Society, Exotic Avian Sanctuary of Tennessee, and the Tennessee Native Plant Society. Email: treasurer@middletnsuzuki.org
Deidre Fominaya Bacco President Deidre Fominaya Bacco joined the Nashville Symphony in 1982. During the 32 years with the Nashville Symphony, she recorded 26 CD's, 15 Grammy nominations and 7 Grammy wins. She holds a Music Performance degree from Bowling Green State University (Ohio), and studied with Dr. Eloy Fominaya (her father), Myron Kartman, Paul Makara, and Camilla Wicks. Prior to moving to Nashville, she played with the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham String Quartet, Concertmaster of the Hidden Valley Opera Company in Carmel, California, the San Jose Symphony, Monterey Symphony, the San Rafael Symphony and the Orquesta Sinfonica del Estado de Mexico in Toluca, Mexico. She is a founding member of the Suzuki Center of Nashville, a member of the faculty at St. Cecilia Academy, Overbrook School, and the W.O. Smith School, as well as assisted with Early Suzuki Childhood Education classes in East Nashville and Franklin, TN. She has taught at several workshops and festivals around the US. Her interest in the Suzuki Method began in 1986 as a Suzuki parent of her 4 year old daughter, taking lessons with her sister, Toni Ferguson, a respected Suzuki teacher in Nashville and a founding member of the MTSA organization. Deidre Bacco has the following registered training with the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) and maintains an active membership with the SAA. SUZUKI TRAINING:
Christia Chambers made her orchestral debut at Carnegie Hall in 2008. A graduate with honors in Viola Performance at the University of Michigan, Mrs. Chambers received her Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Akron with honors as well. She is the recipient of numerous competition awards and scholarships. Besides being a grand prize winner of the prestigious Tuesday Musical Scholarship Performance Competition, she was awarded the Arden J. Yockey Scholarship for Strings, the Winifred Collins Scholarship for Music Education and was a James B. Angell Scholar. A lifelong musician, beginning violin at the age of four, Mrs. Chambers is passionate about music education. She has dedicated herself to the pursuit of serious string pedagogy and has been a violin instructor for over 10 years. In addition to her large studio of students in Music City Strings Academy, Mrs. Chambers has also been a workshop clinician for the Suzuki Talent Education Program - Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama and a faculty member of the South Carolina Suzuki Institute at the University of South Carolina in Aiken, South Carolina. Email: christia.chambers@gmail.com
Toni Ferguson Member At-Large Mrs. Toni Ferguson is a professional violinist with over 30 years of performing and teaching experience. She performs frequently as a freelance musician around Nashville, playing in various regional orchestras and recording sessions. Mrs. Ferguson is the Co Director of the Suzuki Center of Nashville on the Dominican Campus, and the director of the St. Cecilia Chamber Ensemble. She also teaches private lessons through The Overbrook School, St. Cecilia Academy, The Harpeth Hall School, Montgomery Bell Academy along with maintaining a private studio. Mrs. Ferguson is one of the founding members of the Middle Tennessee Suzuki Association and the Founder and former Director of the Austin Peay Continuing Education Suzuki After-School Program, (now community music school)- in Clarksville, Tennessee and The Belmont College Suzuki Program. She is currently on the Board of Directors of the MTSA. In addition to teaching full time, Mrs. Ferguson has professional experience with each of the following groups: Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Middle Tennessee Philharmonic, Cape Cod Monomoy Theatre Orchestra, Nashville Children's Theatre Orchestra, Tennessee Repertory Theatre Orchestra, Craig Duncan Orchestra, The Wedding Company, Nashville Silver Strings, Blackwire (Rock), Augusta Symphony Orchestra (Ga.), Columbia Philharmonic Orchestra(S.C.), freelance work for weddings, church services and private parties across the state. Television and Recording Credits: Music Video for Trisha Yearwood- "This Is Me You're Talking To"; Orchestral Contractor for BBC/PBS production of "The Battle of Hood and Bismarck"; 615 Music Library/Vitamin Records-String Quartet Tributes to the following bands: Foo Fighters, Slayer, System of a Down, Sade, Santana, Weezer, Elton John; "South Pacific" production Momomoy Theatre Chatham Massachusetts for local MA television station; "Think About" series for South Carolina Public Television "Making Music Come Alive." Mrs. Ferguson attended The University of South Carolina, where she received a Bachelor of Music Education (USC String Project) and the Maria Monckton scholarship. She has also attended the American Suzuki Institute- University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, and currently holds 14 registered Teacher Training Units as well as the Every Child Can course. Mrs. Ferguson has been awarded twice, the Tennessee Governors School For the Arts Outstanding Teacher Award. Mrs. Ferguson is married to recording artist, Jim Ferguson and they have one daughter. Email: aferg0007@gmail.com |
Fred Sienkiewicz Vice President / President Elect 
Christia Chambers Member At-Large