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The Fort Wayne Suzuki Talent Education program offers instruction in violin, viola and cello to students age 3 and older. Besides individual lessons, students participate in weekly group and theory classes. After mastering the fundamental skills, students participate in Beginning Orchestra. Students move on to the Intermediate and then Advanced Orchestra as their skills progress. Advanced students also participate in Chamber Music Ensembles and String Choirs.

Co-Directors

Janet Guy-Klickman and Bill Klickman

Instructors

Violin

Eloise Guy

Eloise is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music. She is retired from the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, where she was assistant concertmaster for many years. In addition to teaching private lessons, Eloise was the violin professor at both Fort Wayne Bible College and Huntington College. She completed her Suzuki Teacher Training through the Chicago, Capitol, and Louisville Suzuki Institutes.

Janet Guy Klickman

Janet began violin studies at the age of 5 with her mother, Eloise Guy. A graduate of Indiana University, she has been a member of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic since 1980. Janet met her husband, Bill, while involved in teacher training at the University of Wisconsin in Stevenspoint. It was here that Shinichi Suzuki first visited America and introduced his method of string pedagogy to our country. Janet and Bill developed their own program, Fort Wayne Suzuki Talent Education, in 1996.

Bill Klickman

Bill graduated from Capital University. Graduate work included Bowling Green State University, Toledo University, and the University of Michigan. He has played in the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, and other orchestras in northeastern Indiana.

Linda Kummernuss

Linda is a graduate of Capital University Conservatory of Music and has been a teacher for FWSTE for fourteen years. She has received Suzuki training in books 1 through 6, an overview of books 6 through 8, orchestra materials, and personal growth. Over the years Linda taught music in the Chillicothe, Ohio School System and in the Prince George County System. While a resident of Ohio, Linda served as president of the Ohio Suzuki Association for 3 years. Presently, Linda is a member of the Manchester Symphony Orchestra, a freelance musician, adjunct professor at Manchester University, runs a separate Suzuki Violin Program for the North Manchester community, instructs private lessons from her studio at home in Auburn, and helps with the Dekalb County Community Orchestra. Linda is married to Stephen Kummernuss, and has two adult children (Matt and Erika) and a grand-dog (Elpha).

Sherry Venderley

Sherry Summers Venderley has been teaching for FWSTE since 1999 and has been a member of the Indiana - Purdue University Community Orchestra since 1995. A graduate of the University of Saint Francis, Sherry has also studied at Purdue University, Lafayette; and Indiana-Purdue University, Fort Wayne. An advocate of life long learning and early childhood education, she studied Suzuki pedagogy and instruction with the renowned Suzuki instructor and teacher trainer Alice Joy Lewis. Sherry is a huge proponent of the Suzuki philosophy that “every child can,” which entails that all children can develop true talent with the support and encouragement of a caring and knowledgeable teacher along with an enthusiastic and supportive home environment. Teaching violin via the Suzuki Method has enabled Sherry to become an integral part of her student’s lives, and to realize her goal to not only instruct students to learn essential techniques, but to help them achieve their musical voice, to play from their hearts, and to take joy in their music performance and studies. Her lessons and group classes are full of laughter and the students blossom when they realize they are accepted for who they are and that having fun is part of the process. A believer in relationship as the key to achievement, she feels that beautiful music, beautiful memories, and beautiful hearts are the fruits which she is most proud of. As the mother of three grown children, who each studied Suzuki violin from age 4-18, Sherry often plays with them for weddings, religious services, and other occasions.

Viola

Eloise Guy

(Above)

Bill Klickman

Bill Klickman graduated from Capital University. Graduate work included Bowling Green State University, Toledo University, and the University of Michigan. He as played in the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, and other orchestras in northeastern Indiana.

Linda Kummerness

(Above)

Cello

Theory

Rochelle Starnes

Rochelle Starnes is a native of Fort Wayne. She graduated from IPFW with a bachelors in Vocal Music Education. She started teaching as a theory specialist for Fort Wayne Suzuki Talent in 2004. In the summer of 2014 she journeyed to London Ontario Canada where she received her certification to teach Suzuki Early Childhood Education (ECE). Being an active musician herself she loves seeing the tiny seedling of music blossom in the hearts and minds of children.

Orchestra

Debra Graham

Debra Graham holds music performance degrees from both Wheaton College and Indiana University. Debra has taught string students for over 30 years and conducted string orchestra programs in private and public schools. Her Suzuki training was obtained through Indiana University and the University of Wisconsin. Debra currently is a violist with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic.

Accompanists

Debra Borns

Debby has been playing the piano since the age of 5. She studied piano, violin, and voice while at IPFW, played violin in the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, accompanied the University Singers, and was concertmaster of the IPFW orchestra. In addition, Debby was a staff accompanist at IPFW for 10 years. Debra has been a church musician at various churches in northeast Indiana for the past 50 years and is currently the organist at Garrett Presbyterian Church. She feels very blessed to be allowed to accompany for the Fort Wayne Suzuki program these past 18 years.

Pauline Eversole

A graduate of both Indiana University and Indiana State University, Pauline majored in piano and studied violin and cello. Pauline has served as String Specialist for Lakeland Community Schools (Syracuse, Indiana), Music and Strings Teacher for MSD Steuben County, and Angola Band Instructor for St. Joseph Hessen Cassel School. She is also a long time member of Sigma Alpha Iota.