Mary Ann Mears

Mary Ann Mears has been teaching Suzuki violin for 43 years. As a student of William Starr at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, she graduated with a bachelors of Music in Suzuki String Techniques. She spent four summers studying the Suzuki method by observing the Japanese teachers with their students and also studying privately with Dr. Suzuki. Upon graduation she moved to the Denver, CO, area where she maintained a private studio and was on the founding board of the Suzuki Association of Colorado, and served as secretary and graduation chair for 5 years. When the Jefferson Youth Symphony was formed, Mary Ann served as sectional coach for the violins, and conducted the beginner-intermediate orchestra. While maintaining Lakewood Talent Education she arranged and participated in many local workshops and Suzuki institutes. After moving from CO to the Memphis, TN area, Mary Ann taught both private and group classes for the University of Memphis Community Music School. She subsequently ran her own program, The Suzuki Music Makers, which performed at numerous local nursing homes, malls, and the Delta Fantasy Flight for patients at St. Jude’s Children’s hospital. A favorite project was the “Play It By Ear” program at the Memphis Oral School for the Deaf. Students were given one year of violin instruction in a group and semi private setting. The children all had profound hearing loss and cochlear implants or hearing aids. Since moving to Chattanooga in 2018, Mary Ann has maintained a private studio and has volunteered with the Chattanooga Youth Symphony. Currently, she maintains a private studio and teaches group lessons and small ensembles for the Zan Young School of Music.