2026 Spring Strings Workshop
Amy Marsh
Cello & Violin
Amy began violin lessons at age 7 with Lorraine Westermark, a Suzuki violin teacher in Wilmington, NC. My involvement in music expanded to community performances with my teacher’s studio, group lessons with other local young violinists, and participation in my local youth orchestra. In high school, I joined the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra and also began teaching private violin lessons.
In college, I had the opportunity to take cello lessons. I loved the rich tone and majestic sound of the cello! I continued private cello lessons and joined the University Orchestra. By my senior year, the cello had become my principal instrument. I continued my education at the graduate level with Sharon Gerber and earned a Master of Music degree in Cello Performance. My coursework included string pedagogy for violin, viola, cello, and bass, music curriculum, and string literature. During graduate school, I taught private cello lessons through a local music store in Greenville, SC.
Over the years I have taught students ranging in age from preschool to adult, both beginning and advancing students. Amy's teacher training through the Suzuki Association of the Americas equips her to provide fun, relevant and advancing instruction to a wide range of students.
Tamara González
Viola & Violin
Tamara Gonzalez, Suzuki DaCapo and Sinfonia Orchestra Conductor, Ascension Catholic School Conductor & MacPhail Northside Youth Orchestra Conductor, joined the faculty at MacPhail in 2014, after teaching in the greater Chicago area for 10 years.
Tamara has performed as a member of the Illinois Symphony, Rockford Symphony, and SouthWest Michigan Symphony orchestras. She is currently the violist in the Stone Arch Collective and has performed with many faculty ensembles at MacPhail. Her conducting responsibilities at MacPhail range from beginner to intermediate level string and full orchestras, including the MacPhail Northside Youth Orchestra
She has taught at the Chicago Suzuki Institute, SAM fall workshop, and MacPhail Suzuki Institute, offering Suzuki group classes and musicianship classes. She was lead instructor and developed curriculum for group violin classes at Smiling Strings and worked in music outreach programs in the Southside and Westside of Chicago for more than 5 years.
Tamara studied violin and viola performance at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music and holds Bachelors of Music and Masters of Music degrees in Violin Performance from DePaul University. Tamara has completed Suzuki Violin Teacher Training units 1-10 in addition to ECC, Viola, Practicum, and Suzuki Principles in Action training courses.
