Atlanta Suzuki Institute

Suzuki teachers—if you need a Teaching Strategies course (now a prerequisite for Core Unit 3), Edward Kreitman is offering it online.

Register now to explore your teaching in a supportive community.

We are thrilled to welcome Kristen Harris back to the Atlanta Suzuki Institute this year! Based in Columbia, SC, Kristen is an accomplished violinist, fiddler, and dedicated educator who serves as Violin Coordinator at the Suzuki Academy of Columbia and teaches Violin Pedagogy and String Methods at the University of South Carolina. Throughout her teaching career, she has inspired students from preschool through the teenage years, many of whom have gone on to excel in regional and all-state orchestras as well as major fiddle competitions.

Kristen’s musical journey began as a Suzuki violin student and has grown into a dynamic performing career across multiple genres. A versatile multi-instrumentalist and improviser, she tours nationally and internationally, performing and recording music ranging from classical to jazz, bluegrass, and rock. She regularly performs with the Americana group Boomtown Trio and the jazz band Flat Out Strangers.

A two-time South Carolina State Fiddle Champion, Kristen was named 2019 Artist of the Year by Jasper Magazine and released her acclaimed solo fiddle album Borger Wiggle in 2020. Her passion for both performance and education makes her an inspiring member of our faculty, and we are excited to have her return to work with our students and families again this year!