Teacher Bios

Jeanne Drumm, piano, Explore

Jeanne Drumm is a former student of the Suzuki Institute of Seattle, having studied piano, violin, viola, and flute. She has been teaching piano for 37 years, and has played as a collaborative pianist and accompanist for 40 years. She received her Bachelor and Master of Music in piano performance and a MM in Viola performance from the University of Washington, where she studied with Patricia Michaelian, Craig Sheppard, and Helen Callus. Jeanne holds a DMA in viola performance from New England Conservatory, where she was also a teaching assistant, piano teacher, and office manager of the Music History department.

Having owned a music school in Massachusetts for 16 years, Jeanne is delighted to be back in Seattle. Dr. Drumm has received Suzuki training from Diane Williams, Diana Galindo, Miguel Agguirre, Rolando Freitag, and Carolyn Fraser. Jeanne is a frequent adjudicator, coach, and accompanist, and can be heard playing with the Symphony Tacoma. Many of her students have gone on to pursue music after college, either as professionals or amateur musicians.

Rose Hashimoto, violin and viola

Rose Hashimoto grew up in Seattle and got her start studying viola and piano at the Suzuki Institute of Seattle. She recently returned to Seattle after a long stint in New York City. Rose was a member of the string orchestra Shattered Glass Ensemble and the Thalia Quartet, who served as Quartet in the Community for the 2013 Banff International String Quartet Competition. She has performed as a guest with two-time Grammy nominee A Far Cry, Trio Cleonice, the Aeolus Quartet, and the Argus Quartet. Rose has performed around the world in major venues and at music festivals including Birdfoot, Manchester Summer Chamber Music, Lucerne, Yellow Barn, Taos, and Kneisel Hall. Rose is co-founder of Listen Closely, an organization dedicated to building community in upper Manhattan through music.

Rose earned a B.M. from Juilliard and a M.M. and Professional Studies Diploma from Mannes College. She completed the two year Suzuki Teacher Training program at the School for Strings in New York. Rose previously served on the faculty of the Lucy Moses School at the Kaufman Music Center, the Preparatory Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College, and the El Sistema-inspired programs Upbeat NYC and Harmony Program.

Michael King, cello

Cellist Dr. Michael King is a native of Spartanburg, SC. Michael has performed both solo and chamber music across the US as part of the Oregano String Quartet and the Mordecai Cello Quartet. He received a BM in Music Performance from the University of South Carolina where he was awarded the Cello Fund Award, an MM in Music Performance from The University of North Carolina School of the Arts, a Certificate in Suzuki Pedagogy from The University of Denver where he was the teaching assistant to Richard Slavich and a DMA from the University of Washington where he was the teaching assistant to Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir. He has attended summer festivals such as the National Music Festival, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival and The Meadowmount School for Strings. His teachers include Robert Jesselson, Brooks Whitehouse, Melissa Kraut, Richard Slavich, Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir, and Carol Tarr.

Isabella Kodama, cello

Isabella Kodama is a cellist native to the Seattle area. She regularly performs with local orchestras, including the Lake Washington and Federal Way Symphonies. Isabella earned her Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from the University of Washington, where she studied with cellist Saeunn Thorsteinsdottir. She later earned her Master of Music in Cello Performance and Certificate in Suzuki Pedagogy from the University of Denver. During her graduate work, Isabella held a teaching assistant position with her cello professor, Matthew Zalkind and studied Suzuki Pedagogy with Heather Hadley. In Colorado, she taught cello at the Boulder Suzuki School and at Englewood Arts. Isabella is an avid chamber musician and has attended festivals such as the Decoda Summer Chamber Music Institute, International Festival of the Adriatic and Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival. A passionate educator, Isabella continues to teach out of her private cello studio in Seattle as well as in the Seattle Youth Symphony programs.

Kevin Leiferman, cello

Cellist Kevin Leiferman grew up in Billings, Montana, and holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Montana, a Master of Music in Performance from Miami University, and Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy Certificates from the University of Denver. His primary teachers include Dr. Nancy Critelli, Fern Glass-Boyd, Pansy Chang, Richard Slavich, Sæunn Thorsteinsdóttir, and Carol Tarr. Based in Seattle, Kevin is a freelance cellist, a regular member of the North Corner Chamber Orchestra (NOCCO) and the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, and a frequent coach for sectionals in Seattle-area schools. A dedicated educator, he is known for his patience and for fostering a fun, engaging atmosphere in his teaching studio.

Hilary Lim, piano

Kelly Moore, violin and viola

Violist Kelly Moore grew up in Boise, Idaho and holds a Bachelor’s of Music in Viola Performance from Central Washington University, a Performance Certificate from the University of Southern California, and a Diploma of Chamber Music Studies from the University of Illinois. While Kelly loves chamber music, she is also passionate about teaching! She has completed Suzuki Training with Catherine Lee and Allen Lieb, and looks forward to meeting more wonderful teachers throughout her training. Kelly also attended the Indiana University Teacher Training Retreat, learning from Mimi Zweig and Brenda Brenner. She enjoys maintaining a career balanced between freelancing and teaching. As a performer, Kelly plays with various orchestras and ensembles around the Puget Sound, and is a regular member of the unconducted chamber orchestra, NOCCO. When away from her viola, Kelly enjoys gardening, video games, and walking her dog!

Millie Runion, violin

Millie Runion is a Knoxville native violinist who taught and performed extensively in the Knoxville area. She received her BM and MM in violin performance from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and served as the graduate teaching assistant to Dr. Evie Chen. During this time, she also taught violin at the Knoxville Suzuki Academy and performed in regional orchestras, such as the Brevard Philharmonic and Oak Ridge Symphony. Millie additionally performed in music festivals across the country, including the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Redfish Music Festival, Red Rock Winter Chamber Institute, and Killington Music Festival. Her primary teachers include Dr. Evie Chen, Dr. Geoffrey Herd, Professor Bayla Keyes, and Professor Elizabeth Chang. She also performed in master classes for violinists and pedagogues, including Paul Kantor, Jinjoo Cho, Moni Simeonov, and Victor Yampolsky. Millie loves teaching students of all ages and fosters a warm and spirited approach to the violin.

Kristina Turner, violin, viola, & Tiny Seeds (SECE)

Kristina Turner is a registered Suzuki violin and viola teacher as well as a Suzuki mom to a son on viola and piano.  She wishes she had been a Suzuki kid!  Kristina completed all of the Suzuki Early Childhood Education Prenatal and Early Years, Stages 1-5 at Oregon Suzuki Institute with Danette Warren.  In addition, Kris has completed the Suzuki Violin Teaching Units for Violin 1-10, Viola 1-9, Violin Practicum, and other supplemental courses with Teacher Trainers Cathryn Lee, Elizabeth Stuen-Walker, Edmund Sprunger, Danette Schuh, Kate Jones, Richard Mooney, and Avi Friedlander. Kristina has served on the board of the Suzuki Association of Washington State and as the Viola Vice President of the Suzuki Association of Utah. She participated at the Japan Seattle Suzuki Institute from 2010-2026 and the Oregon Suzuki Institute from 2013-2023 at different times as Teacher Training Participant, Administrator, and Parent!