Faculty & Staff

Linda Habig, flute, holds a Bachelor of Music degree in flute performance from Baldwin-Wallace College (Ohio) and studied with prominent teachers in New York, Philadelphia and Chicago.  A member of the Heisey Wind Ensemble, she has played with regional orchestras and ensembles in Chicago, New Jersey, and central Ohio.  Linda has taken Suzuki teacher training at both the International Flute Institute at Eastern Tennessee State University, and the Berkshire Flute Institute at Williams College, Mass.  Prior to 2004, Linda had an extensive career in corporate finance.

Maryfrances Kirsh, Program Administrator, piano and violin, accompanist, attended Agnes Scott College, holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education in piano and voice from West Chester University, PA, and a Master of Arts in Piano Pedagogy from The Ohio State University.  She received the bulk of her Suzuki training from Mary Craig Powell and Caroline Frasier and has been awarded the Suzuki Association of the Americas Certificate of Merit.  She has been on the piano faculty of the Columbus Suzuki Institute, the American Suzuki Institute, and is co-founder of “Suzuki Piano Friends,” a frequent gathering of Suzuki piano teachers in the Columbus area.  Maryfrances has been the parent/practice partner of three Suzuki violinists and has a passion for supporting other parent/practice partners.

Susan Larson, violin, viola, chamber music, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in violin performance and music education from Kent State University and has completed graduate work in string pedagogy at The Ohio State University and The University of Wisconsin.  She is the founder and music director of the Newark-Granville Youth Symphony and is a clinician and conductor for ensembles throughout the country.  Susan also performs with various orchestras, including the Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra.

Chris Moehlenkamp, cello, moved to Columbus in the fall of 2012, and has been teaching in the Denison University Suzuki Program since 2013.  He is a member of the Newark Granville Symphony Orchestra and an associate member of the Columbus Symphony.  Chris’ Suzuki Teacher Training includes study with Gilda Barston, David Evenchick, Pam Devenport, Sally Gross, Alice Vierra and Annett Costanzi.  He holds a Bachelor of Music from Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and also recently acquired a long-delayed Master of Music, studying with Mark Rudoff at The Ohio State University.  Chris retired in 2011 from the United States Air Force where he served as principal cellist in the premier Air Force Symphony Orchestra and Concert Band for 23 years.  He maintained a private cello studio in his home in Northern Virginia and was involved in Suzuki education both as a parent and as a coach in his wife Nadine’s violin studio.  In addition, Chris taught both chamber music and cello for many summers at the Central Virginia Suzuki Institute.

Nadine Moehlenkamp, violin, recently relocated to Columbus and was founder, director, and primary violin instructor for the very active Woodbridge Suzuki Studio and its performing group, the Shenandoah Junior Strings near Washington D.C.  Nadine received her Suzuki teacher training from William Starr, is a frequent guest clinician at workshops and institutes, and has served as practice partner for her own two children.

Maria Prentice, piano and cello, holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Capital University. She started playing piano at the age of eight through the Denison University Suzuki Program. She began Suzuki piano teacher training in 2018, taking courses from Marilyn Anderson and Caroline Fraser. Maria also learned cello through the Denison Suzuki Program and began taking cello teacher training in 2022 with Pam Devenport. In addition to her teaching, she is the music director and organist at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.

Jim Van Reeth, Program Director, violin and viola, holds a Bachelors of Music in Violin Performance from the Aaron Copeland School of Music at Queens College-CUNY and a Masters in Music Education at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point where he completed long-term Suzuki training with Patricia D’Ercole.  Jim has taught in the Suzuki Programs at Encore Music Studios (Columbus, OH), American Talent Education Center (Stevens Point, WI) and Capital University (Columbus, OH), and currently teaches violin at Suzuki Music Columbus.  He has served as a faculty member at the Summer Suzuki Institutes at Capital University, the American Suzuki Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, The Intermountain Suzuki String Institute, and Blue Ridge Suzuki Camp in Orkney Springs, VA.  Jim performs with the Sterling String Quartet and the Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra. He was the coordinator of the Suzuki Youth Orchestras of the Americas (SYOA) for the 2012 SAA Biennial Conference.

Dr. Philip Rudd, violin, joined the Denison University faculty in 2017 as Director of Orchestras. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Millikin University and graduate degrees in Orchestral Conducting from Illinois State University and the University of Iowa. His early training in music began with violin and cello lessons in wonderful Suzuki programs in Rochester, New York, and Wheaton, Illinois. Dr. Rudd has worked in a wide array of musical and educational settings, including all levels of public school orchestra, liturgical music, musical theatre and opera, youth symphonies, and collegiate and professional orchestras. In addition to orchestra, Dr. Rudd teaches Denison courses in music history, conducting, and violin, and he performs with the Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra.

Rebecca White, violin, group teacher, was born into a Suzuki family and began playing her violin at the age of four. She earned her undergraduate degree in violin performance from the University of Illinois and her masters degree from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point where she studied long-term Suzuki training with Patricia D’Ercole.  In addition to her home teaching, she also teaches at workshops and institutes around the country.