Meet Ms. Austin: Decades of Musical Passion, Guiding Every Student in the Orchestra

"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent." — Victor Hugo

For Ms. Austin, this quote captures exactly why she teaches: a belief that music should be accessible to everyone, and that every student deserves the chance to express themselves through it. It's a philosophy built on a lifetime of experience and families can rest assured their child's orchestral studies are in remarkably capable hands.

Music has been part of Ms. Austin's life for as long as she can remember. Born into a musical family, the daughter of a Suzuki violin teacher and a violin maker, she began playing the violin at just one year old, and started her own private violin studio while still in high school. She has been teaching for 30 years, sharing her love of music with students of all ages throughout her career.

Her training runs deep and wide: a Bachelor's in Violin Performance and Painting from Northern Illinois University, a Master's in Visual Arts from Cornell University, and Suzuki Pedagogy training completed at Ithaca College. That blend of music and visual art continues to shape her teaching today, giving her creative, multi-sensory ways to help students experience music as a form of expression and discovery.

As the Orchestra Teacher at the Waldorf School of DuPage, Ms. Austin especially enjoys building an orchestra community where every student can find a meaningful place, regardless of their experience, ability, or level of interest. One of her ongoing joys is bringing together students with different strengths and personalities to create something meaningful as an ensemble; a skill that comes from three decades of guiding musicians at every stage of their journey. Ms. Austin stays active in the music world herself, maintaining a private Suzuki violin studio and performing as a professional violinist with the Fox Valley Orchestra.

For Ms. Austin, teaching is about far more than learning notes and technique. She hopes to help every student develop confidence, perseverance, curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong connection to music; the same qualities that will serve them well beyond the orchestra room.

Getting to Know Ms. Austin

Ms. Austin's musical taste is as wide-ranging as her teaching. "I have very eclectic tastes in music!" she says. "I love everything from bluegrass and world music to old-school hip-hop and opera." She loves the experience of hearing live music, but nothing compares to playing in a symphony being completely surrounded by the sound of every instrument around her. "There is something truly magical about making music together and communicating through a universal language."

Spring is her favorite season. "It is such a welcome relief after the cold, long winter," she says. "I love the sense of rebirth and awakening that comes with the season; the earth coming back to life, animals waking up, the early spring birdsong, ferns slowly uncoiling, and flowers beginning to bloom." For Ms. Austin, there's something hopeful and beautiful about watching the world wake up around us much like watching a student discover their own musical voice.

For families, this means your child's orchestral education is guided by a teacher with true mastery of her craft and a genuine, lifelong love for sharing it; someone who believes every student, no matter their starting point, has a place in the music.