Palouse Suzuki Faculty
Molly Banks
MOLLY BANKS has taught violin and viola for the past 12 years with PSS. During this time she has had Suzuki training and classes from Debbie Goolsby, Ed Kreitman, Katherine Wood, Ed Sprunger, Moshe Neumann, and others. A native of Moscow , Molly received a BA in music at the U of I. She did graduate work in violin with Emanuel Zetlin at the U.W. She studied viola with True Sacckrison at WWSU, where she received a teaching certificate, and taught strings for 4 years in the Northshore School District , Bothell , WA . In Los Angeles , Molly had 3 years of private lessons with Claire Hodgkins, a former teaching assistant to Jascha Heifetz’s master class at USC. While living in Pasadena for 19 years, she taught violin privately, played professionally, and became an avid chamber music enthusiast. For the last 25 consecutive summers, she has had the good fortune to attend a chamber music workshop at Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA. Locally, she plays in the Washington-Idaho Symphony, and chamber music with friends.
Rebecca Darnall
REBECCA DARNALL, violinist, is currently completing her Masters of Arts at Washington State University and completed a Bachelors of Music in Violin Performance at Central Washington University in the Spring of 2009. Ever since the age of eight Rebecca grew up in the Suzuki method, and is now a member of the SAA, SAWS, and is returning as a teacher trainee! She is excited to become a part of the Palouse Suzuki Strings program and is looking forward to continuing her training as well as working with the teachers, parents, and students in the area. Rebecca has taught in the Prepatory Strings Program at Central Washington University as an Assistant Director and Coach, and has been a coach at the Cougar String Camp as well as the Laughing Horse Camp for strings at Central Washington University. For the last few years she has been a counselor/head counselor at the Kairos Lyceum at Central Washington University, and this year has been invited to join as a faculty member at the Lyceum. From time to time, she has also taught private lessons over the last ten years. In addition to her love for teaching, she loves to perform as a soloist and orchestral member. She is a tenured member of the Yakima Symphony Orchestra and is a substitute violinist for the Oregon East Symphony, the Walla-Walla Symphony, and the Washington-Idaho Symphony. She has been concertmaster for the WSU Symphony Orchestra, CWU Symphony Orchestra and the CWU Chamber Orchestra. She has been a soloist with the Sunnyside High School Orchestra in Yakima, WA, as well as with the Yakima Youth Symphony Orchestra, CWU Symphony Orchestra, WSU Symphony Orchestra, and the Oregon East Symphony in Pendelton, OR.
Sheila Kilcoyne
SHEILA KILCOYNE, cellist, received her Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College and her Master of Music from the University of Colorado. As part of her degree programs Sheila received extensive Suzuki training from Joan and Sanford Reuning, Carey Hocket, and William Starr. Her cello teachers include Jennifer Langham, Nathanial Rosen, Jurgen deLemos Robert Gardner, and Hans Jorgen-Jensen. Sheila has taught Suzuki violin and cello students at the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR), Bethwood Suzuki School (Woodbridge, CT), and the Neighborhood Music School (New Haven, CT). Her teaching experiences also include 12 years directing public school orchestra programs in New York, Indiana, and Connecticut. While living in Connecticut Sheila conducted the Greater New Haven Concert Orchestra and spent 7 summers at Interlochen Arts Camp as a conductor of the Junior Orchestra Program In collaboration with PSS faculty and other area string teachers Sheila founded and currently co-directs the Greater Palouse Youth Orchestra at the University of Idaho. She has been a member of Colorado Springs Symphony, Denver Chamber Orchestra, and South Bend Symphony. Currently, Sheila is a member of the Washington-Idaho Symphony. sheilakilcoyne@gmail.com
Becky Miller
BECKY MILLER is active in the local music community; she plays in the Washington-Idaho Symphony, is a violist for the Walla Walla Symphony, and is the past-president of the Auditorium Chamber Music Series board. Formerly, she taught at Holy Names Music Center in Spokane for nine years, where she also played in the first violin section of the Spokane Symphony. During the eighties, Becky taught for PSS as well the Pullman Public Schools. A native of North Dakota , Becky has a MA in Violin Pedagogy with Alan Bodman at WSU, has studied the Suzuki method extensively through countless hours of observation, reading, and discussion and has formal training through Book Six. brubeck72@frontier.com
Diane Worthey
DIANE WORTHEY has been teaching the Suzuki Method for the past 12 years. Before moving to Pullman in 2001 she taught a large public school orchestra program in Davenport , Iowa . Diane is a graduate of the University of Wyoming where she studied with Brian Hanly. Her Suzuki Method training includes registering SAA apprentice and short term courses from Shigetoshi Yamada, Daphne Hughes, Geri Arnold, Liz Arbus, Carol Smith and Doris Preucil. Diane is a member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas and the Suzuki Association of Washington State in which she serves as Strings Graduation Coordinator. Diane's past performance experience includes playing in the Santa Cruz Symphony (CA) under JoAnn Falletta, the Jackson Symphony (MI), the Dubuque Symphony (IA), and the Lancashire Chamber Orchestra, UK . Currently Diane performs with the Washington/Idaho Symphony and the Rendezvous Chamber Players. Diane teaches a full studio of violin and viola students of all ages. After all the moving, Diane and her family, Guy, Kayla and Patrick are happy to call Pullman their permanent home. Diworthey@msn.com
William Wharton
Dr. WILLIAM WHARTON, Professor Cello and Bass, has taught at the University of Idaho Hampton School of music for 34 years. His students have distinguished themselves with performing and scholarship awards. Today, throughout the US and Canada, they are music educators, master teachers, and performers. "Doc" Wharton is the founder of the UI Cello and Bass Choir and directed the UI String festival for 23 years. Dr. Wharton maintains an active performing career, giving cello recitals and chamber and concerto concerts. He especially champions contemporary composers and has worked with composers Alexi Haeiff, Zoltan Kodaly, Gunter Schuller, Debra Harsh and Dan Bukvich. He received the Ditson Award for the performance of contemporary music.
William received the BS degree from Tulane University, the BM from Ohio State University, the Master of Music from the university of Oklahoma and the Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Arizona. His major professor was cellist, philosopher and author, Gordon Epperson. He is a member of SAA and SAWS. In the local community, he has served on the Moscow Arts Commission and helped establish the Moscow Farmers' Market and Classical Night at Rendezvous in Moscow. He taught in Palouse Suzuki Strings and founded the Druian/Syringa/Paradise Creek Chamber Music Workshops. He served as chair for Idaho All-State Orchestra and completed 3 terms as ISTA President. Dr. Wharton also taught classes on compressed video to Coeur d’Alene and Boise, which led to a Boise Rotary and Mayor's Award as a Distinguished Educator.
Elena Panchenko
ELENA PANCHENKO is originally from the Ukraine. She has a degree from Moscow Conservatory College where she studied music history, theory and classical piano. She arrived in the United States well over a decade ago with her husband, Alex, and her son, Ivan. In addition to her duties at PSS, Elena accompanies numerous students at WSU and UI. She is also the Music Director at St James Episcopal Church, and accompanist for Idaho-Washington Concert Chorale and Regional Theatre of the Palouse.
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Emeritus Faculty
Thank you for your many years of service to make PSS what it is today!
Janet DeTemple
JANET DETEMPLE taught with PSS from 1976 to 2009. She has completed training at all repertoire levels of the Suzuki Method literature. Her training includes short term units at various institutes, apprenticeship training with Debbie Goolsby, and long term private studies with Alan Bodman. Janet is an active supporter of national and regional string teachers organizations including The Suzuki Association of the Americas , The American String Teachers Association, and the Suzuki Association of Washington State. She is frequently asked to teach at institutes and workshops. Janet holds a BA in music (violin performance) from WSU, a BA in English from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR , and an MA in English from San Jose State University in California. Janet lives with her husband in Pullman , and enjoys trying to keep up with her two grown daughters. detemple@verizon.net
Carolyn Germain
Carolyn
Germain did not teach violin directly, but in her capacity as the piano
accompanist
for group activities in the PSS program she taught the students how to
make music with others, bringing out dynamics and phrasing they
didn't
know they were capable of. Although retired from Palouse Suzuki, she accompanies the Washington - Idaho Chorale and
teaches
a very full studio of piano students.
Teacher Resources
Suzuki Association of the Americas