Sharon Miller

Sharon Miller teaches music education courses at Eastern Mennonite University and is the administrative director of the Shenandoah Valley Preparatory Music Program which currently serves nearly 370 students from 5 Virginia counties and West Virginia. She has a large studio of violin and viola students and teacher Suzuki Pedagogy courses through the Preparatory Music Program and at summer Suzuki Institutes.

Ms. Miller received her M.Ed. (music) from Towson State University and M.M. (Suzuki Pedagogy) from East Carolina University. She is a registered Suzuki Violin Teacher Trainer with the Suzuki Association of the Americas and has taught at Institutes and workshops in the eastern United States. As a performer, she plays violin with the University Shenandoah Symphony, the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival and serves as Principal Second Violin with the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra. She also performs viola with several chamber ensembles.

Ms. Miller has presented research papers on the topic of music reading at the International Suzuki Research Symposium in 1999 and 2001.

She is currently on the Board of Directors of the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra and serves on the String School Committee. Other volunteer work includes beging a greeter and participating in worship at her church, and assisting clients at Patchwork Pantry.

Before coming to EMU in 1989, she taught strings and orchestra for 11 years in Baltimore and was the music department chair at Arlington Baptist School.

M.M. (Suzuki Pedagogy), East Carolina University, 2001
M.Ed. (Music Education), Towson State University, 1989
B.S. (Music Education), Liberty University, 1978

• Master Class and Group Teacher, Blue Ridge Suzuki Camp, Orkney Springs, VA (June 2007, 2008)
• Violinist, Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival, EMU, Harrisonburg, VA (1997 – Present)
• Violinist, Schola Cantorum Concert, Waynesboro, VA (2008, April 20)
• Principal Second Violinist, Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra, Waynesboro, VA (2008, April 19, February 24; 2007, October 27)
• Principal Second Violinist, Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra, Staunton, VA (2008, February 23; 2007, October 28) Since 2005.
• Violist, Shenandoah Valley Choral Socity Concert (2007, December 21)
• Violinist, University Shenandoah Symphony Orchestra, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA (2008, February 9; 2007, November 10) Since 1998.
• Conductor, Junior Strings Ensemble, EMU, Harrisonburg, VA (2008, March 30) Since 2001.
• Violist, Otterbein United Methodist Church Choir, Harrisonburg, VA (2007, December 9) Since 2005.
• Violinist/Violist, EMU Community Orchestra, Harrisonburg, VA (2007, October 12 & 13, November 17) Since 1989.
• Violist, Broadway High School performances of “The King and I” (2008, February 29, March 2)
• Violist, EMHS performance of “Les Miserables”, Harrisonburg, VA (2006, October 17, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28)

• Member, String Planning Committee, Harrisonburg City Schools (2007-08)
• Administrative Director and Violin Teacher, Harrisonburg City School String Program, Grades 4 & 5 (2007-08)
• Violist, Park View Mennonite Church Easter Service (2008, March 23)
• Adjudicator, Wednesday Music Club Competitions, Charlottesville, VA (2008, February 16)
• Member, Board of Directors, and Member, String School Committee; and Member, Conductor Search Committee of the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra (2004 – Present)
• Volunteer at Virginia MCC Relief Sale (1999 – Present)
• Volunteer at Patchwork Pantry (1992 – Present)
• Greeter and participant in worship at Community Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, VA (1990 – Present)

• (2007-08) Awarded Arts Council of the Valley $1,500 grant for Violin Outreach Expansion Grant (previous awards in 2006-07, 2005-06, 2004-05, 2003-04, 2002-03)
• (2006-07) Awarded Virginia Commission for the Arts $4,500 grant for Violin Outreach Project Expansion (previous awards 2005-06, 2004-05)

• Registered Suzuki Violin Teacher Trainer with the Suzuki Association of the Americas
• Virginia State Teaching Licenses, Music (K – 12)

Suzuki Association of the Americas (1978 – Present)
National Conference for Music Education (1989 – Present)
American String Teachers Association (1999 – Present)

• Violin Workshop with Mimi Zweig, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA (2008, January 28)
• Virginia Music Educators Conference, Norfolk, VA (November 2007) Take college music education majors to this meeting most every year.
• Dalcroze Workshop, JMU, Harrisonburg, VA (2007, July 20-22)
• Suzuki Association Leadership Conference, Toronto, Canada (May 2007). Attended this bi-annual meeting since 1995.
• Swannanoa Gathering (Old-Time Week), Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, NC (July 2006)
• Suzuki Association Conference, Minneapolis, MN (May 2008). Attended this bi-annual meeting since 1994.

Academic Structure Task Force (2006-08)
Committee on Teacher Education (1990 – Present)