Moirsheen Kelly-Keesing

Session 1.5: Suzuki Method in 21st Century Australia

Session: Known for its success around the world, this influential method has developed a great deal over the decades. This lecture/performance includes the following, with a focus on string instruments in modern Australian Suzuki Method:

• Suzuki philosophy, language acquisition, and creating the environment
• Brief history: from Japan to Australia
• Development of pedagogy and repertoire
• Suzuki programs in Australian schools
• Musical literacy
• Australian Suzuki Teacher Accreditation Courses
• Major influences on modern Australian Suzuki Method
• Performance, either soloist or group, or a demonstration of a private or group lesson (restrictions permitting)

Suzuki violin teacher trainer, Moirsheen Kelly-Keesing, is a passionate advocate for Suzuki Method, encouraging students to study music to develop the noble spirit within. Ms Kelly-Keesing oversees the Suzuki String Program at Trinity Grammar School (Melbourne) which has grown into a mature program of over 70 boys ranging from very young beginners to the advanced violinists. She has been on the faculty of MLC (Melbourne), Carey Baptist Grammar (Melbourne), The Armidale School (NSW), and The Collegiate School for Boys (New York City) where she also directed the Suzuki Violin Program. Moirsheen has been invited to teach at Suzuki conferences in Matsumoto (Japan), Kobe (Japan), Singapore, New Zealand, Sydney, Adelaide, Gold Coast, and Tamworth among others.

Moirsheen’s students have been selected to perform at major conferences, AYO, and Top Class. Many have been scholarship recipients and have continued to study music at the tertiary level, eventually becoming Suzuki violin teachers themselves.

As a violinist Moirsheen followed her passion for chamber music, playing second violin in the Artemis Quartet (New York City), and developed a love of opera as principal second in the New York City Opera National Company. She received her Bachelor of Music, Performance (Violin) from the New England Conservatory of Music (Boston) and the Certificat de Stage from the Academie Internationale d’Ete de Nice studying with Aaron Rosand. Moirsheen regularly travelled to Japan to deepen her study of Suzuki Method and meet with her most influential mentors and teachers including Hiroko Suzuki, niece of Shinichi Suzuki, the founder of Suzuki Method.

Originally from New York City, Moirsheen now resides in the rural fringe of Melbourne with her husband, their daughter, and a vast array of animals.