Ann Montzka-Smelser grew up as a Suzuki student when the method was relatively new to the United States. Ann was very fortunate to have had the assistance of her music educator parents, Marilyn and Arthur Montzka as well as work with several Suzuki Pioneers such as William Starr, Doris Preucil, John Kendall, Alice Joy Lewis and many more.
In between receiving her Bachelors of Music Education and Masters in Performance and Pedagogy at Northern Illinois University, Ann studied with Dr. Shinichi Suzuki at the Talent Education Institute in Matsumoto, Japan.
Ann loves to share music through teaching and performing. Ann currently performs with Camerata Chicago and Rockford Symphony and is Concertmaster of the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Ann co teaches a Suzuki Pedagogy course at Northwestern University and is Director of the NIU Suzuki Strings Program at Northern Illinois University. Ann maintains a studio of about 35 violin and viola students through the NIU program. Ann enjoys working with Suzuki families at Festivals in Lima, Peru, Singapore, Mexico City, San Jose, Costa Rica and throughout the United States.
Ann lives with her husband, Linc, in DeKalb, Illinois..
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