Heather Garcia

Suzuki Violin and Viola, B.M Music Performance, The University of Memphis. Mrs. Garcia, a native of Greenville, SC, began studying Suzuki viola at the age of nine with Lucie Fink. In 2000, she was accepted into the SC Governor’s Arts and Humanities where she studied with Kathryn Dey and she graduated with honors. In 2002, she attended the University of Memphis on a full viola scholarship and had the privilege of studying under Mrs. Kimberly Meir-Simms  receiving a Bachelor’s in Music Performance with a concentration in Suzuki Violin Pedagogy. 

Upon graduation, she received an internship at Buffalo Suzuki Strings, Buffalo, NY where she taught for four years under the direction of Mary Cay Neal before joining the Academy of Music.  In addition to teaching at the Academy of Music, she also teaches Strings and Personal Finance for KEYS (Kingdom Education for Young Scholars) in Chesapeake.  She has completed Every Child Can, Books I-VI and various enrichment classes with teacher trainers such as Kimberly Meir-Simms, Mary Cay Neal, Carol Reuning-Hummel, Ann Montzka Smelser, and Edward Kreitman.
 

Mrs. Garcia currently sits on the board of Suzuki Teachers Association of Hamptons Roads as both the treasurer and secretary. Along with her colleagues, she prepared violin and viola students to perform on the STAHR tour of Peru in June 2014.  She currently resides in the Virginia Beach area, has two beautiful children, a wonderful spouse and a dog named Lucy.