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Pay no attention to the site behind the curtain
  • Home
  • Our Program
    • Youth Symphony
    • Concert Orchestra
    • Preparatory Orchestra
    • Dolce String Ensemble
    • Percussion Ensemble
    • Jr. Jazz Orchestra
    • Sr. Jazz Orchestra
    • Suzuki School of Music
    • Summer Jazz Ensembles
  • Join YMI
    • Audition Information
    • Application
  • About
    • Overview
    • Our Story
    • Our Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Concerts and Events
    • Contact
    • FAQ
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Caterpillar Foundation Match
    • Shop to Support
    • Program Advertising
  • Suzuki School of Music
    • About Suzuki
    • Suzuki Fees and Schedule
    • Suzuki Staff
    • Suzuki Handbook
    • Pre-Twinkle Class
    • Suzuki FAQ
    • Resources
    • Contact Suzuki
  • Members
    • Resource Links
    • Tuition and Financial Aid
    • Handbook
Picture
Laura Otto, Suzuki School Director, Dolce String Ensemble Conductor
Laura is the Director of the YMI Suzuki School of Music in Peoria, Illinois. She has been
teaching violin lessons in the Peoria area for nearly 20 years and directs the Dolce String
Ensemble at Youth Music Illinois. In addition, she also directs the 5th-8th grade orchestra at
Peoria Academy. A member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA), Laura has
received training at the American Suzuki Institute, Chicago Suzuki Institute, and the Colorado
Suzuki Institute.
Laura studied violin performance at Bradley University and Illinois State University, studying
with Marcia Henry Liebenow and Sarah Gentry. She was the winner of the Bradley Concerto-Aria Competition and recipient of the prestigious Presser Scholar Award. She has performed with the Bradley Symphony Orchestra (concertmaster), Peoria Symphony Orchestra, Heartland Festival Orchestra, Opera Illinois Orchestra, Aria International Music Academy, Nebraska Chamber Music Institute, and Domaine Forget International Music Academy. She enjoys freelancing with her string quartet, Heart Strings, throughout Central Illinois.
Laura and her husband, Ryan, live in Congerville with their four children who are all young
musicians studying the violin, cello, French horn, percussion and piano; they also enjoy
serving at their church, working in their yard, and traveling to Montana.​

Lidia Riley ~ Executive Director
​
execdir@youthmusicillinois.org 
David Commanday ~ Music Director dcommanday@youthmusicillinois.org

Laura Otto~Director, Suzuki School of Music
SuzukiDirector@ciys.org
Youth Music Illinois
3601 North Sheridan Road
Peoria, Illinois 61604 
  • Home
  • Our Program
    • Youth Symphony
    • Concert Orchestra
    • Preparatory Orchestra
    • Dolce String Ensemble
    • Percussion Ensemble
    • Jr. Jazz Orchestra
    • Sr. Jazz Orchestra
    • Suzuki School of Music
    • Summer Jazz Ensembles
  • Join YMI
    • Audition Information
    • Application
  • About
    • Overview
    • Our Story
    • Our Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Concerts and Events
    • Contact
    • FAQ
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Caterpillar Foundation Match
    • Shop to Support
    • Program Advertising
  • Suzuki School of Music
    • About Suzuki
    • Suzuki Fees and Schedule
    • Suzuki Staff
    • Suzuki Handbook
    • Pre-Twinkle Class
    • Suzuki FAQ
    • Resources
    • Contact Suzuki
  • Members
    • Resource Links
    • Tuition and Financial Aid
    • Handbook