Suzuki Staff
Laura Otto, Suzuki School Director
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.
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.
Courtney Silver, Violin
A native of Peoria, IL, Courtney Silver plays professionally with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Composer’s Orchestra. She received teacher training from the Suzuki Association of the Americas in 2019.
Ms. Silver began playing the violin at age 6 with the Suzuki Method. While growing up, Ms. Silver was a member of the Central Illinois Youth Symphony, where she was concertmaster for 2 years, and the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, where she was the recipient of the prestigious Mollendorf Award. At age 15, she won the Peoria Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Competition and subsequently made her debut soloing with the Peoria Symphony.
Ms. Silver is a graduate of Rice University in Houston, Texas. She holds a bachelor’s degree in violin performance from Rice’s Shepherd School of Music. Ms. Silver completed her Master’s degree in violin performance at DePaul University in Chicago Illinois, where she studied with renowned violinist, Ilya Kaler. Her previous teachers include Marcia Henry Liebenow, Gerardo Ribeiro, Kathleen Winkler, and Eric Halen.
A native of Peoria, IL, Courtney Silver plays professionally with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Composer’s Orchestra. She received teacher training from the Suzuki Association of the Americas in 2019.
Ms. Silver began playing the violin at age 6 with the Suzuki Method. While growing up, Ms. Silver was a member of the Central Illinois Youth Symphony, where she was concertmaster for 2 years, and the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, where she was the recipient of the prestigious Mollendorf Award. At age 15, she won the Peoria Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Competition and subsequently made her debut soloing with the Peoria Symphony.
Ms. Silver is a graduate of Rice University in Houston, Texas. She holds a bachelor’s degree in violin performance from Rice’s Shepherd School of Music. Ms. Silver completed her Master’s degree in violin performance at DePaul University in Chicago Illinois, where she studied with renowned violinist, Ilya Kaler. Her previous teachers include Marcia Henry Liebenow, Gerardo Ribeiro, Kathleen Winkler, and Eric Halen.
Molly Wilson-Nogaj, Violin/Viola
Molly Wilson-Nogaj’s passion for educating young musicians is the driving force behind her career. In her many years of teaching experience, her warm and gracious personality combined with a drive for excellence has led her students to numerous personal and musical victories. She is an active member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) and is devoted to enriching the lives of families through music.
Molly is a product of the thriving arts community of Central Illinois. She grew up in Peoria, Illinois and is a proud alumna of YMI and Bradley University where she obtained her Bachelor of Music degree studying with Marcia Henry Liebenow. Molly has appeared as a soloist with the YMI Youth Symphony, Bradley Symphony Orchestra, Bradley Symphonic Winds, and Peoria Municipal Band, and you can find Molly performing with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, Heartland Festival Orchestra, And Friends Ensemble, as well as many other Illinois orchestras and chamber music initiatives. Molly obtained her Master of Music degree at DePaul University School of Music where she studied with violinists Janet Sung, Ann Setzer, and Carolyn Stewart. While studying at DePaul, Molly completed training in Suzuki Books 1-4 and Every Child Can with Teacher Trainer Rolando Freitag. When the violin is in the case, Molly enjoys cooking new recipes, hiking local nature trails, and planning her next trip to a national park.
Molly Wilson-Nogaj’s passion for educating young musicians is the driving force behind her career. In her many years of teaching experience, her warm and gracious personality combined with a drive for excellence has led her students to numerous personal and musical victories. She is an active member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) and is devoted to enriching the lives of families through music.
Molly is a product of the thriving arts community of Central Illinois. She grew up in Peoria, Illinois and is a proud alumna of YMI and Bradley University where she obtained her Bachelor of Music degree studying with Marcia Henry Liebenow. Molly has appeared as a soloist with the YMI Youth Symphony, Bradley Symphony Orchestra, Bradley Symphonic Winds, and Peoria Municipal Band, and you can find Molly performing with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, Heartland Festival Orchestra, And Friends Ensemble, as well as many other Illinois orchestras and chamber music initiatives. Molly obtained her Master of Music degree at DePaul University School of Music where she studied with violinists Janet Sung, Ann Setzer, and Carolyn Stewart. While studying at DePaul, Molly completed training in Suzuki Books 1-4 and Every Child Can with Teacher Trainer Rolando Freitag. When the violin is in the case, Molly enjoys cooking new recipes, hiking local nature trails, and planning her next trip to a national park.
Sarah Hansen, Cello
Sarah Hansen is a member of the music faculty at Bradley University, where she has taught cello since 2015. She also performs with the Illinois Symphony, the Quad City Symphony, and Orchestra Iowa. Sarah has been a featured soloist with the Salt Creek Chamber Orchestra and the Bradley University Symphony Orchestra, and given solo and chamber recitals in cities throughout the country.
Although she prefers to let her cello do most of the talking, Sarah has been a featured speaker with the Montgomery Arts Council, Illinois Symphony Guild, The Rtisan Podcast, and the Peoria Music Teachers Association. Her writing on mindful practice habits and performance health has been published in various music education forums, magazines, and blogs.
Sarah first picked up a cello in her hometown of Cincinnati as a member of a public middle school string orchestra. She received her Master of Music degree from the DePaul University School of Music and her Bachelor of Music degree from The Hartt School of Music.
Sarah is currently pursuing a DMA at the University of Iowa, where she serves as a teaching assistant in both the strings and musicology programs. In the summers, Sarah teaches at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in beautiful Twin Lake, Michigan. She completed her Suzuki training with Laura Shaw at the Preucil School of Music in Iowa City.
Sarah Hansen is a member of the music faculty at Bradley University, where she has taught cello since 2015. She also performs with the Illinois Symphony, the Quad City Symphony, and Orchestra Iowa. Sarah has been a featured soloist with the Salt Creek Chamber Orchestra and the Bradley University Symphony Orchestra, and given solo and chamber recitals in cities throughout the country.
Although she prefers to let her cello do most of the talking, Sarah has been a featured speaker with the Montgomery Arts Council, Illinois Symphony Guild, The Rtisan Podcast, and the Peoria Music Teachers Association. Her writing on mindful practice habits and performance health has been published in various music education forums, magazines, and blogs.
Sarah first picked up a cello in her hometown of Cincinnati as a member of a public middle school string orchestra. She received her Master of Music degree from the DePaul University School of Music and her Bachelor of Music degree from The Hartt School of Music.
Sarah is currently pursuing a DMA at the University of Iowa, where she serves as a teaching assistant in both the strings and musicology programs. In the summers, Sarah teaches at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in beautiful Twin Lake, Michigan. She completed her Suzuki training with Laura Shaw at the Preucil School of Music in Iowa City.