"What makes WSS unique is the partnership of parents, students, and teachers. This environment develops great musicians with "noble hearts."

Our Founder: Marissa Eileen Murphy, Chair and Executive Director

Marissa Eileen Murphy currently serves as Executive Director of Washington Suzuki Strings, and is also Principal Second Violin of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Murphy is the director of the much acclaimed Washington Suzuki Strings Advanced Ensemble, who recorded their debut CD in 2004 and who also performed at the White House in December 2004 and 2005 She holds a M.M in Violin Performance from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, and a B.M. in Violin Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Her major teachers include Martin Beaver, Linda Cerone, Ronda Cole, Erich Eichhorn, and Mary Cay Neal. She has performed at the Encore, Spoleto, Bowdoin, and National Repertory Orchestra festivals, and has soloed with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, and the Clarence Symphony.

She has performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, New World Symphony, and the Annapolis, Clarence, Alexandria and Fairfax Symphonies. Ms. Murphy is the former Second Violin of the New Music Associates Quartet in residence at Cleveland State University, and has given recitals for President Jimmy Carter at the Norwegian Embassy to honor his Nobel Prize, at the Cleveland Museum of Art and St. Paul's Cathedral. She is currently on the faculty of the Greater Washington Suzuki Institute, and is the former Assistant Chair Suzuki Strings and Violin faculty at the Levine School of Music. Ms. Murphy also serves on the Board of Directors for the Suzuki Association of the Greater Washington Area, and was former violin faculty at the Peabody Institute Preparatory and the Mount Royal Symphonic Orchestra.

Our Students:   The Washington Suzuki Strings studio is made up of children and adults at every stage of their musical development - from very young beginners to students preparing for conservatory to adults discovering the joy of learning and performing music, perhaps for the first time in their lives.  Washington Suzuki Strings offers many opportunities for students at each stage to expand their musical horizons. 

Musical Advisors: Ronda Cole, Mary Cay Neal