Dr. Emily Rolka

Emily Rolka, born and raised in Michigan, began violin as a Suzuki student at age six. She made her solo debut with the Toledo Symphony in 2003 after being a winner of the Toledo Youth Competition. Since then Emily has performed across the country, Italy, and toured Bulgaria. In 2009, Emily was a Finalist in the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp Staff solo competition and the University of Iowa Concerto competition playing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto.

Dr. Rolka received a Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance from the University of Michigan studying with internationally acclaimed violinist, Yehonatan Berick. She holds a Masters of Fine Arts degree from the University of Iowa in violin performance under the tutelage of Dr. Scott Conklin and a Doctoral of Musical Arts degree in violin performance from the University of Minnesota with long-term Suzuki teacher training of books 1-10 with Mark Bjork.

Since August 2021, Dr. Rolka has been teaching at the Enchanted Wood Violin Studio with Elise Winters in Austin, TX. Prior to moving to Texas, Dr. Rolka was director of a Suzuki Talent Education Program in Williamsport, PA for seven years. And has taught string methods in higher education at Lycoming College and The University of Minnesota.

With interests in many genres of music, Emily studied Jazz improv and film music at the Henry Mancini Institute in Los Angeles, and recorded a CD with the orchestra in the Warner Brothers Studios. As a chamber musician, Emily was a member of the Graduate Piano Quartet and Center for New Music at the University of Iowa and continues to hold a passion for chamber music and performing contemporary compositions. Outside of music, Emily loves hiking, the great outdoors, and being a sustainability advocate.