The Pineland Suzuki Board

Ellen Gawler
Co-founder and Director, Pineland Fiddlers

Profession(s):

Ellen is a fiddler, specializing in the musical styles from the State of Maine, which includes: Scots/Irish, French Canadian, and Maritime traditions. Her music has taken far and wide with several groups, including travel and perform with family. Ellen has been a Suzuki teacher since 1986 and is dedicated to the ways that Suzuki method and fiddling intersect and benefit each other. Ellen is a founding member and top youth instructor of Maine Fiddle Camp.

Relationship to PSS:

Betsy Kobayashi and Ellen co-founded the Pineland Suzuki School together in 1993 by combining their programs and creating group classes. Their long, rich experience together through all the bumps and celebrated moments, has included dreaming up every aspect of the school and all its functions. Ellen created the fiddling branch of the school, recording on 3 occasions, and inspiring the students by taking trips to thriving fiddling places: Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton, Ireland, Turkmenistan, and most recently, Shetland. Ellen says, “PSS was formative for my family and set my 3 girls on a beautiful path of music making. They have come away with a belief in themselves that anything is possible that they got in no small part from the Suzuki method.”

Paths to help PSS:

To date, PSS has had a beautiful arc of success, with many accomplished musicians launched into the world. As the founders peer into the crystal ball, it is abundantly clear that we the organization needs to take new steps to thrive into the future. Ellen is committed to working through this process.

Some Fun things:

Garden, fiddle, garden, contradance, garden, ski/snowshoe, garden, cook, garden, kayak, garden, sew, garden, hike, garden, travel, garden, tell bad jokes, garden, garden, garden.......

Betsy Kobayashi
President and Co-founder

Profession(s):

Betsy has been teaching violin and viola lessons, coaching chamber music, conducting orchestras on occasion since 1976, and freelancing on violin and viola.

Relationship to PSS:

After studying with Dr. Suzuki in Matsumoto, Japan for 2 years, Betsy got married to ‘the wonderful guy’ Naoto, and lived in Tokyo for another 5 years immersed in the culture of the Suzuki Method in Japan. When they moved to Maine, Ellen Gawler and she got their students together for group classes and Pineland Suzuki School was born! Her three children studied in PSS. Even though they do not play music now, they have a great love and respect for people and music, hard work, beauty, discipline and detail.

Paths to help PSS:

While teaching with Buffalo Suzuki Strings led by Mary Cay Neal and later in Japan studying with Dr.Suzuki, Betsy saw the wonderful potential of children. In starting PSS, she wanted to inspire students to realize and enjoy their amazing gifts with motivation, mindset and methodology. She is touched that Board Directors want this group to continue on in the future.

Some fun things:
Swimming, especially at sunrise or sunset, gardening, cooking holiday meals that take all day to prepare, reading, playing word games, enjoying nature especially with my family, reading the whole Bible through (more than once) and discovering its truths and wisdom among the puzzling parts.…and she does love her work which is to play music, and teach, and especially FUN is improvising with students in lessons, playing duets and hearing them go beyond what she has taught them.

Joan Hendricks (married name, Garvan)
Chair and Board Director

Profession(s):

Joan enjoyed a 40-year career at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1918 she moved to Pittston, Maine to be near her daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters. From 1974-1980 she studied for and received veterinary(V.M.D.) and neuroscience (Ph.D.) degrees at Penn. She was a professor of medicine (in both the veterinary and the medical schools) and served as Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine from 2006-2018.

Relationship to PSS:

Even before she moved to Maine, Joan saw her two Gardiner granddaughters get entranced by the music of PSS. Upon retiring, she engaged with violin seriously, carrying on a family legacy that goes back to her violinist-conductor-composer grandfather. She grew up playing piano and wind instruments and singing but, oddly, had never even held a bowed string instrument. She is making up for lost time! Joan is now a fledgling student of Betsy’s and has been a practice partner for the two girls. She is intrigued by the Suzuki philosophy and moved by the PSS commitment to access and excellence.

Paths to help PSS:

During her career as an academic veterinarian, Joan enjoyed planning for the future and working with people committed to a selfless mission, and PSS is now her outlet for these passions. She hopes the experience during 45+ years of learning and working at Penn can be put to good use in realizing the Pineland School’s dreams for the future.

Some fun things:

Joan delights in spending time with the family, especially grandchildren (two here, two in Chicago) and several pets. Discovering the beauties and history of Central Maine and settling into retired life is an ongoing education with her husband of 4+decades. Pursuing new commitments (yoga, hiking, dusting off piano skills) and doing some volunteer work for the Maine Veterinary Medical Association fills in the spaces.

Ken Hahn

Treasurer and Board Director

Profession(s):

Ken wears many hats in his job but his primary role is as the Director of Operations for Fedco Seeds’ Tree Division. Fedco cares for and sells a wide variety of bare root, heritage, edible and ornamental trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials. He also oversees company wide IT.

Relationship to PSS:

Ken has two children (ages 12 and 15) in the Pineland Suzuki Program. Both of his children have been going to the school since the age of 4. Music has played such an important role in their upbringing and he is deeply grateful for the role PSS has played over the years.

Paths to help PSS:

Ken hopes to help PSS grow into its next phase of operation. He hopes to help it grow and to be a healthy organization that can continue to teach kids how to play beautiful music far into the future.

Some fun things:

Cooking, hiking, backpacking, camping, reading, gardening and spending time with his family.

Ellen Iyer
Board Director

Profession(s):

Ellen (nee Eleanor) is a native of Brunswick. She received her Masters in Science Education from BU and thoroughly enjoyed working to lead clinical trials in the Boston Area. She now teaches Outdoor Education and helps manage the Hall-Dale Elementary School Garden

Relationship with PSS:

Ellen moved back to Maine, from Boston and New Haven, in 2014 with her husband and 2 young children. Her 10yo daughter, Fiona, started PSS at 7yo and loves Friday Group classes when she plays and learns with other kids. Graham (piano) often accompanies Fiona. This summer Ellen dusted off her viola and attended NESI and Maine Fiddle Camp with her kids.

Paths to help PSS:

Ellen envisions creating opportunities for more parent interaction and participation.

Some fun things:

Ellen enjoys hiking, Nordic skiing, gardening and any chance to be on the water with her family.

Mathew Scease
Board Director

Profession(s):
Mathew is a native of Augusta, has worked for 25 years for Maine nonprofits as an organizer, writer and fundraiser.

Relationship with PSS:
His daughter Lily started learning violin with Pineland Suzuki School in kindergarten and is now a high schooler playing viola with PSS's pre-Capital Strings ensemble.

Paths to help PSS:
He brings years of experience in fundraising, financial management and nonprofit governance to the Board, which he joined in 2022.

Some fun things:
Matt and his family enjoy music, gardening, hiking and spending time with our dog, cats and chickens

Barbara Moody
Secretary and Board Director

Profession(s):
Barbara has a Ph.D. in Education and over 35 years of experience in the field of education in Maine. For 17 years she was a K-8 special education teacher in the public schools. She then founded and directed a private middle school for the arts, coordinated professional development funding at the Maine Department of Education, and chaired the School of Education at Husson University for 8 years. Barbara completed her full-time career serving as the Director of Child & Family Services at Midcoast Maine Community Action.

Relationship with PSS:
Barbara's youngest child was with the Pineland Suzuki School from age 3 - 18 and has a graduate degree in cello performance. He now teaches some students at PSS, plays in a number of orchestras, and teaches private students.

Paths to help PSS:
Barbara is so happy to give back to PSS after all of the wonderful years spent as a parent in the program.

Some fun things:
Barbara loves to go camping with her husband Stan, visit her grandchildren, and play the viola in a quartet and ensemble. She is also an avid reader. She and Stan are trying to walk 100 trails in Maine in her first year of retirement. We are up to 50 since August!

Martha Morrill
Board Director

Profession(s):
Martha is a lifelong resident of Maine. She graduated from the University of Maine, Farmington, with dual degrees: in special education and elementary education. She later earned a master’s degree in literacy from U.S.M. Martha taught second grade for the Augusta School Department for 35 years. She then tutored for the Special Education Department for 5 years before fully retiring.

Relationship to PSS:
Martha’s granddaughter Olivia, age 7, is a student at PSS. When Olivia was 3 years old she attended a concert at Snow Pond and became enthralled with the music and stage presentation put on by Betsy Kobayashi and her PSS students. A few years passed and her desire to learn was still there so her parents signed her up for classes with PSS and bought Martha a violin for her 70th birthday.

Paths to help PSS:
Martha hopes her willingness to work and bring people together will help PSS to continue to flourish and enrich the communities it serves. She was impressed by the purposes of PSS set forth in the bylaws, especially the part that reads, “This organization is dedicated to nurturing each student’s character through the beauty of music, by developing musical excellence in a joyful, non competitive environment, and by enriching and educating the community through public performances.” She will strive to keep these thoughts in mind while serving on the board of PSS.

Some Fun things:
Martha takes long walks through nature to enjoy, appreciate, learn about and marvel at God and His creation. She plays and works with family and friends and also appreciates music, art, good food and company. She enjoys playing bridge and tennis. She cross country skis, knits, listens to good books, likes to fix things and solve puzzles!

Barbara Ann Moss, DO
MPH Past Board Director and Chair

Profession(s):
Barbara came to Maine as a resident in the family medicine residency at Maine-Dartmouth in Augusta over twenty years ago and has lived here ever since. She works as a teaching physician at the Family Medicine Institute, both participating in the education of future family physicians as well as seeing patients in my own continuity practice as a full scope primary care provider with additional expertise in osteopathic manipulative medicine. She is chair of the Spirituality and Medicine committee, run the Community Medicine curriculum and continue to participate in our Osteopathic Education program after having directed it for 10 years.

Relationship to PSS:
When Barbara’s oldest son, Luke, was 2 ½ years old they attended a concert at the East Winthrop Baptist Church and sat up close to the organ thinking he would be entertained to watch the babysitter’s older brother play the instrument with both his feet and hands. However, Luke’s eyes were glued on the violinist, who was Betsy Kobayashi. She came over after the performance and commented on what a good audience member he had been, clearly entranced by her playing. She suggested he start lessons. Betsy convinced Barbara that he wasn’t too young; Barbara began her Suzuki “talent education” lessons right there. Luke shadowed the McKee sisters’ lessons and then started in on his own with a duct tape violin and paint stirrer bow. That was almost 20 years ago. He brought his violin to college, playing with the orchestra and with a group of friends in a Celtic band. He and his younger brother, Silas, each have travelled to Japan for International Suzuki Events with our Pineland Suzuki School. They have gone to Cape Breton with the Pineland Fiddlers. Silas has participated in the Suzuki Association of the Americas orchestra. They have spent many a summer with the New England Suzuki Association. Suzuki has been a part of our family life for decades. We have met travelers in airports all over the world, also carrying their little violin cases. The boys have played the French National Anthem for playground friends in Paris, able to communicate when they didn’t share a spoken language. They have excelled in math and science the way the studies indicate early music education encourages the brain. They have developed a relationship with each other that will continue throughout their lives. My parenting has been enriched by the Suzuki method to lead with love and our household is often filled with music as a consequence of our involvement with PSS (even now, as I write!)

Paths to Help PSS:
As a practice partner, Barbara sought to have the precious time together every day be fruitful and fun. They played games and laughed and developed skills through persistence and dedicated time. As a Board Director and President of the Board of Directors, her goal was to support the talent education of children in our central Maine community and thereby provide a valuable service of training the minds and hearts of the future. Finding a permanent home for the Pineland Suzuki school is still a goal!

Some Fun Things:
Barbara lives off the grid with her husband of almost 30 years, Tom Bartol, in their solar, wind powered home. In the winter, she ski jours with Alaskan husky dogs and rings cow bells and make hot chocolate for the Nordic Skiers at Maranacook Community High School and at Bowdoin College. When there is no snow on the ground, she leads Labyrinth meditation walks and retreats. They play tennis, grow organic vegetables and herbs with the help of the honey bees. In all seasons, they are grateful for all the good gifts around us and aim to encourage peace, beauty and harmony.