Our Teachers' Bios

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Raven Underwood is a Colorado-native violinist and educator. Her studies have taken her to several esteemed festivals, notably: Interlochen, Montecito, Interharmony Italy, and Domaine Forget international festivals. Raven has appeared in master classes with Vadim Repin, Midori, Brian Lewis, Vadim Gluzman, and Paul Kantor.

Determined to shift the paradigm of violin performance, Rave has collaborated on several non-traditional projects. She appears on albums with the bands Manon Ward and The Northern Empty, and she also presents all-female composer performances to further introduce women composers in the violin canon. Raven is currently working with Chappell Kingsland, performing virtuosic covers of Pop and Rock music. Raven holds a Bachelor degree in violin performance, as well as a Suzuki Violin Pedagogy Certificate from the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver.

Ronnie Crisp received his musical education from the University of South Carolina (Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance, Honors College, Graduate Certificate in Performance) and the University of Denver (Master of Music in Suzuki Violin Pedagogy). He studied violin under William Terwilliger and Mark Rush, as well as being mentored by Rebecca Hunter, Katherine Knight, Eli Kalman, and Jameson Cooper-among other-in chamber music. Additionally, Mr. Crisp received a majority of his pedagogical approach from Kathleen Spring during his study at the University of Denver.

An avid reader, Mr. Crisp researches the impact previous pedagogical figures have had on present day, implementing philosophies and pedagogical approaches to his students.  

Mr. Crisp believes that music provides children the opportunity to learn and grow through pay and having fun. This opportunity help to develop the curiosity and inquisitive spirt in child that will serve them well in every walk of life.

Leah started the violin at age 5 under the guidance of the Black Hills Suzuki School. She continued to cultivate her musical skills by twice studying at the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Institute. Leah successfully competed in the Rapid City Young Artist competition and performed solo with the Black Hills Symphony Orchestra. In 2009, Leah earned a Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and received the Instrumental Performance Award and the Academic Achievement Award from CUA’s Benjamin T. Rome School of Music.  

In addition to performing in many classical settings, Leah has tracked violin on multiple albums and played live with numerous bands. Throughout this time, Leah has held a passion for teaching violin.  Leah completed the Certificate in Suzuki Violin Pedagogy at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music under the guidance of Kathleen Spring. Leah is excited to more fully implement her beliefs in Suzuki Violin methodology through the Primavera Place Suzuki School.

Brittany is a violinist in Denver, Colorado. She has been playing violin for 18 years and holds a Bachelor of Music degree and Master of Music degree in Violin Performance from the University of South Florida. She studied with Carolyn Stuart and Monica Germino while at USF. Brittany completed the Certificate in Violin Suzuki Pedagogy with Kathleen Spring, while also studying with Mark Rush at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music . 

She has a diverse performing background including performances with Michael Buble, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the Ten Tenors, as well as University of South Florida faculty and students in the “Radiance” tour in 2012. She performed with many chamber ensembles while at USF as well as at the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival in Burlington, Vermont.

Brittany is a member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas. and has SAA registered teacher training for violin books 1 through 8. 

Kate Swanson is a Denver musician and Colorado native. She has played the violin for over twenty years

and has performed in many instrumental ensembles including works for local composer Francis J. Pierson

and in vocal ensembles specializing in Renaissance liturgical masterworks. She currently performs in the

Littleton Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Swanson studied Suzuki Every Child Can! with Dr. William Starr,

Suzuki Early Childhood Education under the program’s founder Dorothy Jones, the Ward Method under

Dr. Alise Brown at the University of Northern Colorado, and received her Licentiate of Royal Schools of

Music, UK in Violin Performance. She has enjoyed teaching since 2011 and will complete her Suzuki

Pedagogy studies under Kathleen Spring at the University of Denver in the spring of 2018.

Master teacher

Dr. Spring has been teaching music to young people for over a half century. For 36 years he was a university professor (Otterbein & Walla Walla Universities) teaching violin, viola, theory/composition, orchestra & chamber music. He holds degrees in violin, theory, and composition from La Sierra and Texas Christian Universities, and the University of Washington. Among his teachers were William Kroll & Emanuel Zetlin (violin) and John Verrall, Robert Suderberg, Ralph Guenther & Perry Beach (composition.)

During the 1990’s Spring began to add summer teaching of younger students to his activities, and found it very much to his liking. After retiring from university professorship in 2001, pre-college music teaching became his primary professional focus, along with composing on commission from various artists and ensembles.