Faculty

Suzanne Brookes Rickman began formal study of the violin at the age of 10 in Phoenix, Arizona, where she grew up. There she studied with Roberta Chorlton and Frank Spinosa. Study at DePaul University brought her to Chicago in 1985, where she was a student of Mark Zinger, Hilel Kagan and Rami Solomonov, among others. She was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago from 1986-1992, where she had the honor and privilege of working under Chicago Symphony members and world-renowned conductors. It was at DePaul that Suzanne began her studies of Suzuki Pedagogy. She has received training through book 10 with Gilda Barston, Yuko Honda, Craig Timmerman, Alan Lieb, Judy Bossuat, Alice Joy Lewis, Edward Kreitman and Thomas Wermuth. Aside from directing and teaching with the HFSS, she is a frequent guest clinician in weekend workshops in the Chicago area, and has taught at the American Suzuki Institute, the Atlanta Suzuki Institute, the Memphis Suzuki Institute and the Intermountain Suzuki Strings Institute in Utah. Suzanne was on the faculty of the Western Springs School of Talent Education for 13 years and has been a member of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra since 1995.

Al Joseph is a violinist, violin teacher, free-lancer and fiddler in Chicago's South Suburbs. Al's musical interest began at the age of 9 and has been inspired by the works of artists like Stephan Grapelli, the great gypsy violinist. By the time he attended the American Conservatory of Music, he was on his way to establishing his own versatile style. Al earned an associate degree in business and music from Prairie State College. Whether playing Bach or Mozart with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra or the Kankakee Symphony, where he has subbed in the past, creating soaring rock solos or burning up hard core bluegrass, Al has always placed himself in the wise position of student, constantly seeking to learn more. This attitude is why Al is so sought after in recording studios. He has recorded for several television programs. Al plays regularly in the Bernie Glim Country Roads Band. He has been teaching violin lessons locally for over 20 years. He has taken Suzuki training with the internationally recognized pedagogues, Edward Kreitman and Nancy Jackson.

David Forsman began playing the cello when he was in third grade. He began studying privately in high school, first with Betty Porter, and then with Karl Fruh at Roosevelt University, by which time he was playing in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. David attended the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy, Oberlin College, and Roosevelt University. His later teachers include Fred Miller at Interlochen, Leondard Chausow of the Chicago Symphony, Richard Kapuscinski at Oberlin, and Kim Scholes at Roosevelt. He has played in all the Chicago area per service orchestras, has subbed in orchestras in Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan and Ohio. He has also worked in chamber music, helping to found the Calumet Chamber Musicians, and Works in Progress, an ensemble he co-founded. Currently principal cellist in the Kankakee Symphony, and a section member of the Northwest Indiana Symphony, David spends most of his time free-lancing and teaching. In addition to his private cello studio David has taught orchestra in Crete, IL and Munster, IN. If he's not playing his cello, he's riding his bicycle, the only hobby he's had that he hasn't managed to turn into a paying job. David has taken his Suzuki teacher training also with internationally known pedagogues, Sally Gross and Beth Cantrell.