SAGA BOARD MEMBERS
Sylvia Mwila
SAGA President
Sylvia Mwila is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music where she earned both a Bachelor’s in Violin Performance and a Master’s degree in Violin Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy. Ms. Mwila is the President of the Suzuki Association of Georgia, and a fully registered violin teacher with the Suzuki Association of the Americas.
Currently, Ms. Mwila teaches with the Fayette Fiddler Suzuki program, and has been a guest teacher at music programs in India, Mexico, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Chile, and at Suzuki workshops in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Augusta, GA, and Chattanooga, TN. In addition to her teaching, Ms. Mwila is a member of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra (GA).
SAGA President
Sylvia Mwila is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music where she earned both a Bachelor’s in Violin Performance and a Master’s degree in Violin Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy. Ms. Mwila is the President of the Suzuki Association of Georgia, and a fully registered violin teacher with the Suzuki Association of the Americas.
Currently, Ms. Mwila teaches with the Fayette Fiddler Suzuki program, and has been a guest teacher at music programs in India, Mexico, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Chile, and at Suzuki workshops in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Augusta, GA, and Chattanooga, TN. In addition to her teaching, Ms. Mwila is a member of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra (GA).
Olivia Weber
SAGA Vice President
Olivia Weber holds a Bachelor’s in Vocal Performance from Covenant College. Ms. Weber is the Vice President of the Suzuki Association of Georgia, and she is a fully registered Suzuki Guitar Teacher with the Suzuki Association of the Americas, trained for all 9 Guitar Units.
Ms. Weber recently started her own guitar, voice, and piano studio in Peachtree City, called Living Sound Suzuki Studio. Ms. Weber also works for the Impact Arts Academy in Johns Creek, where she is a music teacher as well as the Impact Arts Academy Coordinator. Additionally, Ms. Weber is the KidsQuest Worship Team Assistant Director for Perimeter Church. Along with her passion for music and teaching, Ms. Weber loves to go running with her husband, reading, and traveling.
SAGA Vice President
Olivia Weber holds a Bachelor’s in Vocal Performance from Covenant College. Ms. Weber is the Vice President of the Suzuki Association of Georgia, and she is a fully registered Suzuki Guitar Teacher with the Suzuki Association of the Americas, trained for all 9 Guitar Units.
Ms. Weber recently started her own guitar, voice, and piano studio in Peachtree City, called Living Sound Suzuki Studio. Ms. Weber also works for the Impact Arts Academy in Johns Creek, where she is a music teacher as well as the Impact Arts Academy Coordinator. Additionally, Ms. Weber is the KidsQuest Worship Team Assistant Director for Perimeter Church. Along with her passion for music and teaching, Ms. Weber loves to go running with her husband, reading, and traveling.
Earl Sharpe
SAGA Treasurer
Earl has over 30 years of financial and management accounting experience working for variety of companies that include: Farberware, Johnson Controls and Exide Technologies. He most recently was Senior Manager of Accounting at Scientific Games in Alpharetta, GA.
As a volunteer, he has been Finance chair for his homeowners association and at Allgood Road United Methodist Church. He was also Treasurer for the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra Parents Association for seven years and has served as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Talent Development Program where he is also a Parent Mentor on the Family Support sub-committee. He is currently an active member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. – Gwinnett County Alumni Chapter and is an original board member of the RKL Education Foundation where he currently serves as Treasurer.
In his spare time, Earl is an avid runner who has completed over 40 Half-Marathons and one full marathon. He holds a BS degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology, an MBA from the State University of New York at Buffalo and is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA). He and his wife, LaTanya, are the proud parents of two professional musicians: violinist, Chelsea and cellist, Lindsey.
SAGA Treasurer
Earl has over 30 years of financial and management accounting experience working for variety of companies that include: Farberware, Johnson Controls and Exide Technologies. He most recently was Senior Manager of Accounting at Scientific Games in Alpharetta, GA.
As a volunteer, he has been Finance chair for his homeowners association and at Allgood Road United Methodist Church. He was also Treasurer for the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra Parents Association for seven years and has served as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Talent Development Program where he is also a Parent Mentor on the Family Support sub-committee. He is currently an active member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. – Gwinnett County Alumni Chapter and is an original board member of the RKL Education Foundation where he currently serves as Treasurer.
In his spare time, Earl is an avid runner who has completed over 40 Half-Marathons and one full marathon. He holds a BS degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology, an MBA from the State University of New York at Buffalo and is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA). He and his wife, LaTanya, are the proud parents of two professional musicians: violinist, Chelsea and cellist, Lindsey.
Edward Kreitman
Atlanta Suzuki Institute Liaison
Edward Kreitman was the founder and Director of the Western Springs School of Talent Education and the Naperville Suzuki School from 1980 to 2024. Currently, he is the Director of the Kreitman Suzuki Studio in Atlanta, the Director of the Atlanta Suzuki Institute, and teaches Suzuki Pedagogy at the University of Georgia in Athens. Mr. Kreitman received his undergraduate degree from Western Illinois University where he studied Suzuki Pedagogy with Doris Preucil and Almita Vamos. In 1986 , he studied with Dr. Suzuki at the Talent Education Summer School in Matsumoto, Japan. Mr. Kreitman has served the Suzuki Teacher’s Association in many capacities including a member of the Board of Directors, Violin Committee, Teacher Development team and as Coordinator for several National Suzuki Teacher Conferences. Recently he served on the SAA team which developed the Every Child Can! introductory course. Edward Kreitman enjoys an international reputation as a guest clinician at Suzuki institutes and workshops.
Edward Kreitman has presented Keynote addresses at the National Suzuki Conferences for the New Zealand Suzuki Association, the Suzuki Association of the Americas, The European Suzuki Association, The British Suzuki Association, and the Brazilian Suzuki Association. Mr. Kreitman has taught at International Suzuki Conferences in Melbourne, Australia and Matsumoto, Japan. Mr. Kreitman is a registered Teacher Trainer of the Suzuki Association of the Americas and is the author of Teaching from the Balance Point: A Guide for Suzuki Parents, Teachers and Students and Teaching with an Open Heart: A Guide for Developing Conscious Musicianship. In 2008, Mr. Kreitman was honored with the Suzuki Chair Award at the American Suzuki Institute in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Mr. Kreitman was the 2019 recipient of the IL ASTA Outstanding Studio Teacher Award.
Atlanta Suzuki Institute Liaison
Edward Kreitman was the founder and Director of the Western Springs School of Talent Education and the Naperville Suzuki School from 1980 to 2024. Currently, he is the Director of the Kreitman Suzuki Studio in Atlanta, the Director of the Atlanta Suzuki Institute, and teaches Suzuki Pedagogy at the University of Georgia in Athens. Mr. Kreitman received his undergraduate degree from Western Illinois University where he studied Suzuki Pedagogy with Doris Preucil and Almita Vamos. In 1986 , he studied with Dr. Suzuki at the Talent Education Summer School in Matsumoto, Japan. Mr. Kreitman has served the Suzuki Teacher’s Association in many capacities including a member of the Board of Directors, Violin Committee, Teacher Development team and as Coordinator for several National Suzuki Teacher Conferences. Recently he served on the SAA team which developed the Every Child Can! introductory course. Edward Kreitman enjoys an international reputation as a guest clinician at Suzuki institutes and workshops.
Edward Kreitman has presented Keynote addresses at the National Suzuki Conferences for the New Zealand Suzuki Association, the Suzuki Association of the Americas, The European Suzuki Association, The British Suzuki Association, and the Brazilian Suzuki Association. Mr. Kreitman has taught at International Suzuki Conferences in Melbourne, Australia and Matsumoto, Japan. Mr. Kreitman is a registered Teacher Trainer of the Suzuki Association of the Americas and is the author of Teaching from the Balance Point: A Guide for Suzuki Parents, Teachers and Students and Teaching with an Open Heart: A Guide for Developing Conscious Musicianship. In 2008, Mr. Kreitman was honored with the Suzuki Chair Award at the American Suzuki Institute in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Mr. Kreitman was the 2019 recipient of the IL ASTA Outstanding Studio Teacher Award.
Gwen Jenkins
Secretary
Gwen Jenkins was raised in Augusta and has been a member of Suzuki Strings of Augusta since the age of two, first as a student, then alumnus, and finally as teacher and Suzuki mom.
After studying at University of Georgia she took a position teaching in the pre-college strings program at Georgia Southern University in 1996. After growing her studio there and starting a small studio in Waynesboro, GA, a move to Augusta and a year of lengthy commuting brought her back to Suzuki Strings where she has kept a full studio roster since 2000. In 2008, Gwen assumed executive directorship of SSA, Inc. and currently serves the group as Creative Director. She also serves on the board of directors for the Suzuki Association of Georgia as Secretary.
Gwen is the mother to five strings players, multiple dogs, cats, chickens, and various other creatures. She plays in the Columbia County Orchestra and is a founding member of a local chamber ensemble.
Secretary
Gwen Jenkins was raised in Augusta and has been a member of Suzuki Strings of Augusta since the age of two, first as a student, then alumnus, and finally as teacher and Suzuki mom.
After studying at University of Georgia she took a position teaching in the pre-college strings program at Georgia Southern University in 1996. After growing her studio there and starting a small studio in Waynesboro, GA, a move to Augusta and a year of lengthy commuting brought her back to Suzuki Strings where she has kept a full studio roster since 2000. In 2008, Gwen assumed executive directorship of SSA, Inc. and currently serves the group as Creative Director. She also serves on the board of directors for the Suzuki Association of Georgia as Secretary.
Gwen is the mother to five strings players, multiple dogs, cats, chickens, and various other creatures. She plays in the Columbia County Orchestra and is a founding member of a local chamber ensemble.
Rachel Braly
Board Member At Large
Rachel began her violin studies as a child using the Suzuki Method, alongside her six younger siblings. She later pursued a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance at Florida State University. With over 20 years of experience in Suzuki teaching, Rachel is a fully registered violin instructor with the Suzuki Association of the Americas and the New Zealand Suzuki Institute. In 2024, she received her Certificate of Excellence from the SAA.
After spending 17 years in New Zealand, Rachel has returned to Georgia. During her time in New Zealand, she founded Suzuki on the Shore, a prominent Suzuki program in Auckland. Rachel has taught at more than 100 workshops, festivals, and chamber music programs in both the United States and New Zealand. She also served on the Auckland Suzuki Branch Board for over 15 years and was an elected representative on the New Zealand Suzuki Institute National Board for more than 12 years.
Rachel is thrilled to be joining the Suzuki Association of Georgia board, where she looks forward to fostering a supportive community and creating opportunities for Suzuki students and teachers in Georgia. She is currently launching a new Suzuki violin and viola studio in Northwest Atlanta. In addition to her teaching career, Rachel is a proud mother of three wonderful children.
Board Member At Large
Rachel began her violin studies as a child using the Suzuki Method, alongside her six younger siblings. She later pursued a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance at Florida State University. With over 20 years of experience in Suzuki teaching, Rachel is a fully registered violin instructor with the Suzuki Association of the Americas and the New Zealand Suzuki Institute. In 2024, she received her Certificate of Excellence from the SAA.
After spending 17 years in New Zealand, Rachel has returned to Georgia. During her time in New Zealand, she founded Suzuki on the Shore, a prominent Suzuki program in Auckland. Rachel has taught at more than 100 workshops, festivals, and chamber music programs in both the United States and New Zealand. She also served on the Auckland Suzuki Branch Board for over 15 years and was an elected representative on the New Zealand Suzuki Institute National Board for more than 12 years.
Rachel is thrilled to be joining the Suzuki Association of Georgia board, where she looks forward to fostering a supportive community and creating opportunities for Suzuki students and teachers in Georgia. She is currently launching a new Suzuki violin and viola studio in Northwest Atlanta. In addition to her teaching career, Rachel is a proud mother of three wonderful children.