Dr. Evelyn Hermann

Smith Funeral Home



Born in Lima, Ohio on April 13, 1923, Evelyn passed away at her home in Yakima, WA on October 5, 2009. Evelyn is well known internationally as a Suzuki Violin Pedagogue. She attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and received her Bachelor of Music in 1944 and her Masters of Music in 1946 in violin. She moved to Wapato, WA in 1950 to work as an Instrumental Music Teacher. In 1951 she moved to Yakima, WA where she taught until 1966. In 1960 she took a sabbatical to attend the University of Oregon where she received her Doctorate of Education in 1962. Upon returning to Yakima she started the Yakima Valley Jr. Symphony, later named Youth Symphony, and held annual concerts with the Eugene Jr. Symphony. In 1963 Evelyn traveled to Japan and met Dr. Shinichi Suzuki and spent the next 40 years working with him. In 1966 Evelyn moved to Dallas, Texas to teach at the Southern Methodist University. Evelyn was on the starting board of Suzuki Association of the Americas. In 1973 Evelyn started the Suzuki Institute of Dallas, now known as the Dallas Conservatory of Music. In 1983 at the request of Dr. Suzuki she helped start the International Suzuki Association serving as Secretary Treasurer of the Board until she retired from her position as CEO in 2004. She is responsible for introducing the Suzuki method of playing music to Oregon, Texas and later China where she would travel with American and Japanese Suzuki students to several Chinese Conservatories of Music. Evelyn taught the Suzuki method in China, Japan, Korea and Australia. She was also the String advisor to the Suzuki Association of Taiwan. A memorial concert will be held Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 3:00 P.M. at the Wesley United Methodist Church, 14 N. 48th Ave, Yakima, WA. In lieu of flowers those wishing to honor her memory may contribute to the Hospice of their choice. Those wishing to share their memories or sign Evelyn's online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com