Janelle Severson grew up in Stevens Point, WI as a Suzuki kid who started talent education in 1980 a few months before her third birthday. She studied with Kyoko Fuller through Book 10, and performed throughout Europe with the Dolce String Ensemble in 1996. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Minnesota where she studied with Mark Bjork. She received a Master’s Degree in Music Education with an emphasis on Suzuki Pedagogy in 2002, also receiving long-term training from Patricia D’Ercole at UW-Stevens Point. From 2002-2014, she was the director of Severson Suzuki Strings in Eau Claire, WI before moving her studio to Waunakee, WI in 2014 with her husband, two teenage children and her two pups. She has been a guest clinician throughout the United States and has been on the faculty at the American Suzuki Institute since 2002. Janelle was the Vice President and President of the Suzuki Association of Wisconsin. She has recently been honored with the Sensei Award in Leadership and Caring.

She has continued her Suzuki training with additional short-term training with Ann Montzka-Smelser and Carol Tarr