Suzuki

A professional violist and Suzuki violin and viola teacher based in Salt Lake City, Professor Hills holds degrees in both Music Education and Performance (BME, BM) from Illinois State University, and a Master of Music from the University of Colorado Boulder, where she studied with the renowned Takács Quartet.

As a performer, she has held positions with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Miami Symphony, Palm Beach Symphony, and the Hexum Quartet. Her summers at the Banff Centre and Aspen Music Festival were pivotal in shaping her artistic voice, and she has appeared as a guest artist with the Palm Beach Chamber Society.

Professor Hills brings this high level of performance experience directly into her teaching. She has held faculty positions at leading arts institutions including the Dreyfoos School of the Arts and the Pre-Juilliard Preparatory Program at North Broward Preparatory School, and has taught with the Aspen Music Festival, Bravo! Vail’s Haciendo Música program, and Aspen Community School.

She is currently on faculty at the Gifted Music School in Salt Lake City—one of the most sought-after music programs in the state—where she teaches group violin and viola classes, chamber music, and leads educational lectures. In addition, she serves as Director of GRIT, where she develops and leads programming focused on access, excellence, and student growth.

Professor Hills is also the President of a nonprofit organization (formerly Sugarhouse Violins) dedicated to designing high-quality, artistically crafted instruments made from non-endangered woods. Through this work, she provides and loans instruments to students who would not otherwise have access, expanding opportunities for serious young musicians.

Her students have been accepted to the Interlochen Music Festival and have been named finalists in the Interlochen Concerto Competition, the American Fork Concerto Competition, and the Primrose International Viola Competition (Junior Division).

A dedicated Suzuki educator, Professor Hills is fully trained through Suzuki Viola Books 1–9, and has completed Every Child Can, Suzuki Violin Units 1–4, and Viola Units 3–4. She is a former board member of the Suzuki Association of Utah and continues to work with students across the region.

Her teaching is grounded in both pedagogical expertise and professional performance experience, creating a focused, supportive environment where students develop strong technique, musical artistry, and a lifelong love of music.

Outside of teaching, she enjoys hiking, climbing, skiing, and paddle boarding.