Marie Sussland
Violin, Viola

Marie has been teaching at Linton-Milano since 1994. She has a Doctorate from the Academy in Prague, Czech republic, and a Masters degree from the Brno Conservatory . She specialized in Moravian composers, such as Leos Janacek. She played in opera orchestras, film orchestras, symphony orchestra and various chamber ensembles.

Marie immigrated from the Czech Republic in 1980 and has been teaching and playing in various ensembles in the Valley since then.

Richard Wall
Piano, Voice, Violin, Viola, Theory and Composition

Richard has a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Music Theory and Composition, with a theory emphasis, from ASU. He studied piano with Dr. John Metz, Dr. Hamilton Tescalaro, group piano with Dr. Caio Pagano, and theory with Dr. Ellon Carpenter. His undergraduate thesis was entitled: “Tonal progression and retrogression in Gustav Mahler’s Das Lied von Der Erde, “Der Abschied.” Richard is also a DJ with a former residency with La Rogue at Barcelonas in Scottsdale. He has maintained over 60 students for the past 5 years.

Richard is now doing professional recordings - a great idea for the holidays or for keepsake recordings!

Eric Cousineau
Violin, Viola

Eric Cousineau has over 22 years of violin performance experience.  He has played in ensembles ranging from orchestral, chamber, and solo classical performance to playing shows with various local bands. Eric also has experience providing session work at various recording studios around town.  Awarded first place in the 2010 MCCCD Artist of Promise competition, he is currently pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in music education from the Arizona State University School of Music under the tutelage of Dr. Katherine McLin.

Having previously studied with Dr. Phyllis Skoldberg, who was a direct student of Ivan Galamian, Eric is skilled in instructing the “Galamian Method” of violin playing. Having taught for several years in the east valley, Eric is excited to share his admiration for the sonic possibilities of the instrument and cultivate in his students the necessary abilities to set and achieve their own musical goals.

Susanna Giles
Cello

Susanna Giles began her cello studies in Western Massachusetts at the age of 9. A graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Susanna Giles received a Bachelor of Music in cello performance in May of 2006. She holds a Performance Certificate degree from the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music, and attended the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music for graduate studies. She is currently pursuing her Master’s of Music degree at the Arizona State University School of Music, studying with Tom Landschoot.

Susanna has won numerous awards including the Arizona State University Orchestra Special Talent Scholarship, the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Dean’s Scholarship, a SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music Scholarship, the Oberlin Conservatory Dean’s Scholarship, the South Mountain Association Willem Willeke Scholarship, and a scholarship from the Berkshire Taconic Merit Scholarship Foundation.

Susanna has experience teaching children and adults in both private and group lessons. She was a private instructor for college-age students at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and currently teaches private lessons in the Phoenix area.

Diana Noble
Piano, Voice, Violin

Diana has been teaching for over 18 years. She teaches, voice, violin, and piano. She is well-versed and has performed in many venues. Her experience includes opera, broadway musicals, live bands, studio recording, orchestras, ensembles, etc.

Patience and precision are her strengths in teaching. She works exceptionally well with youth and enjoys the creative learning process of teaching one-on-one. She is currently finishing her BA in music education.

Andrew Hamilton
Bass, Double Bass, Guitar, Cello

Andrew Hamilton started playing music at a very early age. His first instruments were baritone ukulele and cello and later he added classical guitar and double bass. He studied at the Blair Academy Preparatory School of Music under the tutelage of John Johns and John Knowles. He graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Music and played double bass with the Youngstown Symphony and the Nashville Symphony. During that time he received a full scholarship to attend the Aspen Summer Music Festival.

After a season in Nashville, Andrew moved to Phoenix where he played with the Phoenix Symphony and was principal bassist with the Mesa Symphony. He then enhanced his expertise with playing steel string guitar and electric bass guitar, as well as directing various choirs and music groups, in churches throughout the valley.

Andrew has played and taught guitar and bass in various styles of music including classical, jazz, rock, pop, bluegrass, and contemporary Christian and thoroughly enjoys sharing his love of music with young and old by giving a solid foundation appropriate to each individual.

Christy Porter is excited to be joining the Milano team! She is currently accepting violin and beginning piano and viola students. Miss Porter grew up in Arizona and attended college at ASU where she graduated with a degree in Music Education. She also received a Master's Degree from NAU. Christy taught music for Mesa Public Schools from 1994-1998 and is currently the Instrumental Music teacher at Heritage Academy in Mesa. She was a member of the Mesa Symphony for 10 years and has played with many orchestras around the valley. Miss Porter has been teaching privately for many years now and enjoys sharing her love of music with her students.