School management and teachers
Soloist, trained music teacher with long-term additional qualification in the mother tongue method
The violinist Nina Ulli is distinguished by her versatility. She performs both in Switzerland and abroad as a soloist and chamber musician, and also teaches children with great passion using the Suzuki Method. After many years at the Musikschule Konservatorium Zürich, where she led a large violin class, she is now the initiator and founder of SwissMusiKids.
Nina Ulli has additional training in music physiology, early childhood teaching, Music & Audiation, supervision, Music Mind Games, nonviolent communication, neurolinguistic programming, digital learning tools, and much more.
She works as an expert at numerous music schools and in music diploma programs, and is regularly invited to give further training and lectures at music universities. She is the initiator of the SwissMusiKids Days and the SwissMusiKids Workshops Zurich, featuring renowned international Suzuki teachers, and is strongly committed to the mother-tongue method.
She is the mother of four children, whom she teaches through homeschooling and violin instruction.
Nina Ulli completed her Suzuki training with the highest Level 5.
musician, trained pedagogue with additional qualification in the mother tongue method, managing director Camerata Cantabile
The violinist Roman Strassmann studied violin and viola at the Zurich University of the Arts and at the Conservatoire in Paris. His teaching is enriched by various additional trainings, including music physiology, practice techniques, digital learning tools, and more. He has performed as a concertmaster and violinist in orchestras both in Switzerland and abroad, including the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra in Norway, various orchestras in Paris, and the Zurich Chamber Orchestra. Alongside numerous chamber music performances worldwide, he has also appeared as a soloist with various orchestras.
After studying cultural management at ZHAW, Roman Strassmann served for many years as managing director of the Camerata Cantabile Symphony Orchestra and is now co-director of SwissMusiKids together with Nina Ulli.
He teaches his instrument—the violin—with great passion using the Suzuki mother-tongue method. At the center is the violin with all its wonderful possibilities, but also its challenges. His motto is:
“Joy in music through progress on the violin. Working together on the violin positively influences many areas of life. It is important to me to meet students where they are in life. I value a holistic approach to teaching that includes practice training, performance training, as well as the optimal use of the body when playing the violin—always building on the students’ abilities and strengths.”
Roman Strassmann teaches according to the Suzuki Method at SwissMusiKids and at the Musikschule Zürcher Oberland.
He will complete Level 4 of the Suzuki training in summer 2026.
Young teacher, completed music studies with additional qualification for the mother tongue method
Lea Frei began playing the violin at the age of six with Agathe Jerie using the Suzuki Method. In 2015, she moved to Daria Zappa and in early 2017 to Christian Barenius. During high school, she followed a music-focused program and received violin lessons from Julia Schwob.
At an early age, she began performing as a duo together with her twin sister Selina Frei. In 2017 and 2019, they each won a first prize in the final of a Swiss competition.
In Zurich, they performed in the chamber orchestra of the Music School Conservatory Zurich under the direction of P. A. Draganov. Since summer 2020, she has been playing in the Swiss Youth Symphony Orchestra.
From 2018 to 2021, she studied violin in Bern with Monika Urbaniak and completed her Bachelor’s degree in summer 2021. She then studied pedagogy at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna with David Frühwirth and has been pursuing Suzuki teacher training since 2022.
Since summer 2023, she has been further developing her violin playing at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts with Daniel Dodds.
Lea Frei has so far completed Level 2 of the Suzuki teacher training.
Young teacher, completed music studies with additional qualification for the mother tongue method
Selina Frei began playing the violin at the age of six using the Suzuki Method.
In summer 2021, she graduated with distinction with a Bachelor of Arts from the Bern University of the Arts in the class of Monika Urbaniak. She then studied until 2023 at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna with David Frühwirth, where she completed her Bachelor’s degree in pedagogy with distinction. In 2023, she completed the CAS in Music Pedagogy, Suzuki Method I.
In Zurich, Selina performed in the chamber orchestra of the Music School Conservatory Zurich under the direction of P. A. Draganov. She is an active member of the Swiss Youth Symphony Orchestra.
She is currently studying at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts in the class of Daniel Dodds and is preparing for her Master’s degree.
Selina Frei has so far completed Level 2 of the Suzuki teacher training.
UK Director European Suzuki Association (ESA), honorary member of ESA, winner of the Polish Gold Medal for Culture, Teacher of the Year 2016 European String Teachers Association, ESTA Lifetime Achievement Award
Teacher Trainer Switzerland, testing expert for mother tongue method in Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Hungary, France, Italy and Cuba