Donna Ngai grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota and began her violin studies at the age of 7 at the McPhail Center for the Arts in Minneapolis. Ms. Ngai is currently on the Suzuki Faculty at the Hartt School Community Division where she maintains a studio of students from ages 4 to 18, is co-director of the Hartt Suzuki Institute, coaches chamber music ensembles, and is the instructor for the Hartt Suzuki Parent Education course.
Mrs. Ngai completed her long-term Suzuki training with Teri and David Einfeldt at The Hartt School with additional Suzuki Pedagogy training with Linda Fiore, Michelle George, Christie Felsing, and Gilda Barston. As well as receiving her degree from the Hartt School, she has attended Indiana University and Manhattan School of Music. Donna earned her Suzuki Early Childhood Education (SECE) training with Dorothy Jones (Level 1) and Lynn McCall (Level 2) and has been a contributor to the SAA Parents as Partners video conference.
She is a well-respected clinician at Suzuki Institutes and workshops on the East Coast and Canada. Her students have been selected to participate in masterclasses and orchestras at the SAA conference in MN, to be principal players in area high schools, Connecticut Youth Symphony, regional district and statewide orchestras in CT. Her students have placed in regional music competitions including Musical Club of Hartford, CYS Concerto Competition, and area Young Artist Competitions as well as going on to pursue a career in music.
While Donna enjoys her teaching tremendously, she also loves to bake, spend time with her husband, Emlyn, and being a Suzuki parent to her two boys, Tyler and Aidan.