About Us

TawnaLyn Mangelson

TawnaLyn Mangelson is a violin teacher in the Salt Lake City, Utah area. She began taking private violin lessons at five years old. Her teachers have included Walter Cerveney, Craig Purdy, Nate Olsen (fiddling), Bodil Rorbech, and Ronda Cole.

After graduating high school, TawnaLyn received a Bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance and Pedagogy from Brigham Young University. She then continued her education, earning a Master’s degree in Violin Performance and Suzuki Violin Pedagogy from the University of Maryland.

Participating in ensembles has been important for TawnaLyn. Over the years she has participated in the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra, the BYU Chamber Orchestra, the BYU Folk Ensemble, the Royal Conservatory of Music Orchestra in Aarhus, Denmark, and was concertmistress of the El Paso Messiah Orchestra. Now she enjoys leading the Mangelson Suzuki Studio violin group.

TawnaLyn realized as a teenager that she loved teaching music to children. Over the years she has been employed as a teacher at the Montessori Academy in Eagle, Idaho, the Winchester Community Music School in Massachusetts, and The Gifted Music School in Salt Lake City. Additionally, she was a teacher at the Idaho Suzuki Institute for seven years. However, her true passion is teaching private violin lessons. She has now been teaching violin privately, employing the Suzuki method, for over twenty years.

Many of TawnaLyn’s students have gone on to major in music in college, including at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Brigham Young University, and Indiana University, but she loves seeing music continue to play an important part in her students’ lives no matter what educational and career choices they make. TawnaLyn loves music, teaching, and seeing the joy that children find in learning. She also enjoys being a “Suzuki mom” for her own four children.

Jacalyn Mangelson

Jacalyn began her musical journey around age 3. She studied with her mom, TawnaLyn Mangelson, M.A. for 10 years, and now studies with Dr. LeeAnn Morgan. Jacalyn plays the violin, viola, and piano, and has participated in the Idaho Suzuki Institute, the Mangelson Suzuki Studio group class, and the Lyceum Concert Orchestra. Jacalyn loves working with children and has had a lot of experience teaching and caring for her two younger siblings, as well as other children. She has a nurturing heart and brings joy to those she works with. Jacalyn is excited to teach your children!