Karina MacAlpine

After graduating from Trinity College of Music, where she studied violin with Hu Kun and Eszter Boda-Katona, Karina began her training as a Suzuki violin teacher with the British Suzuki Music Association. Alongside a freelance performing career, she was among the first teachers to establish a Suzuki programme in South East London and has remained an active member of the Suzuki community ever since.

Her work has included organising international workshops, running concerts at major London venues, and leading performances involving hundreds of Suzuki students, including at the Gala Concert at the Royal Albert Hall. A commitment to continual growth—both as a teacher and as a person—keeps her work with children and the violin constantly inspiring.

Karina is highly regarded as a specialist in teaching young children from the age of three, guiding students from their first lessons through to diploma level. Many of her former students have gone on to study at leading institutions including London’s conservatoires, the Menuhin School, the National Youth Orchestra and Yale University. Those who have pursued different paths carry with them a lifelong love of music.

As a Suzuki teacher, Karina enjoys participating in workshops and courses, finding it continually inspiring to collaborate with and learn from colleagues. She has been invited to guest teach in Australia, Austria, Ireland, the Netherlands, Denmark and Spain, and regularly teaches at Suzuki courses and workshops across the UK.

In 2020, Karina became a European Suzuki Association Teacher Trainer and greatly values the opportunity to support and mentor the next generation of Suzuki teachers. She also regularly teaches fourth-year string students at Trinity Laban as part of the Art of Method Teaching course.

Image: Richard Watts