ABOUT JULIE

Violist Julie Zinn is an active performer, educator and dedicated teacher in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Originally from Grand Rapids, Julie holds a BA from Michigan State University in Fine Arts Education, where she studied with Lyman Bodman. She also has extensive Suzuki pedagogy training in violin and viola

After graduating from Michigan State University, Julie was selected—alongside two other teachers—by Grand Rapids Public Schools to design and launch a new Suzuki violin program for kindergarten and pre-kindergarten students. The program was highly successful, enrolling more than 60 students by its second year. Julie went on to establish and develop a second Suzuki violin program through the Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey, MI.

As a visiting educator with Ann Arbor Public Schools, she has led numerous sectionals and chamber music coachings, and served as a founding viola faculty member for Pioneer High School Orchestras at Interlochen. Additional teaching affiliations include the Dorothy Gerber Strings Program in Petoskey and the Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra.

As a performer, Julie has appeared as an adjunct section player with several orchestras, including the Toranomon Symphony Orchestra (Tokyo, Japan), the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, and the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. She currently performs regularly with the Detroit Opera Orchestra. An enthusiastic chamber musician, Julie has participated in the Chamber Music Conference of the East in Vermont. Most recently, in June 2026, she will perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City as a section member with the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra