LaGrange music studio celebrates 10 years in the community
Published 6:41 pm Friday, November 8, 2019
Serbian by roots, Suzana Pavlovic was born in Switzerland and spent many years in Italy before moving to the United States in 1995. In 2009, she moved to LaGrange and made it her home.
Pavlovic opened the LaGrange Music Studio shortly after moving to LaGrange, so that she could share her expertise with youth and is now celebrating 10 years of the studio.
“I was already playing with the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra and Symphony Musicians and other musicians and organizations here when I decided to move from Atlanta,” Pavlovic said.
“When I originally founded the music studio, it was located in downtown, but I decided after time it was easier and made more sense to do it from my home.”
Pavlovic has spent her life dedicated to the study and performance of music. She said she has performed all over the world and collaborated with many well-known artists.
“A partial list of these would-be Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Anne Akiko Meyers, Richard Stolzman, Olivia Newton-John and many others,” Pavlovic said.
“The most honorable performance was for the Pope John the Fourth at the Vatican in Rome, Italy in July of 1987.”
Before moving to LaGrange, Pavlovic, completed her bachelor degree in cello performance and a master and doctoral degree in electrical engineering at Muzička škola Stanković in Serbia.
“Everything else is history,” Pavlovic said. “When I moved here, I was approached by other musicians and just had the idea to make the music studio. I was one of the first ones to reach out to the Korean community and teach them music lessons when KIA first opened as well.”
Not only does Pavlovic give music lessons to more than 20 to 30 students each week, she is also heavily involved in the community.
“I was Volunteer Music Director for several years at Vernon Woods Retirement Community,” Pavlovic said.
Pavlovic said she also volunteers for the City of LaGrange Juvenile Court Program and for underprivileged children in the area.
Her first love is the cello, but she also plays and offers lessons for guitar, piano and violin.
“I love being able to share my passion with younger generations,” Pavlovic said. “I welcome all my students like family. When you are able to help, them create music and see their creativity it is wonderful. You love to see them have a passion for music.”
Pavlovic still performs on the regular, workshops, records or collaborates with other music studios.
“Since I dedicated my life to music, I am married to it,” Pavlovic said. “Performing is my passion, but teaching is my greatest joy.”
More than 1,500 students have walked through her door and learned music from Pavlovic.
Along with volunteering and performing at events or with organizations, Pavlovic is also a hired professional cellist and featured soloist for The First United Methodist Church of LaGrange.
“Suzana displays integrity, kindness, compassion and professionalism at all time… and is a delight to work with,” said Minister of Music and Worship Darian Krimm.
“Suzana sees music as a gift that makes life more beautiful, and she has freely shared that gift to make her community a more beautiful place to live… She is an asset to the LaGrange community.”
Future students looking to be taught by Pavlovic can reach her at lagrangemusicstudio@yahoo.com.