About Michelle

Experience
Michelle began playing the violin with the Suzuki Violin Method when she was 6 years old.  She studied with Susan Heermann-Levine at the MacPhail Center for the Arts in Minneapolis.  After attending many summer Suzuki Institutes in Stephen's Point, Wisconsin, Michelle began teaching private lessons in 10th grade.  While at Luther College, she served as Concertmaster for three years and performed in two concerto competition concerts with the orchestra.  After graduating from college, she performed with the Rochester Symphony Orchestra.  In 1990, Michelle began a tour with a music ministry team across the United States and West Africa.  She has been teaching private lessons since her return in 1991.

Michelle began piano lessons in 4th grade.  She performed twice on the Northrop Auditorium stage after competing in the MN Music Teacher's Association State Piano Contest.  Michelle accompanied two choirs at Normandale Lutheran Church while in high school and began teaching private piano lessons in 1992. 

Education
Michelle graduated from Luther College in 1989 with a B.A. in both Music Educationand Music Performance.  She received her training in Suzuki Pedagogy at the University of Minnesota.

Family
Besides teaching music, Michelle is a wife, mother and homeschool teacher. In October 1996, Michelle married Mark Opseth, who is currently the senior pastor of Hope Church in Apple Valley.  Since then, the Lord has blessed them with six children - five boys and one girl.  The Opseths enjoy growing in the Lord, family vacations, field trips to the MN Zoo and the Children's Museum, music, reading, watching movies, taking walks and spending time with family and friends.