Elisa Boynton

Instructor of Violin

department: Music
office: Evans Center
specialty: violin
email: tokeo@msn.com

Elisa Määttänen-Boynton, originally from Finland, received her degree in violin performance and pedagogy at the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki. She studied violin at Sibelius Academy under professor Tuomas Haapanen and Nachum Erlich. She went on to receive a Master’s degree in Musicology at Helsinki University, specializing in new music. In Finland she attended numerous summer music workshops with internationally known teachers. She taught the violin in music schools and music institutes in Finland. She conducted the Helsinki Women’s Orchestra and enjoyed the rich cultural life of the capitol area.

Ms. Määttänen-Boynton has resided in the United States since 1990. She had a private violin studio in Palo Alto, and taught at the Gorin School of Music in Los Altos. She is currently teaching at Lewis & Clark College, in the Marylhurst University Suzuki violin program, and the Oregon Music Academy in addition to her private violin studio in Portland area.

Ms. Määttänen-Boynton has added the Suzuki method to her teaching curriculum through studies at Marylhurst University and Suzuki teacher training summer camps. At the moment she is involved with music therapy studies and developing a further understanding of the mind and body relationship, which is of importance also in the violin performance area.

She plays violin in “Music Box” Trio that offers music in various styles for various occasions. She also plays Finnish table harp (Kantele) in the Portland based “Livakat” folk music group, which performs nationwide at Finn Fest events. As a new music enthusiast, she has recently joined “Friends of Rain," the new music faculty ensemble at Lewis & Clark College.