معرفی
Dijana Ihas serves as Professor of Music and Department Chair at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, where she directs the Pacific Philharmonic Orchestra and teaches music education, string pedagogy, and orchestra methods. A professional violist, she founded the Pacific University String Project (PUSP) in 2012, which expanded into the comprehensive Music Education Project with Choral, Band, and String subdivisions in 2019.
Her academic credentials include a PhD in Music Education and String Pedagogy from the University of Oregon, Master's in Music Education (University of Arizona), Master of Fine Arts in Viola Performance (UC Irvine), Bachelor's in Viola Performance (University of Sarajevo), Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Conducting (Messiah University), and Postgraduate Certificate in Music Education (University of Chichester).
Dr. Ihas' research centers on conceptual teaching for higher-order thinking in orchestral settings, string pedagogy across educational environments, undergraduate research mentoring, and equitable access to music education. Her seminal book Teaching Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass: Historical and Modern Pedagogical Practices (Routledge, 2023) synthesizes twenty years of training in all major string pedagogy methods including Suzuki, Rolland, and Bornoff.
Her accolades include the Oregon Music Education Association Outstanding Music Educator (2021), Pacific University Faculty Achievement Award (2018), and the Outstanding String Project of 2018 award. Her Sprague High School orchestra earned three consecutive Oregon State Championships (2009-2011) and national Mark of Excellence recognition (2009-2010).
Dr. Ihas mentors undergraduate students through the String Project's teaching practicum and directs the Pacific Philharmonic Orchestra. During the Bosnian War (1992-1995), she performed with Sarajevo's professional orchestras as part of the internationally recognized Sarajevo String Quartet, which received Bosnia's highest civilian honor for preserving cultural dignity under siege.
