Hollie Dzierzanowski, DMA
Dr. Hollie Dzierzanowski is a classically trained violist who finished her DMA in viola performance under the instruction of Dr. Susan Dubois at the University of North Texas. Her doctoral research, supported by performing arts health mentor Dr. Kris Chesky, represents the largest study to date on viola-specific occupational health issues and is the first to document the biopsychosocial effects of viola jokes.
Based in the Dallas–Fort Worth area, Hollie is an active performer and educator. She is a faculty member at East Texas A&M University and Dallas College and performs as a section violist with the Abilene Philharmonic. She holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in viola performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music where she studied with Stanley Konopka and Mark Jackobs.
Deeply committed to musician health and injury prevention, Hollie integrates body awareness and movement science into her teaching. She is a Licensed Body Mapping Educator and Training Mentor with the Association for Body Mapping Education (ABME), where she was recently appointed to the Board of Directors. She also serves on ABME’s Social Media team and as Co-Chair of its Research Committee. Her most recent projects include co-authoring and serving as Communication Strategist for the upcoming Oxford Handbook of Musician Health Advocacy and as Program Manager for the First Global Summit on Occupational Health in Music which was held at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center in July, 2025. Additionally, Hollie holds certifications in Dalcroze, ELDOA, Suzuki, and Pilates.
