Looking for a teacher? Contact OhararyuDC@gmail.com, so we are happy to connect you to a teacher.
Supriya Dutt, 1st Term Master
Chevy Chase, Maryland ** Currently not accepting new students **
Supriya, a native of India, had a dream to go to Japan and learn Ikebana. Her inspiration came from beautiful floral arrangements she saw in Japanese calendars. In 1966 her dream came true when her husband was posted in Tokyo. She immediately began taking lessons under the guidance of Sensei Koetsu Nakamura and received an Instructor’s degree in less than three years. During that time, Supriya also learned Sumi-e (Japanese ink painting) from the famous teacher Miss Ohta. Subsequently she and her husband came to Washington DC in the early 70’s, where Supriya taught Ohara Ikebana five days a week and gave numerous demonstrations. She also taught Sumi-e both privately and through an adult education center. In Washington, Supriya continued her training with the late Grand Masters Sensei Mutsuo Tomita and Sensei Katsuko Fujikado Lee. In the late 80’s Supriya returned to Tokyo for 4 months and received intensive training under the late Sensei’s Ryusui Takahashi and Kazuhiko Kudo. She received her first term Masters degree upon returning from Japan from Sensei Mutsuo Tomita. Supriya currently teaches weekly and is a prolific Ikebana arranger.
Alice Buch, Associate 1st Term Master
Arlington, Virginia ** Currently not accepting new students **
Alice was a student of the late Grand Master Betty Taylor. She is currently a student of Grand Master Ingrid Luders. Alice has also studied at the Ohara International Center in Tokyo, Japan and at the North American Ohara Teacher Conferences in Cleveland, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Houston, Victoria, BC and Chicago. Alice resides in Arlington, Virginia. She has exhibited at the National Arboretum and at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.
Yuko Maeda Wain yuko.wain13@comcast.net, Associate 2nd Term Master
Rockville, Maryland MayuIkebana.com
Yuko opened her teaching studio in 2018 with the goal of bringing her passion in the art, in its most traditional form, to the Washington DC area. She is a native of Nagoya Japan and began studying Ikebana under her Japanese mother in law over 20 years ago. She now continues her studies regularly in Japan under her teacher Assistant Professor Ms. Matsuura in Nagoya. Yuko teaches both new and advanced students and is intent on incorporating both the current techniques of the Ohara school as well as the educational methods and approaches used today in Japan. In addition to being the head instructor of the Mayu Ikebana Studio, Yuko is currently serving as President of the Washington DC chapter of the Ohara School.
Emma Thompson EmmaThompsonRecital@gmail.com, 3rd Term Master
Frederick, Maryland
Emma began studying Ohara Ikebana during her time living in Miyazaki, Japan. She was an active member in the Miyazaki Chapter and took part in monthly meetings and prefectural exhibitions. Emma has a degree in education and a plethora of experience in teaching many different subjects such as languages and music and is currently teaching private voice as well.
Victoria Melzer victoriaelisem@gmail.com, Instructor
Silver Spring, Maryland
Victoria began studying ikebana with Supriya Dutt in 1975. She has also taken classes from Grand Masters Mutsuo Tomita and Betty Taylor. She has headed the local chapter of the Ohara School and served in various capacities on the Board since the 1980’s. Victoria was also on the Board of Ikebana International to which she has belonged for over forty years. She spent a semester in Japan as a child, and visited regularly when her husband and she lived in Korea from 1969 to 1970. She has a large yard planted with material for ikebana which she shares with her students. She teaches at her home in Silver Spring, Maryland and is accepting new students.
The Ohara School of Ikebana Washington, DC Chapter