New Horizons: Suzuki’s Bright, Bold Future
Join us Thursday, March 20—Saturday, March 22, 2025
at the Hyatt Regency, Atlanta, GA
About the SAA’s Leadership Summit
Open to ALL members of the SAA, the Leadership Summit supports anyone interested in developing their leadership skills, teaching craft, artistry, and learning. This year’s Summit will also feature meetings specifically for Teacher Trainers, those interested in becoming Teaching Trainers, Institute Directors, Chapter Leaders, Festival Directors, and Country Association Leaders in addition to ANY member of the SAA!
in collaboration with the american string teachers association (asta)
Building off the success of our Collocated Conferences, the SAA is thrilled to share space again with our colleagues at ASTA. Please note this year’s summit will be different from the 2024 Conferences – the SAA Leadership Summit is only for members of the SAA. Registration for the SAA Leadership Summit allows access to all SAA events & the ASTA Exhibit Hall, but does not provide access to any ASTA sessions or events. Members of the SAA interested in attending ASTA’s conference, which begins on Wednesday, March 19th, can purchase the ASTA Add-On. Learn more below.
space is limited! be sure to register early!!
2025 Leadership Summit Registration Rates
Registration
Now Open!
SAA STUDENT Member*
SAA Member
ASTA Student add-on
ASTA ACTIVE add-on
Early Bird
Ends 12.21.24
$70
$225
+$35 ($105 total)
+$110 ($335 total)
Standard
Ends 2.28.25
$85
$285
+$40 ($125 total)
+$120 ($405 total)
Last Minute
After March 1
$105
$365
+$50 ($155 total)
+$145 ($510 Total)
Registration for the SAA Leadership Summit allows access only to SAA events and the ASTA Exhibit Hall. It does NOT provide access to any other ASTA events. Similarly, ASTA registrants will not have access to the SAA Leadership Summit.
ASTA Add-On: For access to BOTH events, select “YES” for the ASTA Add-On option on the registration page. To purchase the ASTA add-on, first register for the SAA Leadership Summit. You will receive a link with details about how to complete your ASTA registration in your confirmation email. Follow the link and purchase you ASTA registration. Your ASTA registration is not complete until you register at the link sent in the confirmation email. In order to receive the rates listed above, complete both registrations by each organization’s deadline. You must be an Active member of both organizations to receive this rate.
*For SAA student registration, transcripts & a student membership are required.
Venue
Hyatt Regency, Atlanta, GA
Join us in beautiful Atlanta, Georgia!
Address: 265 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30303
Room Rate: $199/night
Central Reservations: (800) 233-1234 and use the Group Code: G-STA1, or book online at the link below! Please note this reservation is in partnership with the American String Teachers Association.
The discounted room block deadline is February 15, 2025, or when the block fills, whichever comes first. Space is limited! Book your room early to secure the lowest rate, as prices will go up, and rooms often do sell out.
PLEASE NOTE that SAA and ASTA do NOT use a third-party housing service.
The SAA & ASTA have partnered with the the hotel above to provide hotel rooms for the conference and room reservations should be made directly through the hotel’s website or by phone. The SAA does not use a third-party housing service. If you are contacted by any company offering hotel reservations for the SAA Summit or ASTA National Conference, please note they are NOT affiliated with the SAA, nor acting on behalf of SAA or ASTA. SAA or ASTA cannot guarantee the authenticity of any reservations made with third-party companies and we advise you to contact the listed hotels directly for hotel reservations and information. SAA and ASTA cannot be held liable for any charges or reservations made with any third-party companies. Please be aware, if you are approached by other companies advertising discount hotel and travel, SAA and ASTA advise you to only make room reservations via the online link or phone number provided.
Travel
Delta Air Lines is pleased to offer special discounts for the SAA, in partnership with the American String Teachers Association. The nearest airport is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
Clicking the link above will automatically enter the Meeting Event Code. You may also call Delta Meeting Network® at 1.800.328.1111* Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (EST) and refer to Meeting Event Code NM34W
*Please note there is not a service fee for reservations booked and ticketed via our reservation 800 number.
Keynote Speakers
Eri Hotta
Eri Hotta is the author of Suzuki: The Man and His Dream to Teach the Children of the World and other English and Japanese-language books including Japan 1941: Countdown to Infamy, an account of the Japanese decision to attack Pearl Harbor. Born and raised in Tokyo, Hotta studied history at Princeton and International Relations at the University of Oxford. She was once a struggling yet passionate Suzuki parent to Josephine Buruma, who is now seventeen and is a dedicated musician doubling in violin and viola. Suzuki was named a 2022 Book of the Year by The New Yorker magazine and was re-released as a paperback in September 2024 by Harvard University Press.
Stefanie Faye
Stefanie Faye is a neuroscience specialist with a graduate degree from New York University and fieldwork at the NYU Institute for Prevention Science that focused on neuroplasticity, empathy and emotion regulation. She has worked as a neuroscience consultant for many global organizations and as a school and family counselor, cognitive trainer, reading therapist, research analyst, coordinator of learning programs. She also works with and analyzes many physiological aspects of nervous system states and brain functioning to help improve mental health, learning and high performance. She Integrates all of this with her experience training in monasteries with meditation masters from Vietnam, India and West Africa.
Schedule At-A-Glance
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
5:00pm – 6:30 PM
Registration Open
SAA Welcome Reception
7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
10:00 AM – 8:30 PM
12:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Registration Open
Plenary Session
Sessions: Sessions will include general leadership & educational sessions as well as opportunities for teacher trainers, institute directors, chapter leaders, specific instruments, & more
Meetings for Teacher Trainers will primarily take place on Friday, March 21st
Exhibits Open
7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Registration Open
Plenary Session
Exhibits Open
Sessions: Sessions will include general leadership & educational sessions as well as opportunities for teacher trainers, institute directors, chapter leaders, specific instruments, & more
Who is attending?
Only Members can access the attendee list.
Sponsorship
Interested in sponsoring our event? Write to Angelica Cortez (angelica@suzukiassociation.org) to learn more!
Summit Committee & Advisors
Read more about our Summit Committee and Advisors here!