60th Anniversary of Dr. Suzuki’s First Japanese Tour Group

To all members of the SAA.

Spring 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of the very first Japanese Tour Group Dr. Suzuki brought to the USA. The ISA is marking that anniversary by launching a project to collect any/all documents, programs, photos, video, film, etc. of that first Tour Group that might still exist with teachers or families. Teachers, please also alert former families in your studio, program, or area about this search.

Here is the itinerary for the 1964 Tour Group. Note if the 1964 Tour Group visited your city or close by to help in your search.

Any documents you discover can be scanned and emailed to the following address: [email protected]  

If you have any original documents, programs, pictures, or memorabilia that you would like to add to the ISA archive for this project, please mail them to the following address:

Allen Lieb, CEO
International Suzuki Association
P.O. Box 21065
New York, NY 10023

The goal is to post an online archive by October 2024 in commemoration of Dr Suzuki’s birthday. Join us in this celebratory treasure hunt to highlight the founding of the Suzuki movement on this continent. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Dalanie Harris is a double bassist from Los Angeles, CA. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music and the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, Harris is a fierce advocate for equity and cultural inclusivity in classical music spaces. In November 2018, Harris co-founded Classically Black Podcast, which brings listeners into the world of classical music through the eyes of Black classical musicians. Harris has presented at conferences promoting equity and inclusion for Black musicians across the country, including SphinxConnect, the YOLA National Symposium, and the El Sistema USA National Symposium.