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BRASIL
On October 11th and 12th, 2025, Brazil hosted the 1st National Suzuki Student Festival of Rio de Janeiro, a significant milestone for the Suzuki community in the country. Held at Colégio Cruzeiro and the “Escola de Música da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro” (UFRJ) (Music School of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro), the event was supported by the Suzuki Musical Association of Brazil (AMSBrasil) and was coordinated by teachers Simone Dos Santos (violin) and Rebeca Da Coll (piano).
In addition to students from the State of Rio de Janeiro, the Festival gathered 80 students from various regions of Brazil. The participating faculty included: Isabela Pavan and Jonathan Moyer (piano); Araceli Hackbarth, Rafael Egídio, Keethy Vianna, Anderson Azevedo, Chiara Pinnola, and Luciana Arraes (violin); Max Riccio and Adonai Neves (guitar); Pedro Azevedo (trumpet); Rosana Garbin (recorder); Paula Penelo (early childhood education); and Jonas Hammar (choir and body percussion).
The program offered a rich variety of musical experiences, including masterclasses, group instrument lessons, orchestra rehearsal, early childhood music, choral singing, body percussion, music reading, and a lecture for parents. The closing recital took place in the “Salão Leopoldo Miguez” (Leopoldo Miguez Hall) at the UFRJ Music School, celebrating not only the artistic growth of the students but also the strengthening and expansion of the Suzuki community in Brazil.
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MEXICO
Between October 29th and November 5th, three very important student gatherings were held, involving communities with limited access to artistic culture, especially music for children and young people.
The 6th Suzuki Family Gathering of Hidalgo began in the Mezquital Valley, in the beautiful city of Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo. Organized by the Juan Pablo II School and directed by teacher Araceli Lugo, the event brought together 250 students from the region, accompanied by their families, to celebrate the love of music and learning through the Suzuki method.
During the gathering, recitals, concerts, masterclasses, group lessons, and much more were offered, led by renowned teachers from Mexico, such as Mildred Martínez, Elisa Nivón, Oscar Estrada, Ernesto García Velasco, Armando Hidalgo, and Diana Chagalj from Argentina. The students had the opportunity to demonstrate their skills on the guitar and violin, as well as in the choir and percussion. The joy and enthusiasm of the participants were contagious, creating an atmosphere of community and mutual support.
Testimonials: “I loved seeing the children so excited and proud to share their music” (parent of a student). “This event is a great opportunity for children to develop their musical skills and grow as individuals” (music teacher).
The Sixth Suzuki Family Gathering in Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo, was an unforgettable event that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the community.
The second gathering took place in Southern Mexico, in Juchitán de Zaragoza, Oaxaca, at the MAR Classical Guitar Academy, directed by Francisco Santiago. More than forty students from various communities in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, including Juchitán, Tehuantepec, Xadani, and Ixtepec, participated in masterclasses, group lessons, and ensemble rehearsals. For many, it was their first experience working directly with an international instructor, Diana Chagalj, thus strengthening their technique, musicality, and sense of community. The event culminated in a concert at the emblematic “Casa de la Cultura” in Juchitán, which gathered over two hundred people and featured a Suzuki repertoire directed by Chagalj, followed by a performance of Mexican music prepared by the students as a way of thanking her for the visit. The performance was further enriched by the students’ use of traditional Isthmus of Tehuantepec attire, highlighting the region’s cultural identity and contextualizing the Suzuki philosophy within their local setting.
The “MAR Academia de Guitarra Classica” has established itself as a benchmark in Suzuki Method guitar teaching in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, promoting an education based on perseverance, community, and learning with love. This gathering left the students extremely motivated and proud of their progress, reaffirming their desire to continue advancing in the Suzuki Method.
The third gathering had a great impact in Huatulco: the community united to the rhythm of the classical guitar.
Santa María Huatulco, Oaxaca, experienced a day full of emotion, learning, and art with the “Mi Casa de Música” Masterclass and Concert, led by Maestro Diana Chagalj. The event took place on November 6th on the esplanade of the Municipal Palace, where children, teenagers, and families gathered to celebrate the transformative power of music.
The event was organized by the “Mi Casa de Música” Classical Guitar Orchestra, a community project led for the past eight years by teacher Marcela González Guerrero, with the constant support of parents and students. On this occasion, the Municipal Government of Santa María Huatulco (2025–2027) offered its invaluable support, demonstrating that when culture is supported by institutions, talent flourishes and the community fabric is strengthened.
The Suzuki method is an educational approach that unites families through music, fostering sensitivity, discipline, and the joy of learning. This approach also guides the teachers’ work so that the classical guitar becomes a bridge between generations, cultivating not only musicians but also more conscious and compassionate human beings. The closing concert was the perfect finale: the guitars filled the square with their harmonious and hopeful sound. Every note served as a reminder that, in Huatulco, music is shared, felt, and built by everyone, like a living song of identity and community.
All three gatherings featured the special presence of Argentine teacher trainer Diana Chagalj, who warmly shared music, learning, experiences, and her talent with the families.
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If you have an event from your country that you would like to share, please reach out to the Suzuki Organizations Committee of Latin America by the 2nd of every month, via email: [email protected].
