Suzuki News

December 16, 2021

The years of 2020-2021 have been a time of unprecedented challenge for many in the Canadian Suzuki Community. Many teachers continue to feel the effects of lower student enrollment, loss of performing opportunities and the dynamic synergy that is created… Read more ▶

December 15, 2021

The Latin America Suzuki Associations Committee informs that on November 19th it met with teachers Andrea Espinzo, teacher trainer from Argentina, and Lidia Blanca, representative and teacher Suzuki from Costa Rica. Both shared their experiences in leading the process of… Read more ▶
Translations: English | Español | Português

December 13, 2021

A vote was taken to appoint Leslie Mizrahi to the Board of Directors for a standard three-year term beginning December 15, 2021. Ms. Mizrahi brings an abundance of skills and energy to Board service. She has completed the standard application… Read more ▶

December 13, 2021

The Board recognizes that this is a tremendously exciting as well as an emotional and challenging transition for the SAA community. The Search Committee, co-chaired by Michelle Diggs and Mary Halverson Waldo, followed a rigorous, months-long process and, in accordance… Read more ▶

November 19, 2021

Carol Sykes was born May 13, 1938 in Pittsfield MA to George and Olive Sykes. She received her B.M. and M.M. degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA.   Carol, who spent over 60 years… Read more ▶

November 18, 2021

Suzuki Piano Teachers of the Americas Dear teacher: Please receive a heartfelt greeting on behalf of the International Suzuki Piano Teachers Alliance, created in 2021 by a group of Teacher Trainers from the United States and Canada, and a work team composed… Read more ▶
Translations: English | Español | Português

November 16, 2021

This past weekend, Canada’s only Chapter Affiliate, the SAO (Suzuki Association of Ontario) hosted its first ever virtual Conference with clinicians Mark Mutter, Myra Leung, Carmen Evans, Sally Gross, and Nicole Wilton offering very successful Saturday classes to 137 students hailing… Read more ▶
Translations: English | Français

November 12, 2021

Lorraine Ellen Greenfield Westermark, age 72, passed unexpectedly November 8, 2021 at New Hanover Medical Center. Lorraine was born in Utica, New York to Robert and Eleanor Greenfield on March 7, 1949. She grew up in a small farming community… Read more ▶

October 26, 2021

The Latin American Suzuki Association Committee reports its important meeting held on September 17th, with Tamara González and Daniel de Lima, elected representatives to the Board of the Suzuki Association of the Americas. The Committee had the opportunity to share… Read more ▶
Translations: English | Español | Português

October 26, 2021

With the leaves falling north of the 49th Parallel (Canada!), October is a good time to review what our Suzuki team has developed and what we aspire together to create for our Canadian Suzuki future. 6 Canadian… Read more ▶
Translations: English | Français

October 20, 2021

On October 7, 2021, we received MaryLou Roberts’ letter of resignation from the SAA Board. The Board thanks MaryLou for her dedicated and continuing service to the SAA. Read more ▶

October 5, 2021

On Friday, September 24, 2021, Carol Sykes, Suzuki violin teacher, founding member and first president of both the Suzuki Association of Massachusetts and the Young Peoples‘ String Consort, passed away at age 83. Carol Sykes was born May 13, 1938 in… Read more ▶

September 23, 2021

Margaret “Peggy” (Dvonch) Swingle (1947–2021) Margaret “Peggy” Dvonch was born in New York, New York to Frederick and Mara Dvonch. She graduated from Carleton College in 1968 and married Larry Swingle. She moved to Bainbridge Island in 1975 and made her… Read more ▶

September 23, 2021

Kathy Gene Shelhart (of Harrison, NY) died on September 5, 2021. She was born on October 23, 1951, in Toledo, Ohio, and grew up in Toledo; Dearborn, Michigan; and Watertown, Connecticut, where she graduated high school in 1969. In 1974, Kathy… Read more ▶

September 2, 2021

The Board is pleased to announce Laura Yasuda as Interim Acting Director. Ms. Yasuda will serve in this role until approximately November 2021, when the Board anticipates the SAA’s next long-term Executive Director will be seated. Ms. Yasuda has been a… Read more ▶

September 15, 2021

UPDATE: The application deadline for Communicating Honor for Diversity has been extended to Friday, September 24. This 4-part seminar introduces participants to five strategies that increase capacity to engage students, families, and colleagues from diverse backgrounds. Recent… Read more ▶

August 26, 2021

The search process for the SAA’s next Executive Director (ED) is well underway. The Board looks forward to announcing an interim leader on September 1, 2021. There is a short, planned overlap of approximately five working days… Read more ▶

August 20, 2021

The Board would like to thank SAA membership for tuning in to the live premiere of the 2021 Annual General Meeting. Translations in Spanish, Portuguese, and French will be available before the end of August. Plans are underway to recognize the… Read more ▶

August 18, 2021

Ms. Hiroko Suzuki, former president of TERI, passed away on August 13, 2021. She was 80 years old. She is a niece of Dr. Shin’ichi Suzuki, the founder of Suzuki Method, and she grew up listening to Schubert’s “Unfinished”… Read more ▶

August 6, 2021

The Board is delighted to introduce our new members! Three individuals were elected from a slate of qualified candidates in July 2021. They were seated on August 1, 2021 and are set to engage in Board training and orientation in the… Read more ▶