Yuko Honda

With great sadness we have learned that Yuko Honda passed away April 9 at home in Bellevue, WA. She was with family and friends, and her passing was peaceful. Yuko Honda was known by Suzuki teachers, families and friends throughout the world.

A Brief Biography

Born on May 1, 1945, in Kanagawa, Japan, Yuko began violin at age 4. She studied with Dr. Shinichi Suzuki and in 1964 came to the University of Washington to study with Vilem Sokol. Realizing a lifelong mission to share Dr. Suzuki’s philosophy and teaching methods, Yuko went on to teach and develop the Suzuki Program at Eastman School of Music. She also taught at Drake University, University of Southern California, Graceland College, and, as Director of the Suzuki String Program at the University of Memphis, founded the Memphis Suzuki Summer Institute. In 1995, Yuko returned to Seattle. In 1998 she directed a memorial concert in honor of Dr. Suzuki with nearly 800 participants in the newly built Benaroyal Hall. She was assistant concertmistress at the Des Moines and Memphis Symphonies, a Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) board member and registered Teacher Trainer, an officer of the Suzuki Education Research Association and a member of the Suzuki Association of Washington. In 2006, Yuko received the SAA Creating Learning Community Award. Yuko Honda passed away peacefully on Monday, April 9, 2007, at her home in Bellevue, Washington. She left this world as she desired, teaching until one month before her passing and surrounded by family and friends.

From the Seattle Times

Violin teacher Yuko Honda, shared Suzuki legacy

Yuko Honda Memorial Fund

Donations in memory of Yuko Honda may be made in support of one of her favorite organizations, the Ban Rom Sai Orphanage in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Ms. Honda made several visits there to teach music, and was instrumental in bringing about the adoption of one of the children by a family here in the US. Now registered as a non-profit organization, the fund will be administered by her close friend, Anne Bankson.

Donations by check to The Yuko Honda Memorial Fund may be mailed to:

Yuko Honda Memorial Fund
15819 S.E. 43rd Place
Bellevue, WA 98006
USA

The Ban Rom Sai Orphanage has a Japanese website: www.banromsai.jp