Utah Suzuki Celebration IX

Utah Celebration Concert

I took my violin out of the case, rosined up the bow. I had butterflies in my stomach. As I ran that bar of sap across the hairs I could imagine all the strokes, scoops, and grip that would be needed today for this special moment. I put bow to string and let it sing. It was just a simple moment to tune and get all the fellow strings to ring and sing as one. One after another, many instruments were tuned. The voices of excitement and eagerness to play were tangible. Timid and scared were a few, but when we all entered the room we were in awe of its vastness. It was a dizzying site to look up organ pipes leading to ceiling up and over to vast balconies and back down again. It made me feel so small. The feeling fled quickly when over a thousand children and teachers took their places. Lights dimmed as a slide show began.

Fifteen hundred performers waited for the special moment. We watched in eagerness as she rose, we all stood. Her arms raised and we all quickly and excitedly set our instruments to the ready. The beat was set by a slight upward motion and as her hand fell to hit an invisible barrier the life force of all began to sing and swell to tell the stories. The stories were of love, peace, unity, the building of a community and the many instrumental villages that give strength one to another. It cast a spell on all those in the room. The magic holds us in anticipation and stretches and extends until all hearts unite. It feeds and builds to a climatic end, when you realized that, where love is deep, much can be accomplished. Let’s celebrate. Join us for the Suzuki Association of Utah’s 2015 concerts!

Utah Suzuki Celebration IX Concerts

Sept 12, 18, 19, 2015 in Salt Lake City, Utah

Saturday, September 19, 2015—Gala Concert 7 p.m.

at the LDS Conference Center Auditorium (1500 performers)

Saturday Sept. 12, 2015—Harp Concert 4 p.m.

at the LDS Tabernacle (150 Harpists)

Friday 18, 2015—Five Piano Concert 7 p.m.

at the LDS Conference Center Theater (140 pianists)

Tickets for all three concerts online price $8 or group of 5 for $30 (or at the door for $15, so buy online)—available through www.lds.org/events or 801.355.2787

September 15, 2015
Topics: Chapters

Connie McCullough has been teaching private violin lessons for over 19 years. She has been a Suzuki Violin teacher for the last nine years. She also teaches Suzuki Viola. Her training in music is through the University Of Utah School Of Music, Suzuki training at Institutes, conferences and workshops, on the job training as an Elementary School Orchestra Teacher and private teacher, and through performing with many different quartets, orchestras, symphonies, and bands. At present, she is the President for the Suzuki Association of Utah and is the Chairman of the Utah Suzuki Celebration IX. All four of her children play violin in the Suzuki method. She loves teaching children of all ages.

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