Free Concerts Offered at UWSP’s American Suzuki Institute

Stevens Point – The American Suzuki Institute (ASI) at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point will host a series of free public concerts featuring instrumental and vocal performances. Parents, students and teachers from around the world will gather for one-on-one music lessons, intensive chamber music courses, lectures and concerts.

Sponsored by the Aber Suzuki Center at UW-Stevens Point, ASI returns for its 54th year with two weeklong sessions: July 14-20 and July 21-27. The events will be held at the Noel Fine Arts Center, 1800 Portage St., Stevens Point. Participants will attend classes in violin, viola, voice, cello, piano, harp, chamber music and early childhood education based on the Suzuki method. ASI is recognized as the first and oldest Suzuki Summer Institute outside of Japan, with participants this year from four countries and 32 states and territories, including Puerto Rico.

Two guest artist concerts will be offered at the institute. Violinist Brian Lewis and pianist Nancy Boston will perform at 7 p.m. Monday, July 15, in Michelsen Hall at the Noel Fine Arts Center. Violinist Ting-lan Chen and pianist Nathan Buckner will perform at 7 p.m. Monday, July 22, at the Sentry Insurance Theater, 1800 North Point Drive, Stevens Point.

The institute will also feature a variety of solo and group performances by faculty, students and guest artists. The concerts will include all instruments and levels and are open to the public.

The concert program is as follows:

• Monday July 15
  • 4:00 p.m. – Student Honors Recital
  • 7:00 p.m. – Guest Artist Recital with Brian Lewis (violin) and Nancy Boston (piano)
• Tuesday July 16
  • 4:00 p.m. – Student Honors Recital
  • 7 p.m. – Faculty Recital
• Thursday July 18
  • 4 p.m. – Informal recital
  • 7:00 p.m. – Advanced informal concert of chamber ensembles and orchestra
• Friday July 19
  • 11:15 a.m. – Piano Festival Concert
  • 7 p.m. – Violin Festival Concert
• Monday July 22
  • 4:00 p.m. – Student Honors Recital
  • 7:00 p.m. – Guest Artist Recital with Ting-lan Chen (violin) and Nathan Buckner (piano)
• Tuesday July 23
  • 4:00 p.m. – Student Honors Recital
  • 7 p.m. – Faculty Recital
• Wednesday July 24
  • 6:15 p.m. – Informal recitals
• Thursday July 25
  • 4:00 p.m. – Student Honors Recital
  • 6:30 p.m. – Chamber orchestra concert
  • 7:30 p.m. – Chamber ensemble concerts
• Friday July 26
  • 11:15 a.m. – Harp and viola festival concert
  • 4:15 p.m. – Cello Festival Concert
  • 7 p.m. – Violin Festival Concert

Drawing on the methods of Shinichi Suzuki, ASI teaches music in the same way children learn language, with an emphasis on parental involvement, repetition, and encouragement. Participants of all ages are welcome, with students 13 and older having the option of staying in on-campus residence halls.

For more information about ASI or the Aber Suzuki Center, visit https://www.uwsp.edu/cofac/Suzuki or call 715-346-3033.