UW-Stevens Point’s American Suzuki Institute offers free, public concerts

A variety of free, public instrumental and vocal performances will be offered at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point as parents, students and teachers of the Suzuki method come from around the world for individual musical instruction, chamber music intensives, lectures and concerts at the American Suzuki Institute (ASI).

ASI is sponsored by the Aber Suzuki Center at UW-Stevens Point and returns for its 54th year with two week-long sessions July 14-20, and July 21-27 in the Noel Fine Arts Center, 1800 Portage Street, Stevens Point. Participants attend classes in violin, viola, voice, cello, piano, harp, chamber music and Suzuki early childhood education. ASI holds the distinction of being the first and longest running Suzuki summer institute outside of Japan. This year, participants are from four countries and 32 states and territories including Puerto Rico.

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

Faculty, students and guest artists will be featured in a variety of solo and group performances. All instruments and all levels are represented in numerous concerts offered at the institute.

The following performances will be open to the public:

• Monday, July 15, 4 p.m. - Student honors recital
• Monday, July 15, 7 p.m. - Guest Artist recital featuring Brian Lewis, violin with Nancy
• Boston, piano
• Tuesday, July 16, 4 p.m. - Student honors recital
• Tuesday, July 16, 7 p.m. - Faculty recital
• Thursday, July 18, 4 p.m. - Informal recital
• Thursday, July 18, 7 p.m. - Informal advanced chamber ensembles and orchestra concert
• Friday, July 19, 11:15 a.m. - Piano festival concert
• Friday, July 19, 7 p.m. - Violin festival concert
• Monday, July 22, 4 p.m. - Student honors recital
• Monday, July 22, 7 p.m. - Guest Artist recital featuring Ting-lan Chen, violin with Nathan Buckner, piano
• Tuesday, July 23, 4 p.m. - Student honors recital
• Tuesday, July 23, 7 p.m. - Faculty recital
• Wednesday, July 24, 6:15 p.m. - Informal recitals
• Thursday, July 25, 4 p.m. - Student honors recital
• Thursday, July 25, 6:30 p.m. - Chamber orchestra concert
• Thursday, July 25, 7:30 p.m. - Chamber ensembles concerts
• Friday, July 26, 11:15 a.m. - Harp and viola festival concert
• Friday, July 26, 4:15 p.m. - Cello festival concert
• Friday July 26, 7 p.m. - Violin festival concert

Based on methods of Shinichi Suzuki, ASI reinforces teaching music similarly to how children learn language, with parental involvement, repetition and encouragement. Participants of all ages are welcome, with students 13 years or older having the option to stay in residence halls on campus. For more information about ASI or the Aber Suzuki Center, go to https://www.uwsp.edu/cofac/Suzuki or call 715-346-3033.