Free concerts offered at UWSP’s American Suzuki Institute
Metro Wire Staff
Stevens Point – The American Suzuki Institute (ASI) at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point will host a variety of free public concerts featuring instrumental and vocal performances. Parents, students, and teachers from around the world will gather for individual musical instruction, chamber music intensives, lectures, and concerts.
Sponsored by the Aber Suzuki Center at UW-Stevens Point, ASI is returning for its 54th year with two week-long 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 Suzuki early childhood education. ASI is recognized as the first and longest-running Suzuki summer institute outside Japan, with participants this year from four countries and 32 states and territories, including Puerto Rico.
Two guest artist concerts will be featured 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.
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 schedule is as follows:
- Monday, July 15
- 4 p.m. – Student honors recital
- 7 p.m. – Guest artist recital featuring Brian Lewis (violin) and Nancy Boston (piano)
- Tuesday, July 16
- 4 p.m. – Student honors recital
- 7 p.m. – Faculty recital
- Thursday, July 18
- 4 p.m. – Informal recital
- 7 p.m. – Informal advanced chamber ensembles and orchestra concert
- Friday, July 19
- 11:15 a.m. – Piano festival concert
- 7 p.m. – Violin festival concert
- Monday, July 22
- 4 p.m. – Student honors recital
- 7 p.m. – Guest artist recital featuring Ting-lan Chen (violin) and Nathan Buckner (piano)
- Tuesday, July 23
- 4 p.m. – Student honors recital
- 7 p.m. – Faculty recital
- Wednesday, July 24
- 6:15 p.m. – Informal recitals
- Thursday, July 25
- 4 p.m. – Student honors recital
- 6:30 p.m. – Chamber orchestra concert
- 7:30 p.m. – Chamber ensembles 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
Based on the methods of Shinichi Suzuki, ASI teaches music similarly to how children learn language, emphasizing 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, visit https://www.uwsp.edu/cofac/Suzuki or call 715-346-3033.