For the City-Times

Students and teachers of Suzuki music education from 32 states and seven countries will take part in the 44th annual American Suzuki Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Held in two sessions July 20-26 and July 27-Aug. 2, the institute is sponsored by the Aber Suzuki Center at UW-Stevens Point. It offers participants classes in violin, viola, cello, bass, piano, harp, guitar and chamber music as well as sessions for teachers learning to teach the method.

“Every year families tell us the American Suzuki Institute is such a magical place,” said Pat D’Ercole, the center’s director. “They keep coming back because of the progress the students make in one week, the excellent faculty, the friends they make and a schedule that balances the rigors of practicing their instrument with fun activities during free time.”

This summer’s institute will celebrate the contributions of Dee Martz, a past director of the center who died last October, and Margery Aber, the founder of the center and the American Suzuki Institute. Aber, who died in 2001, would have turned 100 this year.

To celebrate Martz’s contribution as ASI director for 23 years, the institute commissioned a piece that will be played at each Friday’s festival concerts.  “In Dee” was written by UW-Stevens Point alumna Alexandria Mueller, who studied viola with Martz and studied composition in the music department.

The public may enjoy numerous free concerts during the institute. These will be held in Michelsen Hall in the Noel Fine Arts Center on campus or at Sentry Insurance’s Theater @1800, located at 1800 North Point Drive, Stevens Point. Dates include:

• Monday, July 21, 7:30 p.m., Theater @1800 – Celia Trio, featuring Stevens Point native Charys Schuler on violin, Maja Schwamm on cello and Karen Tanaka on piano
• Tuesday, July 22, 7:30 p.m., Theater @1800 – Institute faculty recital
• Friday, July 25, times TBA (call 715-346-3033), Michelsen Hall – Piano Festival Concerts
• Friday, July 25, 11 a.m., Michelsen Hall – Piano Ensembles Concert
• Friday, July 25, 1 p.m., Michelsen Hall – Piano Ensembles and Harp Festival Concert
• Friday, July 25, 7 p.m., Theater @1800 – Violin Festival Concert
• Monday, July 28, 7:30 p.m., Theater @1800 – Guest violist Joanna Binford
• Tuesday, July 29,  7:30 p.m., Theater @1800 – Institute faculty recital
• Thursday, July 31, 7 p.m., Michelsen Hall – Chamber Music Student Orchestra concert
• Thursday, July 31, 8 p.m., Michelsen Hall – Chamber Music Student Ensemble performances
• Friday, Aug. 1, times TBA (call 715-346-3033), Michelsen Hall – Piano Festival Concerts
• Friday, Aug. 1, 11:15 a.m., Michelsen Hall – Viola Festival Concert
• Friday, Aug. 1, 3 p.m., Michelsen Hall – Piano Ensembles and Guitar Festival Concert 
• Friday, Aug. 1, 4:15 p.m., Michelsen Hall – Cello Festival Concert
• Friday, Aug. 1, 7 p.m., Theater @1800 – Violin Festival Concert

More than 1,000 students, instructors and family members will come to this year’s American Suzuki Institute in Stevens Point from across the country as well as Belgium, Germany, England, Mexico, Argentina and Canada. Based on the music education methods of Shinichi Suzuki, the institute was the first Suzuki summer music program established outside of Japan.

For more information about the American Suzuki Institute or the Aber Suzuki Center, go to www.uwsp.edu/suzuki or call 715-346-3033.