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ABOUT BUFFALO SUZUKI STRINGS
ORGANIZATION
Buffalo Suzuki Strings Inc. is a not-for-profit (501 c3) music
education program utilizing the Suzuki Method. BSS provides instruction
by Suzuki Association of the Americas registered Suzuki Teachers
on Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Piano, and
Classical Guitar. The BSS music program consists of a combination
of private lessons and group instruction for children ages birth
to 18 years.
Enrichment programs such as Music Reading,
Orchestra, Fiddling Classes, Quartets, and Advanced Ensemble are
also available. The BSS curriculum includes annual school wide concerts,
smaller recitals, opportunities for community performances, summer
workshops, solo performances plus national and international
tours. BSS is one of the first programs to offer Suzuki Music for
Infants and Toddlers for children from birth to three years of age
taught by a SMIT registered teacher.
Buffalo Suzuki Strings maintains an enrollment
of approximatly 300 students, who are taught by a faculty trained
in the Suzuki Method of instruction. Our musical home, the Buffalo
Suzuki Strings Musical Arts Center, is located in the business
district of North Tonawanda, NY. BSS is one of only several Suzuki
programs nationwide, which is not associated with a university or
other school program.
HISTORY
Buffalo Suzuki Strings was founded in 1969 by Mary Cay Neal,
beginning with two students, studying violin, in her
home in Kenmore. Since that time Buffalo Suzuki Strings grown
to touched the lives of thousands of children and their families.
BSS students of all levels have provided hundreds of community
concerts throughout Western New York and have performed with every
major orchestra in Erie and Niagara Counties.
The BSS Advanced Ensemble has played annually with the Ars Nova
Chamber Musicians in their Viva Vivaldi Festivals since 1979.
The BSS Friendship Touring Ensemble was formed in 1983 as a response
to Dr. Suzuki's dream of peace through music. The
Touring Ensemble, an outgrowth of our most advanced repertory
classes, has traveled to over twenty countries on five continents
since 1984. Our Western New York children
have been acknowledged as an embodiment of Dr. Suzuki's
goal: to use the Language of
Music to promote peace, understanding and friendship among the
people of the world.
ORGANIZATIONAL GROWTH
• 1969: Mary Cay Neal begins Suzuki Violin Program, Kenmore.
• 1978: BSS Program consolidates at Daemen College, Amherst.
• 1979: Advance Ensemble first invited to play at Viva Vivaldi Festival.
• 1980: BSS students begin community and public performances,
Chautauqua.
• 1981: BSS Parents Association founded.
• 1983: Week-long Suzuki Summer Workshops begins at SUNY Buffalo,
Amherst Campus.
• 1984: Advanced Ensemble embarks on first International Friendship
Tour.
• 1987: BSS is granted (501 c3) non-profit status.
• 1990: BSS Program moves to Church of the Nativity, Tonawanda.
• 1994: Permanent venue of Spring Concert at UB Center for the
Performing Arts begins.
• 2001: BSS moves to permanent home in North Tonawanda.
• 2003: Grand Opening of Wutz Concert Hall, BSS Musical Arts Center.
MUSICAL PROGRAM EXPANSION
• 1969: Suzuki Violin Program
• 1983: Suzuki Cello Program
• 1986: Suzuki Viola Program
• 2001: Suzuki Infant/Toddler Program
• 2001: Suzuki Piano Program
• 2003: Suzuki Classical Guitar Program
• 2006: Suzuki Double Bass Program
"REPUTATION FOR EXCELLENCE"
With its national and international
reputation for excellence, Buffalo Suzuki Strings has been both a
model and an inspiration to other Suzuki programs here in the
United States and abroad. The BSS 2002 Advanced Ensemble was
selected by the Suzuki Association of the Americas to be the model on their "Every Child Can" Course training
video; this course is a required part of the curriculum for registered
Suzuki teachers. Since first selected by Dr. Suzuki as his demonstration
group for a European Workshop in 1984, generations of Buffalo
Suzuki Strings students have been maintaining the highest levels
of music performance.
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