Green Mt. Suzuki Institute Now Accepting Registrations

The Green Mountain Suzuki Institute website has been updated for 2007, and is now accepting online registrations for this summer's program for Suzuki violin, viola, cello, flute and piano students and their families.

The institute will once again be located in Rochester and will open Sunday, July 8 with a concert organized by its sponsor, the Rochester Chamber Music Society. It will close Friday afternoon, July 13, with its own chamber concert and Suzuki instrument play-ins.

The institute has a new Associate Director, Susie Smolen, a musician and long-time Rochester resident. The 2006 instrumental staff is returning this year, and Devin Arrington will join the violin staff.

"Each one of these teachers brings the program the highest level of teaching and musicianship, the great joy of making music together, and the collegial spirit that makes our institute unique," noted executive director Judith Woos. "Erik Nielsen will return to teach the increasingly popular composition elective, and another returnee is Rory Jackson, whose gift for teaching African drumming has long been recognized by our students and their families."

There are many changes in the institute's elective offerings this year. Pete Sutherland, a nationally-known "warm-voiced singer" and accomplished multi-instrumentalist, will teach fiddling for violinists; Stuart Paton, founder of Burlington Taiko, will teach Taiko drumming classes; and Sally Alley Muffin Stuffin will teach art. Melissa Chesnut-Tangerman will return to teach a choral elective, Susie Smolen will teach "Sing, Move and Laugh," an elective for younger musicians. In addition, Jane Eubanks (the institute’s cello accompanist last year) will teach Baroque Dancing.

"So much of the Suzuki early repertoire consists of dance forms, so this offering will not only be a wonderful dance elective but will also help us understand the music we are playing on our instruments," Woos said.

Building on the foundations laid by Erik Nielsen in 2005 and Troy Peters in 2006, Woos has announced the GMSI Vermont Composers Initiative for 2007, funded in part by the Vermont Arts Council and the New England Foundation for the Arts Meet the Composers Fund. Dr. Sara Doncaster will be this year’s Composer-in-Residence.

"She is writing a piece for us for piano trio, will teach a section of the composition elective, will coach chamber groups, and is offering a very exciting elective on Charles Ives’ music," Woos explained. "Sara has a gift for making 20th and 21st Century music inviting, accessible, and exciting to young people of all ages."

In addition, Woos will soon announce the student winner of the GMSI/Vermont MIDI Project "Call for Scores.’ This student has been developing a piano trio, which will be rehearsed and given its world premiere at this summer’s GMSI.

The institute will have expanded use of the Rochester School this year. In addition to the gymnasium and the wing of the high school that it has used in the past, the staff will also have access to the entire elementary school.

"We will also use the Park House and the Rochester Library, for which we are very grateful," Wood said. "As a result, our ‘campus’ will not be as spread out as it has been in previous years, making it easier for our families and staff to manage their days with us."

To register online, go to www.greenmountainsuzukiinstitute.org. The 2007 enrollment deadlines are April 15 for the Chamber Music elective and May 1 for all other programs. Although payments are not accepted online, Woos would like to encourage all families to register online.

Woos cautions those thinking of enrolling, to "keep in mind that we have an enrollment limit for each of our instruments. This is the maximum number our facilities can accommodate comfortably and ensures the intimate feel of our program. In 2006, we filled up well in advance of the May 1 registration deadline. Even if we receive your registration and deposit before this year’s deadline, we cannot give you a spot if we have already reached our enrollment limit."

For more information contact Woos at 802-452-2360.

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