Suzuki Music Association of California Branch Profiles:
SANC: The Suzuki Association of Northern California was organized in 1974 prior to the establishment of SMAC and is the oldest Branch of the Suzuki Music Association of California with 72 teacher members and 350-400 family members. Teacher members (violin, viola, cello, and guitar) come from all around the Bay Area counties.
SANC-organized events serving the local programs and teachers are: http://www.suzukinorcal.org/
Annual Graduation Concert established in 1978, usually held in January.
Regional Play-In Concerts in the Fall.
Family Overnight Retreat in the Fall.
Teacher Workshops are offered periodically to teachers wishing to improve their skills. Past guest clinicians have included Yuko Mori, John Kendall, Alice Joy Lewis, Ed Sprunger, Jeane Luedke, Linda Fiore, and William Starr.
Advanced String Institute established in 1978 is held in August at Stanford University offering courses for Bk.4-up Suzuki students as well as a teacher-training course.
SMAC-LA Branch: SMAC/LA is the second oldest Branch is comprised of 126 teacher members and almost 500 families throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Teachers using the Suzuki Method teach violin, viola, cello, piano, flute, harp and guitar. Students have the opportunity to participate in the following events: http://www.suzukimusiclosangeles.com/index.html
Annual graduation recitals after submitting well-polished tapes
Festivals held annually for 36 years in Orange County and biannually in Los Angeles County
Teacher workshops for violin, viola, cello and piano; past master teachers have included Louise Behrend, John Kendall, William Starr, Alice Joy Lewis, Rick Mooney, Rae Kate Shen, Terri Einfeld and others.
Advanced students participate in two orchestras sponsored by SMAC/LA’s Orange County Chapter.
Development of permanent endowment fund for generating student and teacher scholarships to summer institutes around the U.S.
Celebration Concert taking place three times throughout the year.
Graduation Recitals held twice a year.
Play-A-Thon fundraising event for scholarships
SMAC-Mt. Lassen: The Mount Lassen Branch is the smallest branch of SMAC. We are comprised of 6 teacher members all from the Chico area, teaching violin, viola or cello. We sponsor the following events together:
Annual graduation recitals and play-in.
Christmas music concerts at a retirement home and local mall.
Guest teacher workshops for students and teachers, usually every two years.
Student string orchestra and string chamber groups.
SMAC-Sierra Branch: The Sierra Branch offers many activities for violin, piano and flute teachers and students.
Violin teachers plan an annual workshop for students and teachers.
Student graduation
Participation in the Apple Hill and Davis Picnic Day Parade
Piano teachers meet regularly on Fridays from 9:30-11:30 a.m.for teacher research.
Piano students have two graduations per year.
Piano summer workshop
Biannual summer ten-piano concert held at the Sacramento Community Theater.
Flute teachers sponsor an annual graduation, ice cream social, duet recitals and a winter and spring recital.
Flute workshop for teachers and students are held in January at CSU-Sacramento;
January “All Instrument Recital” is held yearly.
SMAC-Orange County: Inspired during a February 1987 workshop with Haruko Kataoka, the Orange County branch was born. In the Fall of 1988, it became the fifth branch of SMAC with 11 teacher members and 37 families. http://www.smac-oc.org
Published newsletter throughout the year
Summer music camp.
Teacher training 5-day course and other teacher training sessions throughout the year.
Two international graduation recitals in the Fall and Spring.
Interested in joining, please visit our website:
SMAC-Coastal Branch: The Coastal Branch includes the coastline of California from San Luis Obispo continuing North to Mendocino County. This smaller Branch of SMAC hosts:
Annual Fall Retreat for Families in September, based on the retreats in Japan, was started in 1977 by Jackie Corina and Barbara Wampner.
Annual Graduation held in January continues to be based on the Suzuki philosophy and the graduation levels in Japan. The California Suzuki graduation was first introduced and organized by Cathryn Lee in 1978 at the request of Dr. Suzuki.
Annual Summer Suzuki Institute, Northern California Suzuki Institute is open to all levels of students and features teacher training course offerings.
Teacher/Student Workshops featuring topic based courses during the year.
SMAC-Bay Area Piano Teachers: Contact SMAC Board member for information
