WAWM Prelude Strings 50th Anniversary Festival Concert

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the WAWM Prelude Strings program in our district.  Formerly a called Suzuki Strings Talent Education Program it was started in 1972 by Ron Melby and Susan Stacheski along with other teachers in the district.  When the Suzuki Program was first started in our district, parents or grandparents attended every lesson with their child.  While that has changed with the times, we still have family adults attending lessons as they are able, because the support needed from these adults to help our youngest musicians succeed in playing their violin, viola or cello has not changed.  And for this support and encouragement we are very grateful.  

 

We will celebrate this anniversary with a revamped version of our Festival Concert showcasing our violin, viola, and cello students in Kindergarten through 5th grade in an all district festival concert on May 19th in the WA Central High School Auditorium.  More information will be sent home by your child’s strings teacher in a few weeks.  Please reach out to them if you have any questions.

 

We also are inviting alumni and graduates of the Suzuki/Prelude Strings to participate in this celebration. Please sign up to participate in the Alumni Prelude Strings Festival Orchestra on May 19th at West Allis Central High School.  We will rehearse Suzukiyaki by Richard Meyer at 6pm in the Band Room at Central. The concert is at 7pm and will last about an hour.  All alumni will also play Twinkle Theme (harmony part) in D Major with the Prelude Strings students to close the concert.  When you sign up you will be sent a link to the sheet music and as well as a confirmation email with your instrument assignment two weeks prior to the festival.  Please fill out the google form by May 6th to have your name listed in the concert program.  WAWM Orchestra students in grades 7-12 are also welcome to participate in this ensemble and should sign-up in the same way.  Please share this information with friends and family who are alumni of the program and may not otherwise know about this event.  Questions about the alumni orchestra can be directed to Music Curriculum Lead, Mary Pat Michels.

 

Dr. Suzuki based his approach on the belief that “Musical ability is not an inborn talent but an ability which can be developed. Any child who is properly trained can develop musical ability, just as all children develop the ability to speak their mother tongue. The potential of every child is unlimited.”  This aligns with our district’s mission: a focus on equity through deeper learning, fosters a sense of belonging, and educates the whole child so that every learner achieves success; and our district’s  vision: to create experiences that build community and empower learners so they can live life on their own terms. Because together we create a service oriented culture of excellence where success for each student and all relationships reflect our core values (Trust, Integrity, Respect), where student involvement in all organizational programming is representational and equitable.