FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (11/19/04)
CONTACT: Nita Cook , Shreveport Suzuki Parents Association, 318-219-3777, nita@cooksculinary.com; Laura Crawford, Centenary Suzuki School, DirectoR, 318-861-7020, crawfords6@aol.com .

The following news release is from the Shreveport Suzuki Parents Association and the Centenary Suzuki School

Centenary Suzuki School Announces Two Upcoming Events: 'Home for Holidays' with Shreveport Symphony Dec. 18, Christmas Run on Dec. 14

Subject: Newsworthy children / the Suzuki approach, working to preserve classical and traditional music for the next generation

Two Big Events! Shreveport, Louisiana

• Dec. 14, 2004, 6:30 p.m.: The Sportspectrum Downtown Christmas Run & Healthwalk, hosted by Centenary Suzuki School to benefit the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra
  
• Dec. 18, 2004, 7:30 p.m.:“Home for the Holidays” concert by the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra
  Program: Tchaikovsky, Sarasate, Bach, Vivaldi, Dvorak, Handel and special holiday favorites.
  Tickets: $7-$36 / $5 students -- Call 227-TUNE (227-8863)

	Six budding musicians — who all happen to be children of Centenary College faculty — pause for a pose while preparing for the upcoming "Home for the Holidays" concert with the Shreveport Symphony on Dec. 18. Pictured are (left to right, front row) Malcolm Huff, Eliot Haas and David Newtown and (back row) John Henry Crawford, Clare Shelburne and Isaac Haas. (Centenary News Service Photo)

On Saturday, Dec. 18, the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra presents “Home for the Holidays.” Special guests include 140 alumni and students of the Centenary Suzuki School, who will perform with the SSO. The Shreveport Suzuki Parents Association will host a gala reception at Artspace (currently premiering the Peter Pan Centennial Exhibit) for its alumni and students following the concert.

Celebrating its 28th year, the Centenary Suzuki School (violin, viola & cello) is located at Centenary College of Louisiana. Over 1,000 children have taken lessons through this program. Featured alumni guest artists include violinist, Eric Bates, Second Assistant Concertmaster of the Cincinnati Symphony, one of the top ten major orchestras; cellist, Jonathan Lewis, New England Conservatory; and soprano Marsha Thompson, New York, who studied violin from age 5, changed to voice in college, and is a featured soloist with prominent opera companies and orchestras.

Some 30 alumni are returning from New York, Massachusetts, California, Minnesota, Texas, Nevada, North Carolina, Kentucky, New Orleans, Shreveport, South Africa and Washington, D.C. Alumni from the following prestigious colleges and universities will attend: Princeton, Mary Washington, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, Yale, Northwestern-Chicago, Rhodes, Georgia Tech, Emory, Baylor Univ., Brown, UNC Chapel Hill, Univ. of Alabama, Centenary College, Cal-Berkeley, Stanford, Cincinnati Conservatory, Indiana University, USL, Louisiana State Univ., Southern Methodist University, Texas Christian University, Rice, North Texas University, Texas A & M and Oklahoma Baptist University.

The Centenary Suzuki School proudly presents its 110 current students, from ages 6 to18, who will also perform.

The mission of the Centenary Suzuki School is to offer the highest quality string instruction to young children ages 3-18. Its broader goal is to promote a lifelong love of music, through participation in music making, concert attendance, and support of musical organizations. While many of these alumni excel in diverse fields, they have fulfilled the above goals.

The Centenary Suzuki School and the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra are leading the way in reaching out to develop a new audience. As trends from all over the nation indicate, classical music is in danger of becoming extinct. This performance will be a “snapshot” of the generation that will work to preserve classical and traditional music. The process of listening to and performing great music is what creates a life-long love of classical music. In order for this music to survive, it must be nurtured in our children’s hearts. The Centenary Suzuki School through its dedicated teachers and parents is committed to these goals.

"Teaching music is not my main purpose. I want to make good citizens. If a child hears fine music from the day of his birth, and learns to play it himself, he develops sensitivity, discipline, and endurance. He gets a beautiful heart,” said Dr. Shinichi Suzuki

New this year, the Centenary Suzuki School is hosting and promoting the 12th annual Sportspectrum Downtown Christmas Run and Healthwalk, with all proceeds going to the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra. This family run attracts 400 runners to stroll through historic downtown among the tens of thousands of lights. It ends with a party of merriment and music.

These young students value great music and are committed to its preservation.

For further information please call or e-mail: Nita Cook , Shreveport Suzuki Parents Association, 318-219-3777, nita@cooksculinary.com; or Laura Crawford, Centenary Suzuki School, Director, 318-861-7020, crawfords6@aol.com .

CENTENARY SUZUKI SCHOOL, Performing great works…forming great minds!

- 30 -