Co-Directors Daniela Gongora and Jessica McNamara believe in the Suzuki Philosophy of Community Building. Sometimes group classes or celebration concerts are not always available at Suzuki home studios.
For the past three years we have joined together in sharing an opportunity where Suzuki teachers may send students from studios nearby and far to share in the
common language of the Suzuki repertoire.
We invite guest teachers to give the students a shot of sugar, as one past guest teacher commented.
We welcome all area Violin and Viola Suzuki students to join us in sharing the joys of playing the Suzuki repertoire.
Registration fee is waived for Cellists in books 3+ to participate in our Chamber Ensemble Masterclass. Music will be sent to you before the Festival.
Our guest clinician for 2020 will be Mr. Tal Schifter.
Please remember to register by March 1st, 2020 deadline. Registration is $45 per person for the weekend. Siblings pay $25
(Same day registration will incur a $10 late fee)
Violin and Viola Masterclasses are first come, first serve for an additional $35 per person
We are looking forward to a weekend filled with new learning experiences and musical growth!
Fairfield County Suzuki String Fest
Friday and Saturday March 27th and 28th, 2020
Guest Clinician: Tal Schifter
Mr. Schifter’s students have won numerous competitions and prizes at international competitions Many have been invited to play as soloist with several orchestras on Long Island and abroad, as well as performing in recital at Carnegie’s Weill Hall and Merkin Hall. Several student have been chosen to perform at the biennial Suzuki Conference youth orchestras, Violin Performing Ensemble, and Master Classes. Several of Mr. Schifter’s students have gone on to pursue their musical instruction at The Juilliard School’s Pre-College as well as other leading conservatories.
Mr. Schifter began violin at the age of 3 as a Suzuki student at The School for Strings in New York City. He continued his studies at The Juilliard School and the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. As a violinist, he has performed at several music festivals including the Aspen Music Festival, Manchester Chamber Music Festival, and Meadowmount School of Music.
The Suzuki Strings of Long Island has performed at various venues including Carnegie Hall in November 2007 as guests of a Gala Benefit hosted by Rob Reiner which included performances by Natalie Cole and other celebrities. In the summer of 2017, Suzuki Strings of Long Island teamed up with the Hartt Suzuki Strings to perform on tour in Alaska. In Fairbanks they were joined by the Fairbanks School of Talent Education for the final concert. Suzuki Strings of Long Island and the Hartt Suzuki Strings were selected to perform at the 2018 Suzuki Conference in the International Ensembles Concert.
Tal Schifter is the co-director of the Suzuki Strings of Long Island. Mr. Schifter has been on the faculty of Sound Encounters and the Mid-Southwest Suzuki Institute in Kansas, the Texas State Suzuki Institute, the Ithaca Suzuki Institute Advanced Program, the Advanced Suzuki Institute of Stanford, the Intermountain Suzuki String Institute in Salt Lake City, and the Hartt Suzuki Institute in West Hartford. He has served as a guest clinician throughout the United States at various workshops.