The Kitchener-Waterloo Community String School (KWCSS) is a vibrant and caring community of teachers, students and families. Established in 1997, the program operates as a Non-Profit organization, offering participants weekly private lessons, bi-weekly group classes, concerts, recitals, and community outreach events. Private lessons are held at the teachers' homes, and group classes are held on Saturday mornings at Conrad Grebel University College. Group Classes include a variety of activities such as Suzuki/solo repertoire for violin/viola/cello, two orchestras and a community performance ensemble. The teachers providing private lessons are: Bruce Skelton (violin teacher and program director), Chloe Giannopoulos (violin), Chris Sharpe (cello), and Martha Kalyniak (violin & viola). Catherine Lehmann Skelton and Chris Sharpe direct our two orchestras, and pianist Beth Ann de Sousa expertly accompanies recitals and concerts. The current membership includes students ranging in age from 4 to 17, and ensemble members range from approx. 8 all the way up to 80!
The teachers have dedicated their lives to music and the art of teaching, and provide lessons in a nurturing environment
according to the philosophy of Dr. Shinichi Suzuki.
Along with Dr. Suzuki’s approach to teaching, each teacher brings a wealth of
knowledge and experience of teaching and performing to the program which they eagerly share with their
students each week. Suzuki repertoire begins with simple classic folk songs and branches out to
include masterpieces of the Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras. The teachers also draw from the
repertoire found in the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) and many other
genres such as fiddle, pop, rock and jazz, making for a well-rounded approach to learning and performing music. Over the past 20 years, our students, teachers and parents have made
lasting friendships and our students have learned valuable life skills which
they can take with them anywhere they may go in whatever field they may choose to pursue.
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