Since 1974, the American Suzuki Foundation has provided financial support to the Aber Suzuki Center by providing student scholarships, long and short term teacher trainee grants, research grants, training for faculty, and the purchase of instruments and equipment.
Statement of ASF purpose:
The American Suzuki Foundation exists to help support the
students, families and activities of the Aber Suzuki Center.
Overview:
The American Suzuki Foundation Board oversees three funds, which
are used to support the activities of the Foundation.
o Margery Aber Endowment Fund: Since 1987, the
Foundation has had stewardship of this fund, which has formed the
basis of the Foundationšs awards.
o Kathleen Franceschi Fund: Following the death of
cellist Kathleen Franceschi, this fund was established
specifically to support ASC cello students.
o Aber Childrenšs Scholarship Fund: In 1994, Margery
Aber established this fund to honor the memory of her parents,
Earle and Vina Aber.
Scholarship support: Over the last several years, the
Board has instituted several programs of support for ASC and its
students.
Margery V. Aber Scholarship: The Foundation provides
scholarship support for undergraduate and graduate music students
at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, for those students
studying to become Suzuki teachers.
Needs-Based Scholarships: Each semester, $3,000 is granted
in needs-based scholarships to the families of ASC students, in
order to make lessons more affordable. Awards depend upon family
income, the number of ASC students in the family and the level
of involvement in the ASC program. Proceeds from the
Kathleen Franceschi Fund are used to grant aid to cello
students in the ASC program. Applications are accepted at the
beginning of each new semester of instruction.
Aber Childrenšs Scholarships: Once each year, scholarships
are awarded from the Aber Childrenšs Scholarship Fund. These awards are not based upon financial need, but rather on the
applying families' practice of the principles of the Suzuki
philosophy. Families are asked to respond to a set of questions
related to an aspect of Dr. Suzuki's teachings and may be asked to
participate in an interview process. Awards may be used to pay
for any part of the ASC program, including regular school-year
lessons, summer lessons, or the American Suzuki Institute.
ASI Shinichi Suzuki Teacher Training Scholarships: Since
the death of Shinichi Suzuki in 1998, the Board has provided
$5,000 each year in support of teacher training at the American
Suzuki Institute. In his later years, Dr. Suzuki worked with
teacher trainees in Matsumoto, and the Board sought to continue
his work here in Stevens Point and provide assistance in the
training of the next generation of Suzuki teachers. Exceptional
teacher training candidates for the American Suzuki Institute may
submit an application as a Shinichi Suzuki Scholar. Awards
pay for expenses associated with attending the teacher training
portion of the American Suzuki Institute.
Current Board of Directors:
Tim A. Zander, President
Lani Tierney, Vice President
Mary Dahm, Secretary
Bill Jenkins, Treasurer
Tim and Pam Corcoran
Tomi Dittburner
Gretchen Anderson
Nancy Chinn
Brian Formella
Teri Jenkins
Gerard McKenna, Ex Officio
Dee Martz, Ex Officio
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
College of Fine Arts & Communication
