Cincinnati Public School (CPS) students enrolled in the Suzuki Cooperative will perform a free concert May 21 at noon on Fountain Square to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the music program.
First Student, which provides school bus transportation for the district, funds the program that benefits more than 100 students.
The Suzuki Cooperative is a non-profit organization composed of students, parents and teachers trained in the Suzuki Method. In this approach to music education, students learn to play instruments through listening and repetition.
“First Student is proud to call Cincinnati home,” said Dennis Maple, First Student President. “The Suzuki Cooperative enriches the lives of the students and families we serve. As a trusted partner of Cincinnati Public Schools and a supporter of this community, we embrace opportunities to support the district in providing a well-rounded education to students.”
Students from six CPS elementary schools are enrolled in the Suzuki Cooperative. The schools include Sands Montessori, Kilgour School, College Hill Elementary, Parker Woods Montessori, North Avondale and Dater Montessori.
The Suzuki Cooperative at CPS was founded in 1985. In 1995, the program was going to be eliminated due to budget cuts. A group of parents came together to continue the program, and today, it thrives due to the support of First Student.
“Partnerships are critical to the success of Cincinnati Public Schools, and our partnership with First Student is instrumental in the success of the Suzuki Cooperative,” said Mary Ronan, Superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools. “Through this program, children can develop the skills of ability, focus and memory, which leads to children who are confident, respectful and well prepared for life.”
For more information about the Suzuki Cooperative, visit suzukicoop.org. For more information about First Student’s involvement in the Cincinnati region, visit twitter.com/whatisfirst.