Congratulations 2024 Graduates!

Silas Bartol, senior at Maranacook High School. Future Plans: Clarkson University to study Mechanical Engineering and Nordic Ski Awards and Accolades: Outstanding Physics Award Represented Maine at the Eastern High School Nordic Championships - 4 years Eagle Scout Extracurricular Activities: Nordic skiing Cross country running Math team Favorite Quote: “When love is deep, much can be accomplished.” “Practice only on the days you eat." -Shinichi Suzuki Advice from Silas’ mom to new Suzuki parents starting their musical journey: “Make it creative and fun. Build up to success. Surround the learning student with positive reinforcement. Normalize practice as something that is just a part of the day, like brushing your teeth or saying grace before dinner. ("Only practice on the days you eat!"). The discipline will arise from the excitement seen with accomplishment.” How Pineland Suzuki School has affected The Bartol Family: “I am a better mother for having been a practice partner. I had to get my work done and get home for practice time. We spent time, side by side, every day. Certainly, we all benefited from the opportunities to travel to the Matsumoto Summer School in Japan, to the Suzuki Association of the Americas Orchestra in Minnesota, to the Pineland Fiddlers trip to Cape Bretton, to all the NESI, MSA and Mozart Mentors events and to all the many concerts over the years has allowed all that musical exposure to enrich my own heart and made it more beautiful!” A funny story from Silas’ Mom: “We arrived at Silas' middle school music concert eager to hear him sing and to play trombone...only to find out that he was also playing a piano solo. He'd never taken a piano lesson! By having a piano, guitar and other instruments in the home he would just pick them up and play. For his birthday or Christmas, he'd ask for an accordion or harmonica, or he'd just go out to the barn with a beat up bow and start playing the saw! We came home from the 4th of July 5k race and heard an unearthly version of America the Beautiful emanating from the barn - he was playing the saw!” Final Thoughts from The Bartol Family: “Honor and gratitude to Betsy and Ellen for their vision and steadfast development of PSS. Having been to regional, national, and international Suzuki events, it is without a doubt the most rich and supportive Suzuki community, and it's right here in central Maine! Thank you for all that you do and for all the children who will be better world citizens because you have touched their hearts.”

Eben Buck, senior at Cony High School. Musical Awards and Accolades: District III Music Festival/Vocals Maine All-State Music Festival Orchestra/Violin - 3 years Young Stars of Maine winner - quartet Future Plans: Eben is attending Bowdoin college in the fall, where he plans to join orchestra. Favorite Quote: "Practice only on the days you eat." Dr. Shinichi Suzuki Extracurricular activities Eben enjoys outside of music: Cross Country, indoor & outdoor track, "Chizzle Wizzle" (school musical variety show), math team, key club, National Honors Society, and the Cony Madrigals. Eben’s advice for younger students beginning their schooling with Suzuki: 1. Embrace the process. 2. Practice with purpose. 3. Listen and learn. 4. Find joy in music-making. Advice from Eben’s mom to new Suzuki parents starting their musical journey: Patience and extra strings Eben’s mom shares a funny story from his musical history: “I still laugh about the time Silas Bartol stuck his finger in Eben's ear on stage during a rehearsal. Eben calmly took Silas' finger out of his ear and stuck Silas' hand in his own pocket. They were 4 or 5 years old.” How Pineland Suzuki School has affected Eben’s life: “One of the best aspects of Eben's musical education was the discipline it instilled in him. Learning an instrument requires dedication and practice. I feel like it has taught him the value of perseverance and hard work. The violin lessons extend far beyond the realm of music by influencing his academic pursuits and personal growth. Witnessing Eben's journey through Pineland Suzuki School was a privilege. Thank you for putting up with us for 14 years, Betsy!

Diana Estes, a homeschool student who plays cello. Awards & Accolades: 2023 Anna Bereziuk & Lindley Wood Prize for Ensemble Endeavors in the Bay Chamber Prizewinner’s Competition Principal Cellist at MMEA All State Music Festival 2023 Future Plans: Diana has been accepted to Cedarville University in Ohio for a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance. She also hopes to double major in Allied Health and continue into medical school for Chiropractic. Extracurricular activities Diana enjoys outside of music: -Soccer on Solid Rock Homeschool in MCSSL league - 9 years -Volunteering at FCA soccer camp -Skiing and ice skating -Playing cello and singing in church -Weekly teen bible study -Teaching middle-school level Spanish for two years at co-op school A memory or struggle that made an impression on Diana as a musician: “I almost gave up playing cello in August 2021. I prepared to sell my instrument, but my parents encouraged me to continue for just one more week, so I did. Within that one week, I had a newer, better instrument, TWO new teachers, I joined Kennebec Valley Youth Symphony, and played in an advanced quartet for the first time. I am so glad my parents urged me to play just a little longer! Three years later I'm on my way to College for Cello, something I used to not like!” How Pineland Suzuki School has affected Diana’s life: “PSS has been a joyful experience, and joining Capital Strings last year gave me so much encouragement in my musical studies! The community and friendships built during my time with PSS has been invaluable to me, and I thank all the organizers, especially Betsy and Lori, for caring for us so well and for loving us so much! I am so grateful that you give these opportunities to kids like me. Also, the Capital Strings NYC trip was also one of the highlights of my entire high school! I enjoyed the five days spent with Capital Strings and the other studios so much, and the experience was breathtaking! One of the best things I was able to do in high school.” Diana’s advice for younger students to inspire them on their journey: “Find what your passion for music is and follow it! Don't feel like you need to conform to a certain type of music just because people say it's more "proper." Find what you enjoy, find what you love, and continue to practice and excel in that area. Work hard at something you enjoy, and you won't even realize it's work! And never give up even if something doesn't seem profitable at the time. Don't put down your instrument.” Advice from Diana’s mom to new Suzuki parents starting their musical journey: “Playing well is a joy but takes time and dedication; if a student hits a practicing slump, encourage them by playing a favorite clip from a past concert or getting them together with some music-loving friends to remind them how much they enjoy their music! Also, encourage them to be themselves and play with joy, not to gain approval FROM others but to bring joy TO others.”

Waverly O’Toole, senior from Winslow High School Waverly plans on going to a small university for museum studies/museum research or one of the other six paths on her finalized list. Other extracurricular activities: Theatre, band, and chorus. Favorite Quote: “It’s not time to worry yet.” - Atticus Finch How Pineland Suzuki School has affected Waverly’s life: “Pineland Suzuki School has grown to be a home away from home, where no matter what has happened there has been constant beauty in my life.” Waverly’s advice for younger students to inspire them: “You can do anything you’re capable of, you might just have to work towards it with more effort and setbacks than you think.” A funny story from Waverly’s Mom: “Waverly learned how to play Perpetual Motion in record time and played it over and over and over. The entire household was so sick of hearing that song and couldn't wait for her to move on to the next piece.” A funny musical memory from Waverly: Diana absolutely crushed a piano solo with her feet at Capital Strings camp. Advice from Waverly’s mom to new Suzuki parents starting their musical journey: “Expose your young musicians to lots of different music styles/genres and take them to see live music. It is a completely different experience for them to see people playing in person.” Final Thoughts from Waverly’s Family: “It has been an amazing experience watching young children grow into such accomplished musicians. I hope that all the graduating students continue playing music in some capacity!”

Sophia Scheck, senior at Waterville High School. Future Plans: Boston Conservatory for viola performance Extracurricular activities Sophia enjoys outside of music: Soccer Favorite Quote: "No matter how bad things get, I am always rich when I go to the dollar store." Sophia’s advice for younger students to inspire them on their journey: “You are not defined by the things that happen to you. Keep your head up and your instrument close to you. Also, if they are stubborn, threaten to make them play viola. This is a win-win-either they will start practicing in hopes of avoiding viola, or they will play a much better instrument.” Awards and Accolades: 2024 SAA conference Masterclass and orchestra, Kentucky 2023 Mentorship Award WSHS 2022 December $500 award for mentorship 2021 Anna Bereziuk and Lindley Wood Prize for Ensemble Endeavors - Bay Chamber Prizewinner’s Competition 2022 Master Class won by audition Oberlin 2020 Suzuki Association of the Americas - auditioned for and awarded a place in the Young Artists Ensemble and Viola Ensemble at the SAA conference in Minneapolis, MN May 2020. 2017-2019 Winner of Alfond Youth Center Talent Show Competition. A struggle that helped shape Sophia as a musician: “My mom used to bribe me with M&Ms to practice when I was little. Then in middle school, I went through that nasty teenager thing where I didn't want to be good and just wanted to scroll on my phone like my friends did. So, I used M&Ms to bribe myself. Then finally, I started teaching, and passed on using M&Ms to bribe my students. The change between being bribed, bribing myself, to bribing someone else, will always amaze me and I hope I can teach my students to do the same.” How Pineland Suzuki School has affected Sophia’s life: “Pineland Suzuki has affected my life in so many ways, I don't know how to start. I didn't just learn music, but I learned to make friends, and how sometimes we lose them, and that's okay. I think I have made some of my longest/best friends through Pineland, and although I don't see them every day, I know that the friendship bond created through music is strong. Whenever I am in a bad mood with these people, it doesn't last. They make me smile, even when I don't want to. I also learned the importance of the relationship between student and teacher, and how much respect is involved. Pineland taught me to treat everyone well, and to be kind. Like Suzuki says, ‘Character first, ability second.’" Advice from Sophia’s parents to new Suzuki parents starting their musical journey: “When you enroll your child in music lessons, they are learning so much more than how to play an instrument. They are learning to work hard, persevere when things get hard, and how to give to others what you have given them. Whether a child plays for a short time or for the rest of their lives, these skills will follow them in other aspects of their life. I have never heard anyone ever say that they were glad their parents let them quit!” Final Thoughts from Sophia’s mom: “I have been on all three sides of the Suzuki triangle: Parent, teacher, and student. I have watched many students cycle through Pineland Suzuki School and have witnessed Dr. Suzuki’s vision: He wanted to create humans with beautiful hearts. Some have continued with music, and some have not. But ALL have grown into amazing people with kindness in their hearts. Watching them grow from their first twinkle to Mozart concertos and beyond is the most rewarding thing to see.”

Carolyn Phelps Scholz, graduating from the Ecology Learning Center! Awards and Accolades: 3rd place at the East Benton Fiddle Festival 2022 - adult division All Cast Award at the 2023 Regional One Act Festival for “authentic portrayal of a child.” Other extracurricular activities: Theater & envirothon A memory that made an impression on Carolyn as a musician: “I remember about five or six years ago, I had just learned the Bach Double, and wanted to play it with people. So, in the practice room backstage at a benefit concert, I started playing. The person next to me joined in, then someone behind me. Before I knew it, everyone in the room was playing together, including cellos, violas, and piano. I had started a whole impromptu orchestra. It was one of the first moments I can remember really appreciating just how cool music is.” How Pineland Suzuki School has affected Carolyn’s life: “There is no other activity, or group of people (besides my family) that I have been a part of as long as I have been a part of Pineland. I’m still playing music with people that I started playing with when I was 4. We’ve grown up together, as people and musicians, and we’ll always have that. I may not always get along with everyone perfectly, I may not always feel like putting so much effort into music, but through all of that, I have had this musical family to be a part of and come back to. That’s so cool!! Every time I feel like I don’t love music as much, the thing that reminds me how much I do is playing with the kids I’ve played with my whole life. Music, and Pineland have been some of my greatest sources of joy and consistency since I was a toddler (literally), and I will always be grateful for that.” Carolyn’s advice for younger students to inspire them on their journey: “When it becomes difficult to find motivation within yourself to practice, and move forward with music, lean on the people you’re playing music with. You have a whole community around you of people who are probably going through the same thing. I know there have been so many times over the years where I felt alone, and unmotivated, and then I talked to someone else in PSS my age about it, found that I was very much NOT alone in my feelings, and through that was able to feel more motivated to keep playing.” Advice from Carolyn’s mom to new Suzuki parents starting their musical journey: “Don’t beat yourself too much if your kid doesn’t practice every day. Or you just don’t enjoy practicing with them all of the time. There will be times when both of you want to quit. That’s normal. And taking little breaks or changing how you do things completely might be helpful.” Final Thoughts from Carolyn’s Family: "Pineland Suzuki has been Carolyn’s most consistent source of friends who are now colleagues and adults who she admires and trusts. Looking back on her career with PSS is the most striking way that we, as parents, can mark her growth as a musician and as a human being. We thank Carolyn’s teachers from the bottom of our hearts for their dedication and loving support for the last 12 years! Particularly thanks to Lori for her love and endless patience.”