Pineland Crescendo Suzuki Tour Group

Bridging Cultures Through Music

Pineland Crescendo Suzuki Tour Group is a collaborative outreach project of the Pineland Suzuki School of Augusta, ME. Founded in 2022 by educators Aimee Briant, Carlough Faulkner-Carroll, Betsy Kobayashi, and Lori Scheck, the group unites young, passionate Suzuki violin, viola, and cello students from Maine, Massachusetts, and New Jersey on a shared musical journey. Through this experience, students connect with one another, embrace cross-cultural exchange, strive for artistic excellence and peace, and inspire the next generation.

This vibrant group is preparing to send 27 of our dedicated young violinists and cellists on a 12-day cultural and educational Suzuki pilgrimage to Japan in the summer of 2026.   Highlights of the tour include: 

• Peace concerts at Hiroshima Peace Park and the Mutsumi-en Care Facility for Atomic Bombing Survivors, presented during the bombing’s anniversary week in collaboration with Suzuki students from Japan.

• A visit to Matsumoto, where Dr. Shinichi Suzuki lived and worked, featuring a concert at the Talent Education Research Center (TERI), celebrating his belief in music as a force for peace, beauty, and healing in the rebuilding of Japan after World War II.

• A two-day workshop in Kobe bringing together Japanese and American teachers and students to build friendship, cultural understanding, and peace between nations through music

To make this transformative journey possible, we have raised almost $34,000 to support travel, lodging, educational programming, and performance opportunities for our students. Your support ensures that these young musicians can serve as cultural ambassadors—carrying forward Dr. Suzuki’s vision of nurturing peace, beauty, and friendship between nations through music. Together, we can empower the next generation to learn, connect, and inspire across borders.

Donations to Pineland Suzuki School in Maine, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, are tax-deductible. Your generous support will directly benefit the students, enriching their musical education and helping them share their talents on an international stage.

Thank you for supporting the next generation of musicians and their musical journey!

​Checks (labeled "Japan Fund" in the memo line) can be sent to: 

Pineland Suzuki School

PO Box 604

Manchester, ME 04351