Welcome to the Los Angeles Suzuki Institute 2025 Event Page! We are excited to invite you to a joyous week of music, making new friends, and enjoying the gorgeous Pitzer College campus. We wish you a lovely week of making music together at LASI 2025!
Jump To:
General Information & Campus Map
Pitzer College Release Form
Event Schedule
Special Guests & Performances
Parent Talks & Parent Q&A Question Submission
Program-specific Arrival & Schedule Information:
Twinkler/Foundational/PREP Students
Young Artist/Teen Dorm Students
Teacher Workshop Participants
Concert Programs
Impromptu Recital Sign-up
Dormitory & Dining Hall Information
LASI 2025 Newsletters
Los Angeles Suzuki Institute is proud to be affiliated with and sponsored by the following:
General Information
Pitzer Directions & Parking
For the most direct route, put Pitzer Service Road, Claremont, CA 91711 into your GPS.
There is FREE PARKING in the East Mesa Parking Lot. Other lots across the Claremont Colleges campuses are not available for LASI students.
What to Bring
Bring your instrument, any accessories (shoulder rest, rock stop, foot stool), and any music you may need to practice.
If you are enrolled in orchestra, chamber music or guitar ensemble, you must bring:
Your assigned music and score (if applicable) every day.
A music stand every day.
For Friday only, bring concert dress (all black) for the Chamber Music and Orchestra Concerts.
Plan to wear your LASI 2025 T-Shirts for the Finale Concert on Friday.
If you are staying in the dorm, see Dormitory Information for suggestions on what to bring.
Pitzer WiFi Information
This will be updated once information is available.
On-site Vendor: Charles W. Liu Fine Violins
We are honored to have the LASI Guest Artist Concert sponsored by Charles W. Liu Fine Violins. They will have an on-site shop in the McConnell Living Room, located across from McConnell Dining Hall, days and times are TBD. Don’t forget to visit their store to enter their generous raffle (Gift certificates worth $500, $300 & $100)! Winners will be announced at the Guest Artist Recital on Wednesday, June 18th.
Pitzer College Release Form
DUE JUNE 8TH, 2025
AGREEMENT FOR RELEASE OF LIABILITY, ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND INDEMNIFICATION
By June 8th, 2025 all participants must fill out an Agreement for Release of Liability, Assumption of Risk and Indemnification from Pitzer College. There are two versions, one for adults and one for minors. We must collect one form per participant (i.e. for each parent, guardian, and child). Visitors at concerts and recitals must also fill out this form before arriving to campus.
Please email your signed agreement(s) to lasi-admin@smac-ca.org.
If you test positive or have symptoms for COVID-19, please contact the LASI Office immediately at (562) 584-6527 or email lasi@smac-ca.org. Rapid antigen tests are available in the LASI Office located in Skandera P102.
2025 General Event Schedule
Curious about you or your student’s individual schedule? Your individual schedules will be available at Student Schedule Pickup. We cannot provide individual schedules in advance.
Saturday, June 14th
Saturday events are only for Teacher Workshop Participants taking Unit 1.
Sunday, June 15th
Sunday events are only for Young Artist/Teen Dorm and Teacher Workshop Participants. If you have dorm reservations for Sunday, June 15th please check in between 4-5:15PM in Skandera P102. The office will be closed from 5:15-6:15PM on Sunday.
Monday, June 16th
8:30AM Student Schedule Pickup outside of Benson Auditorium
9:15AM Welcome Ceremony & Orientation Benson Auditorium
10:00AM Play-ins See individual schedules for room assignments.
11:00AM Class Period
12:00AM Lunch Break
1:30PM Faculty Recital Benson Auditorium
2:30PM Class Period
3:30PM Class Period
4:30PM Parent Talk with Danny Gee Cordova in Gold Student Center MPR.
LASI provides Parent Talk Supervision Classes that will meet in the Gold Center Yoga Studio. Parents may drop-off students for supervision during Parent Talks as early as 4:15PM and must be picked up by 5:30PM.
4:30PM Honors Recital Rehearsals scheduled in Benson Auditorium. Your rehearsal time was emailed to you.
Tuesday, June 17th
9:00AM Class Period
10:00AM Class Period
11:00AM Class Period
12:00PM Lunch Break
1:30PM Honors Recital Benson Auditorium
2:30PM Class Period
3:30PM Class Period
4:30PM Parent Talk with Charles Krigbaum in Gold Student Center MPR. “What Progress Really Looks Like: Encouragement, Identity, and the Long Game”
LASI provides Parent Talk Supervision Classes that will meet in the Gold Center Yoga Studio. Parents may drop-off students for supervision during Parent Talks as early as 4:15PM and must be picked up by 5:30PM.
5:15PM Fun Night McConnell Hall Apron — Enjoy a fun evening of live music, face painting, cake, and activities.
5:15-7:15PM Face Painting
6:30PM Concert with Guest Artist Zachary Lupetin and friends. Cake served!
Wednesday, June 18th
9:00AM Class Period
10:00AM Class Period
11:00AM Class Period
12:00PM Lunch Break
1:30PM Guest Artist Recital with Salastina Benson Auditorium
2:30PM Class Period
3:30PM Class Period
4:30PM Parent Talk with Morgan Gerstmar in Gold Student Center MPR.
LASI provides Parent Talk Supervision Classes that will meet in the Gold Center Yoga Studio. Parents may drop-off students for supervision during Parent Talks as early as 4:15PM and must be picked up by 5:30PM.
Thursday, June 19th
9:00AM Class Period
10:00AM Class Period
11:00AM Class Period
12:00PM Lunch Break
1:30PM Impromptu Student Recitals Location(s) TBD.
2:30PM Class Period
3:30PM Class Period
4:30PM PREP Chamber Ensemble Dress Rehearsal Benson Auditorium
4:30PM Parent Q&A with sisters Susan McDonald & Ann Montzka Smelser in Gold Student Center MPR. Ask a question for this talk!
LASI provides Parent Talk Supervision Classes that will meet in the Gold Center Yoga Studio. Parents may drop-off students for supervision during Parent Talks as early as 4:15PM and must be picked up by 5:30PM. Parents of students enrolled in Chamber Music may pick-up their students at Benson Auditorium at the conclusion of this talk, as well.
Friday, June 20th
9:00AM Class Period
10:00AM Class Period All classes finished by 11:00am
11:00AM Orchestra, Fiddling & Twinkler Concert in Benson Auditorium
12:00PM Lunch Break
1:30PM Chamber Ensemble Concert I in Benson Auditorium
2:30PM Chamber Ensemble Concert II in Benson Auditorium
4:00PM Finale Concert in Benson Auditorium. All programs finished by 5:00pm.
5:30PM All dorms must be vacated by this time. Key cards and access cards must be returned to Skandera P102. Please be sure your room is clean before leaving.
Saturday, June 21st
Saturday events are only for Teacher Workshop Participants taking Unit 1 and Teaching Strategies.
LASI 2025 Special Guests
Concert with Zachary Lupetin and friends
Tuesday 6/17 @ 6:30PM outside McConnell Dining Hall
We are thrilled to have special guest Zachary Lupetin of the Dustbowl Revival with us this summer. Although Zach is primarly a songwriter and guitar player, he took Suzuki violin lessons for many years as a child! Zach will be joined by faculty member Taylor Morris and former Dustbowl Revival bass player James Klopfleisch.
Guest Artist Recital with Salastina
Wednesday 6/18 @ 11:00AM in Benson Auditorium
Join us on Wednesday, June 18th for a dazzling concert of works for two violins with our Guest Artists Maia Jasper White and Kevin Kumar of Salastina. They will perform works by Telemann, Prokofiev, Benedikt Brydern, and Carlos Gardel. Students enrolled in chamber music in the PREP and Young Artist program will also get the opportunity to receive coaching with Salastina on Wednesday afternoon.
This concert is sponsored by Charles W. Liu Fine Violins and attendees have a chance at winning a raffle for a gift certificate at their store. Visit the McConnell Living Room to enter this raffle.
LASI 2025 Parent Talks
What Progress Really Looks Like with Charles Krigbaum
Progress isn’t always linear, and it doesn’t always look the way we expect. In this warm and insightful talk, Charles Krigbaum explores the real nature of growth in Suzuki students—how it unfolds, how to recognize it, and how to support it. With over two decades of experience teaching young musicians, Charles offers practical advice and meaningful perspective for parents navigating the ups and downs of practice, motivation, and long-term development. Come discover a more compassionate, grounded, and effective way to view your child’s progress.
This talk will meet Monday, June 16th at 4:30pm in the Gold Student Center MPR. This talk is for parents, please plan to drop-off children at Gold Center Yoga Student across the hall.
Perceiving is Believing with Daniel Gee Cordova
One of the hardest parts of being a Suzuki parent is observing our child through an objective lens. Oftentimes, watching their behaviors and actions can trigger our own anxieties and insecurities. In this talk I would love to share some ideas about how to be an observer and separate that from our perceptions.
This talk will meet Tuesday, June 17th at 4:30pm in the Gold Student Center MPR. This talk is for parents, please plan to drop-off children at Gold Center Yoga Student across the hall.
Performances, Play, and Potlucks: Belonging Goes Beyond the Music Lesson with Morgan Lee Gerstmar
Studio recitals, group lessons, and youth orchestras are more than just opportunities to play together—they are where students form necessary social connections that help them thrive in their music lessons and beyond. In this talk, we’ll explore why community music is essential to a student’s musical growth and how the bonds built between parents and teachers are just as vital to the success of each student as they are to the music communities they belong to.
This talk will meet Wednesday, June 18th at 4:30pm in the Gold Student Center MPR. This talk is for parents, please plan to drop-off children at Gold Center Yoga Student across the hall.
Parent Q&A with sisters Susan McDonald & Ann Montzka Smelser
This talk will meet Thursday, June 19th at 4:30PM in the Gold Student Center MPR. Question submission will be open by Sunday, June 15th and close the evening of Wednesday, June 18th. This talk is for parents, please plan to drop-off children at Gold Center Yoga Student across the hall.
Twinkler/Foundational/PREP Students
Arrival & Schedule Information
If your child is in Young Artist Program (YAP) or staying in the Teen Dorm, please visit the Young Artist/Teen Dorm Arrival Information.
Arrival Information: Monday, June 16th.
8:30-9:15AM: Schedule/Packet Pick-up outside of Benson Auditorium. There will be signs directing you from the East Mesa parking lot.
If you are staying in the dorm your room keys and access cards will be in this packet. If you have dorm reservations for Sunday, June 15th please check in between 4-5:15PM in at the office Skandera P102. The office will be closed from 5:15-6:15PM on Sunday.
Because schedule changes can happen up until the beginning of LASI, we cannot provide schedules to students in advance. Plan to attend classes from 9:00AM to 4:30PM daily, with one hour off for outdoor practice. See schedule for more details.
9:15AM: Welcome Ceremony/Orientation in Benson Auditorium. Attendance is mandatory for all students.
10:00AM: Instrument and level specific Play-ins. More information will be found in your schedule.
11:00AM: Classes begin.
Departure Information: Friday, June 20th.
Foundational/PREP student classes end at 11:00AM on Friday, June 21st but the program concludes at 5:00PM after the final concert. Your child may be included in more concerts if they are enrolled in orchestra, chamber music, and/or fiddling, so please defer to your individual schedules and visit the General Event Schedule for more final concert details.
The Twinkler program concludes on Friday, June 20th at 12:00PM. Final classes end at 11:00AM and there is a final concert scheduled at 11:00AM.
Dorm check-out is by 5:30PM on June 20th. Please see Dormitory Information for more details.
Young Artist/Teen Dorm Students
Arrival & Schedule Information
Please read through the Teen Dorm Rules before arrival.
Arrival Information (Sunday, June 15th):
4:00PM Student Schedule & Packet Pick-up
4:30PM Young Artist / Teen Dorm Orientation (email the director for a Zoom option)
5:00PM Dorm Drop-off
5:30PM Dinner at McConnell Dining Hall
6:30PM Evening Activities, Tour of Pitzer Campus followed by unpacking in dorms
Departure Information (Friday, June 20th):
All student classes end at 11AM on Friday, June 20th. All students will be included in at least one of the three final concerts in Benson Auditorium, however Young Artist students will not participate in the Finale Concert. Please see the General Event Schedule for final concert details.
Dorm check-out is by 5:30PM on June 20th. Please see Dormitory Information for more details.
Sign-in & Sign-out for Commuting Teen Students
It is imperative that students who are 13 years or older attending without a guardian are signed in and out at the beginning and end of every day by the Teen Dorm Monitor. They will be escorted to their first classes after all students have arrived.
Sign-in/Sign-out for Commuting Students:
Sign-in is from 8:30-8:45AM at McConnell Dining Hall. Classes begin at 9:00AM so please be early.
Sign-out is at 4:30PM & 5:30PM outside of McConnell Dining Hall. PREP classes end by 4:30PM, YAP classes end by 5:30PM.
Those staying for Teen Dorm Activities will be signed out at 8:00PM from TBD.
Teacher Workshop Participant (TWP)
Arrival & Schedule Information
Every Child Can!
Instructor: Trina Carey Hodgson
Format: Online. A Zoom link will be emailed to you.
Schedule:
Saturday 6/7 1:00PM-5:15PM Pacific Time.
Sunday 6/8 1:00PM-5:15PM Pacific Time.
Cello Unit 1
Schedule & Packet Pick-up for in-person participants is Saturday, June 14th from 8:30-9:00AM in Skandera P105. If you are staying in the dorm, your room keycards will be included in your packet. Dorm check-out is by 12:00PM on June 21st. Please see Dormitory Information for more details.
Instructor: Trina Carey Hodgson
Format: Dual Delivery. A Zoom link will be emailed to you if you are attending online.
Classroom: Skandera P105.
Observations: Institute observations may only be available to in-person participants. There will be asynchronous observation options for participants attending online.
Schedule: It is imperative that you attend all class hours to earn credit for this course.
Saturday 6/14 9AM-12PM and 1:30PM-5PM.
Sunday 6/15 9AM-12PM and 1:30PM-5PM.
Monday 6/16 2:30PM-4:30PM. Observations available from 11AM-12PM.
Tuesday 6/17 1:30PM-4:30PM. Observations available from 9AM-12PM.
Wednesday 6/18 2:30PM-4:30PM. Observations available from 9AM-12PM.
Thursday 6/19 1:30PM-4:30PM. Observations available from 9AM-12PM.
Friday 6/20 1:30PM-3:30PM.
Saturday 6/21 9AM-12PM.
Violin Unit 1
Schedule & Packet Pick-up for in-person participants is Saturday, June 14th from 8:30-9:00AM in Skandera P106. If you are staying in the dorm, your room keycards will be included in your packet. Dorm check-out is by 12:00PM on June 21st. Please see Dormitory Information for more details.
Instructor: Daniel Gee Cordova
Format: Dual Delivery. A Zoom link will be emailed to you if you are attending online.
Classroom: Skandera P106.
Observations: Institute observations may only be available to in-person participants. There will be asynchronous observation options for participants attending online.
Schedule: It is imperative that you attend all class hours to earn credit for this course.
Saturday 6/14 9AM-12PM and 1:30PM-5PM.
Sunday 6/15 9AM-12PM and 1:30PM-5PM.
Monday 6/16 2:30PM-4:30PM. Observations available from 11AM-12PM.
Tuesday 6/17 1:30PM-4:30PM. Observations available from 9AM-12PM.
Wednesday 6/18 2:30PM-4:30PM. Observations available from 9AM-12PM.
Thursday 6/19 1:30PM-4:30PM. Observations available from 9AM-12PM.
Friday 6/20 1:30PM-3:30PM.
Saturday 6/21 9AM-12PM.
Violin Unit 2
Schedule & Packet Pick-up for in-person participants is Sunday, June 15th from 1:00-1:30PM in Fletcher 110. If you are staying in the dorm, your room keycards will be included in your packet. Dorm check-out is by 12:00PM on June 21st. Please see Dormitory Information for more details.
Instructor: Charles Krigbaum
Format: Dual Delivery. A Zoom link will be emailed to you if you are attending online.
Classroom: Fletcher 110.
Observations: Institute observations may only be available to in-person participants. There will be asynchronous observation options for participants attending online.
Schedule: It is imperative that you attend all class hours to earn credit for this course.
Sunday 6/15 1:30PM-4:30PM.
Monday 6/16 9AM-12PM. Observations available from 2:30PM-4:30PM.
Tuesday 6/17 9AM-12PM. Observations available from 2:30PM-4:30PM.
Wednesday 6/18 9AM-12PM. Observations available from 2:30PM-4:30PM.
Thursday 6/19 9AM-12PM. Observations available from 2:30PM-4:30PM.
Violin Unit 4
Schedule & Packet Pick-up for in-person participants is Sunday, June 15th from 1:00-1:30PM in Fletcher 106. If you are staying in the dorm, your room keycards will be included in your packet. Dorm check-out is by 12:00PM on June 21st. Please see Dormitory Information for more details.
Instructor: Ann Montzka Smelser
Format: Dual Delivery. A Zoom link will be emailed to you if you are attending online.
Classroom: Fletcher 106.
Observations: Institute observations may only be available to in-person participants. There will be asynchronous observation options for participants attending online.
Schedule: It is imperative that you attend all class hours to earn credit for this course.
Sunday 6/15 1:30PM-4:30PM.
Monday 6/16 9AM-12PM. Observations available from 2:30PM-4:30PM.
Tuesday 6/17 9AM-12PM. Observations available from 2:30PM-4:30PM.
Wednesday 6/18 9AM-12PM. Observations available from 2:30PM-4:30PM.
Thursday 6/19 9AM-12PM. Observations available from 2:30PM-4:30PM.
Violin Teaching Strategies
Schedule & Packet Pick-up for in-person participants is Friday, June 20th at 9:00AM in Fletcher 110. If you are staying in the dorm, your room keycards will be included in your packet. Dorm check-out is by 12:00PM on June 21st. Please see Dormitory Information for more details.
Instructor: Charles Krigbaum
Format: Dual Delivery. A Zoom link will be emailed to you if you are attending online.
Classroom: Fletcher 110.
Observations: Institute observations may only be available to in-person participants. There will be asynchronous observation options for participants attending online.
Schedule: It is imperative that you attend all class hours to earn credit for this course.
Friday 6/20 9AM-12PM and 1:30PM-3:30PM.
Saturday 6/21 9AM-12PM and 1:30PM-3:30PM.
Concert Programs
Faculty Recital Program
Monday, June 16th at 1:30PM in Benson Auditorium
Honors Recital Program
Tuesday, June 17th at 1:30PM in Benson Auditorium
Guest Artist Recital Program Featuring Guest Artist Salastina
Wednesday, June 18th at 1:30PM in Benson Auditorium
Impromptu Recital A Program in Broad Performance Space
Impromptu Recital B Program in Gold Center MPR
Thursday, June 19th at 1:30PM
Friday Concert Programs
Orchestra, Fiddling & Twinkler Concert Program
11:00AM in Benson Auditorium
Chamber Ensemble Concert I
1:30PM in Benson Auditorium
Chamber Ensemble Concert II
2:30PM in Benson Auditorium
Finale Concert
4:00PM in Benson Auditorium
LASI 2025 Impromptu Recitals
LASI will hold Impromptu Recitals on Thursday, June 19th at 1:30PM, locations to be announced. This is an additional performance opportunity at LASI that any student may sign-up for until the programs are full. LASI participants will be notified when sign-ups are open on Sunday, June 15th and will close once both programs are full. Students performing in the honors recital are not eligible to perform on Impromptu Recitals.
You must bring the piano part to your piece to the performance, especially if you are playing a piece that is not in the Suzuki books. Please keep length of pieces under 5 minutes–longer pieces will require cuts. Please tell the pianist about your cuts ahead of time. There is no rehearsal with the pianist ahead of time. Dress is casual so feel free to wear what you’re wearing for the institute that day. Plan to arrive by 10:45am to get tuned and be ready to perform. The locations will be announced the morning of Thursday, June 19th.
Impromptu Recital submissions are closed. Please see Concert Programs for performance locations.
Dormitory & Dining Hall Information
Dining Hall Information
McConnell Dining Hall ONLY accepts pre-purchased meal tickets. There are NO walk-ins. To-go containers are available for purchase at the check-out counter. LASI has reserved the Dining Hall starting with dinner Sunday 6/15 through lunch Friday 6/20.
Breakfast 8:00-9:00AM
Lunch 12:00-1:00PM
Dinner 5:30-6:30PM
Dormitory Arrival Information
Student Schedule & Packet Pick-up is from 8:15-9:15am on Monday, June 16th outside of Benson Auditorium. If you are staying in the dorm your room keys and access cards will be in this packet. If you have dorm reservations for Sunday, June 16th please check in between 4-5:15PM in Skandera P102. The office will be closed from 5:15-6:15PM on Sunday.
For more specific information about your dorm stay, visit the information below depending on your program:
Twinkler/Foundational/PREP Student Arrival Information
Young Artist/Teen Dorm Arrival Information
Teacher Workshop Participant Arrival Information
Dormitory Considerations
If your keycard does not work, please call the Residence Life Office at (909) 607-3900. You may also email either a photo or the numbers on your keycard to housing@pitzer.edu, along with what you do not have access to.
Quiet hours are from 10PM-8AM daily.
Each room comes with the following per bed: a blanket, a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, a pillow, a pillow cover, two bath towels, and one hand towel. Please consider bringing more items to make your stay more comfortable.
For your dorm stay we recommend bringing the following additional items, if possible: flip-flops, bathrobe, extra towels, flashlight, your own pillow, extra blanket, clothes hangers, sports ball to play with outside. Be sure your LASI 2025 T-Shirts for the Finale Concert on Friday are clean.
There are demo kitchens in each residence hall with fridges. You are welcome to use them, but please be respectful of other people’s food items and immediately clean up when you are finished preparing your meals.
Dorm Lockout If you are locked out of your room between 10:00pm and 8:00am, please call Campus Safety at (909) 607-2000. There is a $25 charge for key service that must be paid at time of service.
Pitzer Charges $30 per missing slide/meal card. Please be prepared to return these cards to LASI staff on Friday, June 20th and DO NOT throw them away.
Smoking is not permitted in the individual rooms or bathrooms. All public and common areas in the residence halls are non-smoking areas. These areas include, but are not limited to: all common rooms, living rooms, study areas, kitchens, sundecks, elevators, hallways (including exterior walkways), suite areas and Mead balconies. All residence halls are designated as non-smoking and this includes 25-foot perimeter around each residence hall.
Dormitory Departure Information
Dorm check-out is by 5:30PM on June 20th. Keys and access cards must be returned by 5:30PM. LASI will have drop-boxes posted outside of the dining hall, Benson Auditorium, and Skandera P102.
Trash must be taken out of the room by check out and placed in designated receptacles. (recycling blue bin, redemption items have their own bin)
Linens may be left in the room.
Pitzer Charges $30 per missing slide/meal card. Please be prepared to return these cards to LASI staff on Friday, June 21st and DO NOT throw them away.
LASI 2025 Newsletters
Newsletter #4
Sunday 6/15 Newsletter
Monday 6/16 Newsletter
Tuesday 6/17 Newsletter
Wednesday 6/18 Newsletter
Thursday 6/19 Newsletter
Thank You! & LASI 2025 Survey