Susan S. Starrett is youth symphony’s Educator of the Year
Submitted by Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra
The Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra will award Susan S. Starrett of North Aurora with its annual Music Educator of the Year Award during concerts at 2, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
The award recognizes local musicians and teachers who have made a significant impact on young musicians while having a successful music career of their own. Starrett will receive the award during the “Performances of the Word” concerts.
Starrett has been studying and playing string instruments since she was a young child. Throughout her childhood, she studied with musical talents such as Paul Rolland, Elmer Szepessy, Roman Totenberg and Anthony Devroye.
In addition to playing instruments, Starrett pursued the art of conducting. Her credits as conductor include the Illinois All-State Orchestra, the Dal-hi Youth Symphony in Dallas, Fox Valley Youth Symphony, and numerous Illinois Music Educators Association and All-State festivals in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and Texas. She was also named the “Orchestra Director of the Year” in Illinois in 1994 and in Texas in 1970.
As her love of music took her from student to player to conductor, it will come as no surprise that Susan embraced the art of teaching music as well. The Susan S. Starrett String Studio offers excellence in teaching middle school and high school violin and viola students with a serious desire to improve. Lessons feature a strong emphasis on scales/arpeggios, études, and solo repertoire. Student audition preparation, including youth symphonies, IMEA, All-State and college auditions, are addressed.
One hundred percent of Starrett’s graduating seniors desiring to study music in college have received scholarships. More than 200 of her students have been named to IMEA All-State Orchestra with 23 named Principal or Concertmaster of All-State.
The “Performances of the Word” concert will take place in the Blizzard Theatre at the Elgin Community College Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Tickets are $23, $18 for senior citizens and $12 for students. Purchase online at tickets.elgin.edu or by calling the ECC box office at (847) 622-0300. Box office hours are noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.