50th Anniversary

Dear Preucil School Parents,

Time travel with me back to the fall of 1974. My former student and assistant teacher, Sonja Berven, and I were brainstorming about starting a music school in a historic building I was negotiating to buy. The trial Suzuki violin program I had pioneered in 1963 had gained so much favorable publicity from its results, that it seemed like every Iowa City mother wanted this for their children. Sonja and I had been bombarded with more requests than we could possibly teach for several years. The answer was to start a school where we could train more teachers in this completely different teaching philosophy and include all string instruments and piano for a more complete musical experience for more children.

Planning a curriculum and the operation of a school was easy due to my past years of teaching in university and business settings. We knew that we wanted to make Suzuki training available to as many children as possible and were in touch with the National Guild for Community Arts Education for advice on starting a Community Music School. But what should we call this new school? “The Iowa City Community Music School” title didn’t make use of the Preucil name well recognized from my 12 years of Suzuki teaching. I was taking on a financial liability that had not only room, but a need for more students. So, our present name was chosen. We met the National Guild requirements of being non-profit, offering financial aid, stability, and a rich curriculum.

Preucil School of Music opened in the old Czech Hall on January 2, 1975, to an enthusiastic response from our community. Enrollment grew steadily, eventually needing expansion of our building, and in 2001 an additional campus. Community music lovers supported us with donations and helped to build a strong Endowment Fund. Student and faculty accomplishments won us an international reputation of excellence. But that reputation became a two-edged sword as our original ideal “for the community” took on a different meaning. We hear comments that our school is only for those who have special talent, want a career in music, or are “well-to-do.” So many children who could benefit from being “nurtured by love” in a real Suzuki program never hear about us.

Which brings us to the present! Preucil School of Music will celebrate its 50th anniversary during the entire 2024-25 academic year, beginning August 1, 2024. It is time to re-inspire the excitement of our beginnings and remind our community that we are here for them. We hope to call more public attention to the many concerts of our students. Special celebratory recitals are also planned out in the community, bringing back friends and alumni. A newly commissioned composition by alumnus Peter Bloesch will be premiered at the annual Hancher concert, and alumni are invited back to take part. Hopefully, we can help Iowa Citians and beyond to recognize the role and importance of our school as a community asset.

But first, all of us in the school family (teachers, parents, students, volunteers, staff) should take time to reflect on the past 50 years: the many lives that were enriched because of a humble Japanese man’s gift to the world, the teachers to whom a Suzuki career is a “calling” rather than a job, parents who go beyond the ordinary to help their children realize their potential, and the many generous people who helped our school to thrive. That represents a lot of love!