Belize Suzuki Summer Institute

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Belize is nestled at the tip of Central America with the blue-green Caribbean Sea shorelines on the east and lush dense rainforest on the west. Belize is English speaking. We are excited to be hosting our 6th Suzuki Institute in July 2026. 

The Belize Suzuki Summer Institute is being held in association with Daniela Gongora Music Academy (Norwalk, Ct)

Our campsite is located at the Dream Valley Resort in Teakettle Village, Cayo, Belize.

 Some classes will be held outdoors and/or semi-outdoors. When indoors, classrooms are well ventilated with rooms that have AC.

We are offering Suzuki Institute program for students as well as 

Enrichment courses DUAL DELIVERY training for teachers. 

  In addition to the Core Suzuki Classes, Steel Pan Drumming will be added as part of our cultural enrichment program. Parents/Guardians are invited to sign up for this exciting class as well!

*Belizean citizens residing in Belize receive a discounted tuition.

Kindly consider donating to help lower tuition costs for Belizean students.

Registration for summer 2026 is now open! Early Bird pricing ends March 1st, 2026. Deadline to register and secure accommodations is April 1st, 2026. Registrations received after April 1st will be considered on a case by case basis and may be suject to late fees.

Registration for summer 2026 is now open! Deadline to register and secure accommodations is April 1st, 2026.

DATES: June 29th - July 3rd  

FEES: $60 Registration per student 

Cello Rental Fee: $30 (limited to 4 full size cellos)

Suzuki Pre-Twinkle: Early Bird $305/ Regular $330

Suzuki Books 1-3: Early Bird $485/ Regular $510  

Suzuki Books 4+: Early Bird $535/ Regular $560

TWEEN Chamber Music Program Books 3B+ and ages 12 and up: Early Bird $575/ Regular $600

CHECK IN: June 28th at 5 p.m.  And  June 29th  at 8:00  a.m. (International visitors please plan to travel at least one day before camp begins on June 29th)

• A day at the institute will consist of four to five hours of instruction with breaks for snack, lunch, practicing and downtime.
• Pre Twinkle/Twinkle Students will receive one suzuki group class and one enrichment class daily.  This 1/2 day experience  is  open  to  new  families  who  have  just  begun  their  suzuki  journey  with  a  suzuki  teacher,  or families  who  are  exploring  the  possibilities  of  doing  so.
• Books 1-3 will receive Masterclasses, Suzuki Rep group class, and a musicianship or technique class
• Books 4+ will receive Masterclass, Suzuki Rep Group class, and enrichment or technique class
• Students in the TWEEN chamber program will have additional chamber ensembles and music theory and/or music composition.  
• Students ages 8 and up will enjoy cultural enrichment classes in steel pan playing. Younger students will enjoy either rhythm and movement, musicianship, music theory games or arts and crafts.
• All students books 1 and up will participate in a daily Suzuki Play-in class
• Friday schedule is an abridged schedule to allow for the final lunch concert.

Training Prerequisites and Course Order.

To take Suzuki teacher training, teachers must be active members of the SAA. Every Child Can! (ECC) is required prior to taking Unit 1. Courses must be taken in order through Unit 3: ECC, Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3. Once this sequence has been completed, taking units in order is highly recommended but not required.

Audition Requirement

To qualify as a participant in SAA Teacher Workshop unit courses, applicants must upload a video audition to the SAA, preferably well in advance of taking the course. Videos submitted at least 8 weeks prior to the course start date will receive a discounted audition fee. If they are submitted later than 8 weeks before the course, the regular audition fee will be required. 

Please note: Auditions for Unit 1 courses are not required for the 2026 Summer Institutes.

For other Units begining with Unit 2, audition videos must be received no later than 10 days prior to the course start date. Auditions for all other units must be submitted and approved by the course start.

Auditions submitted early have the advantage of an optional retry (with fees) within the stated deadlines if initial audition was not accepted. If auditions are not accepted, course work will not be eligible for SAA registration. For further information, please visit the SAA website to view the teacher video audition application form and instructions, or call the SAA at 1-888-378-9854.

Required Course Preparation

All teacher training participants are asked to prepare and memorize the repertoire to be studied to the point of fluent performance. Additionally, participants should be conversant with the ideas presented in Dr. Suzuki’s book Nurtured by Love.

All participants will be performing Suzuki repertoire and other materials in class. Strings and woodwinds are expected to provide their own instruments. One-hundred percent attendance is required for registering the course, along with any other course requirements set by the teacher trainer.

Each participant enrolled in a Unit 1 course will receive a letter from the SAA stating the preparation expectations and basic course components. Letters are emailed directly to each participant as they are added to the institute’s online roster. Each letter is instrument-specific and covers information such as reading material, Suzuki books and CDs, piece preparation, and items to bring to the course.

Daniela Gongora, director, violin and viola (Norwalk, CT USA)

Edwin A.J. Gongora, Belize liaison, violin (Belize City, Belize)

Andrea Cannon, Guitar (Texas, USA)

Gretchen Grube, violin (Chicago, IL USA)

Sara Bennett Wolfe, cello (Norwalk, CT USA)

Julietta Burrowes, steel pan, piano, theory (Belize City, Belize)