A fixture in the musical arts world in Ottawa and around the world, has died. Alice Joy Lewis died Tuesday, she was 77. Lewis founded the Ottawa Suzuki Strings in 1966 after being one of the first Americans to study with Dr. Suzuki at the Talent Education Institute in Japan. Since that time hundreds of young strings artists have gone through the program, as she was dedicated to teaching children the joy and discipline of learning to play the violin, viola and other stringed instruments. In an interview with KOFO last year, Lewis described the success of the Suzuki Program:
Lewis taught at Suzuki institutes all over the world and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kansas Chapter of the American Strings Teachers Association in 2008 and the coveted Suzuki Chair Award. Her son, Brian, says she was a dedicated mom, grandmother, wife, teacher, visionary, mentor and friend who touched the lives of so many. Her unwavering belief in the power of music inspired many generations of teachers and students and her legacy will live on in each person whose life she touched.
A visitation will be held Sunday from 3:00 to 5:00 at Lamb Roberts Funeral Home and a Memorial Service on Monday afternoon at 2:00 at the First Baptist Church in Ottawa.
