Joy Schuster, as a teacher with the Suzuki String School of Guelph, is a familiar face at the GYMC. She graduated, with honors, from Michigan State University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Music Education. Joy then went on to teach in the beautiful state of Maine where she was teaching full time as a “string specialist” in Grades 3–8. In 1989, Joy immigrated to Canada where she taught with the Hamilton school board and the Hamilton Suzuki School of Music.
Joy also played with the Niagara Symphony during her years in Hamilton. In 1993, Joy moved to Denver, Colorado, where she completed a Master of Arts in Suzuki Pedagogy. Upon graduation, Joy was elected a member of the Society of Pi Kappa Lambda. In 1996, Joy moved back to her home town of Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she taught with the Grand Rapids Community College Suzuki program and directed a Music Together program.
In 2000, Joy moved back to Canada and in 2004 began teaching at the SSSG where her duties include coaching string ensembles. Joy is presently the concertmaster and personnel manager of the Cambridge Community Orchestra, as well as conductor of the Cambridge Youth Orchestra. She is both a violinist and violist, and has an excellent knowledge of cellos (having raised two sons as cello students, one of which has completed a music degree at McGill and continues advanced cello studies).
Joy has brought joy and passion to her students creating gifted and talented musicians who cherish their time with her. The GYMC warmly welcomes Joy to our orchestra program.
