What the children said in answer to this question:

‘What will you remember the most about the Gala Suzuki weekend in London?’

 
From Lithuania:
Marija, 16 (violin), 
“Most of all, I enjoyed performing at the famous Royal Albert Hall, and having the opportunity to meet friends from other countries and to make some new ones!”  Yelena Gliaudeliene class
 
From the Netherlands, Anke van der Bijl class:
Charlotte, 13 (flute),
“I loved the way the music sounded when everyone was playing. It is really cool that we all speak different languages, but we do all speak the language of music. The Royal Albert Hall was an amazing building to play music with people from all over the world. Thanks for this wonderful experience.”
 
Anaïs, 14 (flute)

“The thing that I will remember the most is the first time we arrived in the Royal Albert Hall. First, we had to climb lots of stairs and after that we went through a door. We came into the big hall of the Royal Albert Hall. It was very big and there were lights everywhere. It was one of the best music experiences I have had in my life.”
 
Jasmine, 7 (piano), UK
“I will remember the concert itself. I felt very proud to be part of it. I was amazed by how all the children played together and sounded like only one person was playing.” Anna Sibley class
 
From Spain, Ruth Miura’s class:
Anna, 14  (piano)
“The thing I liked the most about the Gala was the experience I gained from it and the new friends I was able to make, thanks to this opportunity. What’s more, I had the pleasure of being able to visit London.”
 
Emma, 14 (piano)
“What I remember most from the Gala weekend was the contagious enthusiasm we all felt. I believe this joyful ambiance was what made the Gala so special.”
 
From Judit Aloy’s class:
Eloi, 16 (piano):
# The impact of listening to the sound of so many instruments playing together.
# That we all played the same even though we were from different places from around the world.
# The good humour and kindness of the students, as well as of the teachers and the organizers.
 
Julen, 9 (piano):
“The thing that really struck me at the Gala concert weekend was how huge the Royal Albert Hall was and how good we sounded playing together, even though we came from different countries and didn’t know each other.”
 
Julen’s sister Nagore, 11: (in the same piano group)
“What I will always remember about the Gala Concert is how many of us are studying Suzuki method and how well everyone did, the little ones as well as the older students, and how well the teachers explained things -they were so nice.”
 
Older brother Unai, 13:
The thing which made the biggest impression on me during the Gala Concert weekend was seeing the young children playing with us at the Playtogether, and also how good we sounded. I loved listening to the Bach Concerto for 2 Violins.  
 
Berta, 5 (cello)
“Greensleeves, and my new friend Martina.” (Berta is Suzuki cello teacher Jon Cottle’s daughter. She sat next to Martina during the rehearsals and concert). Eulàlia Subirà class
 
Clara, 10 (violin) Spain:
"Hello, I loved the concert and felt really moved, especially by how the music sounded and the way the space resonated when we all played together!" Akiko Oi class
 
From Tamara Gzibovska’s class, Latvia:
Luīze, 13 ( piano)
“Having a new experience and meeting new teachers made this unforgettable, and I will always remember the good feelings I had while I was there.”
 
Elizabete, 16 (piano)
“The Suzuki Gala weekend was magnificent- the place, the event, seeing and hearing other pieces than mine- and it motivated me to go forward in the repertoire and improve my tone and musical sensitivity. That experience is unforgettable and was so inspiring – it was definitely worth it.”
 
From Kristinn Örn Kristinssen's class, Iceland:
Alex,6 (piano)
“What I remember most is the concert, not only playing in it myself but also the whole concert.” 

"This experience will have a special place
in my heart forever!"

 
from Italy:
Cristina Quercia, piano student, Monica Renaldo class

Cristina in the foreground. ⒸBill Hiskett

　　My name is Cristina Quercia. I'm 16 years old and live in Cuneo, a small city in Piedmont in northern Italy. I started playing the piano at the age of 5 at the local music school, “Insieme Musica”, (Together with Music) with Suzuki teacher Monica Renaldo.  A few months ago, I finished the seventh and last Suzuki piano book, and this journey was crowned by the  joy of  being able to participate in the Suzuki Gala Concert 2023. I was over the moon when my application was accepted!

　The concert took place at the Royal Albert Hall on Easter Sunday, and the atmosphere inside the hall was indescribable. I was welcomed with kindness and politeness by everyone. I met people who came from as far away as Australia and the United States, and who had travelled more than twenty hours to participate in the Gala Concert. I didn't know Grant Mead (the leader of the piano groups) personally, but as soon as I arrived, he was so kind and welcoming, and made me feel so at home. The journey to London had been long and tiring with many delays and unexpected incidents, but his words made all signs of fatigue vanish, and I couldn’t wait to play!
 

from the top Gallery of the RAH, Cristina (far left)
with her new friends in her piano group (Alla turca)

　I listened to the first part of the concert and it was overwhelming! I was amazed by the majesty of the string ensembles. There are no words to describe the power of that sound! What made it even more impressive was the young age of the performers. I can’t wait to listen to and watch their performance again on the official video and savor those moments of magic once more.

　The piano groups I was in (1 and 2) played two pieces by Mozart in the second half of the concert --the Rondo from the Sonata K. 545,  and the K. 331 Alla turca.  With only one day of rehearsals behind us, we were terribly nervous, but the group leaders immediately put us at ease and gave us a sense of security. We were focused and prepared, and gave the best of ourselves. The applause of the audience was heartwarming. It was an honor to be directed and accompanied by these international professionals. This experience will have a special place in my heart forever!
 
From Anna Maria, Cristina’s mother:
As parents, it was so moving to observe how each and every performer moved with such mastery and unity that they seemed to be part of a single organism. The ability of the group leaders to create such harmony in just one day of rehearsals was spectacular! Working with children and teenagers who were extremely well-prepared, but who came from very different cultural backgrounds, must have been a huge challenge. It's really true that, thanks to the Suzuki Method, none of the performers in the Royal Albert Hall needed many words to understand each other, because they all spoke the same language: Music!
 
Note from Ruth Miura (edits, English text):

PIANO students with teacher Ruth Miura.
ⒸBill Hiskett

Cristina’s entire family of six people flew to London to hear the Gala concert. Suzuki Method has become part of their family life, and it is wonderful to see how their support made it possible for her to participate in the concert. Children always rise to the occasion, and their ability to play together with one heart touched every listener in the hall, including the RAH stagehands who stayed on to watch the concert!