Thursday, June 11th

Joy Schuster graduated, with honours, 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 a full time ‘String Specialist” in grades 3-8. In 1989, after immigrating to Canada, she taught with the Hamilton School board and the Hamilton Suzuki String 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 and played with quartet L’Inverno and the Lamont School of Music Symphony Orchestra. In 1996, Joy moved back to her hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan where she taught with the Grand Rapids Community College Suzuki Program and started and directed a Music Together Program.  In 2000, Joy moved back to Canada and began teaching at the Guelph Suzuki String School. In 2019, Joy was appointed conductor of the Guelph Youth Music Center String Orchestras. In 2023, Joy received the Bernice Adams Memorial Award for her contributions to the artistic and cultural life of Cambridge. Most recently, Joy was a recipient of the King Charles the III, Coronation Medal for the City of Guelph. Joy is also the concertmaster with the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra and conductor of the Cambridge Youth Orchestra. Joy’s remarkable contributions to Canada can be heard in the music of our community and beyond.