The Suzuki School of Music, founded in Bismarck in 1986, has a rich history of providing music education to students and their families, making Suzuki method training available to area music teachers, and working in partnership with area organizations to bring unique cultural opportunities to the people of Bismarck-Mandan.

The heart and soul of SSOM is providing instruction in the Suzuki method to area students. The Suzuki method of talent education was developed in Japan by Shinichi Suzuki over 60 years ago and is based on teaching music as you would learn a spoken language – through early, daily exposure and positive encouragement. Group play-ins and parental involvement are integral components of the Suzuki method. SSOM has approximately 40 students currently enrolled in its range of class offerings.

Some of SSOM’s milestones include:

• 1986 SSOM offers its first summer music camp.
• 1988 SSOM hosts workshop with Carol Dallinger, Director of the University of Evansville Suzuki Talent Education Institute in Evansville, IN.
• 1989 Former SSOM director, Nancy Jackson, attended the 9^th International Suzuki Teacher’s Conference in Japan.
• 1989 Bismarck hosted Shinichi Suzuki’s Talent Education Tour at the Belle Mehus City Auditorium at which ten Japanese Suzuki musicians performed in two concerts.
• 1992 SSOM hosted James Stern, a violinist, and Audrey Andrist, a pianist, both nationally known performers educated at Julliard, for a performance at the Belle Mehus Auditorium.
• 1997 Early Childhood Education (ECE) program is launched for the first time in North Dakota by Sarah Jensen.
• 2001 SSOM students performed Pa’s Fiddle Tunes, an historical fiddle presentation based on the music of Laura Ingals Wilder’s time, at the North Dakota Heritage Center. The Capital City Cloggers performed a couple dances during the program as well. The program was produced by SSOM teachers Vanessa Lorentzen and Susan Neumann.
• 2003 SSOM participates in Dakota West Arts Council’s Live Art is Motion at Kirkwood Mall. SSOM continues to participate annually in this event.
• 2005 SSOM moves into the Frances Leach High Prairie Arts and Science Complex, a city property managed by the Bismarck Parks and Recreation Department. SSOM is one of five arts and science organizations located in the complex. The mission of FLHPASC is to bring together, in a collaborative effort, a variety of arts and science groups to inspire lifelong learning and discovery.
• 2006 SSOM teacher, Vanessa Lorentzen, re-launches Early Childhood Education (ECE) Program, a Suzuki method-inspired program for babies and toddlers. North Dakota is one of only 11 states in the country to offer the ECE program.
• 2007 SSOM together with the Dakota West Arts Council (DWAC) produced an arTView television program featuring Cheryl Liebler, board president, and instructor, Vanessa Lorentzen, discussing SSOM and the benefits of the Suzuki method. The program airs periodically on the community access television station in Bismarck.
• 2007 SSOM receives DWAC grant to launch the Suzuki Prenatal Listening Class.
• 2008 SSOM hosts children’s hour at Urban Harvest.
• 2009 SSOM to offer regional Suzuki summer music camp in Bismarck.

Organizations with which SSOM has partnered over the years include the Bismarck Mandan Orchestral Association (the Symphony), the Dakota West Arts Council, the Frances Leach High Prairie Arts and Science Complex, Capital City Cloggers and Urban Harvest.