… had I not attended the Kanack School. Lessons, classes, and camps that I attended as a Kanack School student nurtured the qualities required of me in my various music endeavors.

“During the last few years, I have been teaching violin, voice, and songwriting at several music camps across the country, and now fully realize hust how unique and incredible my musical instruction as a student of the Kanack School was.

“The Kanack School of Musical Artistry is more than a music school—it is a musical artistry school. It is a place where discovery of oneself and others is encouraged. Music is a wonderful gateway to artistry, and artistry is an essential human quality. Not all Kanack School students will become professional musicians, but all can become artists, and they can take their artistry with them, as they become our next generation of doctors, engineers, businesspeople, politicians, and parents.”

KATE LEE O’CONNOR
Former Kanack School student
Grammy Award winner

… it has grown to become a foundational element in the service of music development and arts enrichment in our community. Its impact on the intellectual, social, and personal development of children and young adults is evident in the community and in our own home.”

DEBBIE & CHRIS POTTER
Parents of a former Kanack School student

… on several children. It is transformative not only artistically, but also socially, for its participants. The school encourages and empowers its students to take charge of their own learning process; I have never seen an environment quite like it. Additionally, the Kanack School and its associated teacher training, partnerships, and musical education and outreach programs play a significant role i its community as well as across the country.”

ANDREA LANDIN
Program Director
New West Symphony Harmony Project of Ventura County

… I had a unique opportunity to study traditional classical music repertoire in conjunction with their teaching of Creative Ability Development (CAD). This meant I learned how to borrow ideas from the classical repertoire and make them my own, and perform classical works with more self-direction and passion. Studying CAD at the Kanack School of Musical Artistry made the school one of the rare public places during my childhood where I truly felt accepted for who I was, and where others genuinely listened to my ideas.

“Now, I still see the strong influence CAD while helping to build as inclusive atmosphere among computer science students at the University of Rochester, and while working to design great products as an intern at Google. Because of what I learned at the Kanack School, I am able to communicate my ideas confidently to others, integrate the ideas of others into my work, listen to others’ ideas effectively when designing products, and help foster an inclusive environment with my co-workers where everyone’s ideas are respected and considered.”

J. HASSLER THURSTON
Former Kanack School student

… when it was opened in 1995. During my years at the school, I grew immensely on an intellectual, social, musical, and personal level. I made deep connections with my teachers and to my classmates, was held to a high standard of excellence, was encouraged to fearlessly cultivate my own sense of creativity, and perhaps most importantly during my school-aged years, felt a real sense of purpose, community, and belonging.

“Over the years, I watched Alice work tirelessly to expand the program. She moved from teaching in just about every room in her home to renting and eventually purchasing a humble space on South Clinton Avenue, growing into every possible inch of that space, and eventually expanding that space. Again, unsurprisingly, the school has outgrown those expansions, and it is now the time for the Kanack School to have the kind of facilities they have so rightly deserved for years.

“The work the Kanack School does for the community in Rochester is nearly immeasurable. In addition to learning to play their instruments at a very high technical level, students are encouraged to discover themselves—their own sense of creative and artistric truths, not merely just performing a piece. This commodity is exceptionally rare in the musical world, and the Rochester area is so very lucky to have a school of this caliber.”

MAEVE O’HARA
Violin Faculty
Western Springs School of Talent Education
Naperville Suzuki School