Doris Bogen Preucil BM 54

Violinist and music educator Doris Preucil was a student of Millard Taylor at Eastman, graduating in 1954. She began her professional career in the National Symphony Orchestra and, after a move to Iowa, became one of the American pioneers in the Suzuki movement, establishing a Suzuki violin program in 1963.

In 1974, Doris bought a building in Iowa City and transformed it into The Preucil School, which has become an important training ground for pre-college string players. She involved herself not only in teaching, but also in orchestral conducting and arranging, as well as the administration of the School. When the original building was outgrown, Doris set out to raise funds for a "north campus," and a new building was completed in the past decade.

"In the early years of the Suzuki Method," Doris Preucil has written, "many professional musicians were critical, not believing that 'nurturing by love' could develop well-trained musicians. Nothing could more easily refute that than the students themselves." The Preucil School serves 500 students aged three through adult, some from over 300 miles away. The students regularly win competitions and scholarships to major conservatories and summer programs, and many graduates perform on the concert stage, in American and European orchestras, and become teachers. Doris's great joy and dedication to teaching are also shown in the master classes she has given throughout the world, and her travels to Europe with the Preucil School Youth Orchestra.

Doris Preucil has been one of Eastman's most loyal and devoted alumni, sending many students to the School over the years - including two of her children. Her husband is the violist William Preucil (BM 52, MM 56), and she is mother to Bill (violin), Wally (cello), Anne (harp), and Jeanne (violin), all talented players. Wally and Jeanne hold Eastman degrees; Bill was first violinist in the Cleveland Quartet and Professor of Violin at Eastman, and is now concertmaster of the Cleveland Orchestra.

For her remarkable efforts in music education and her devotion to the Eastman School of Music, we proudly honor Doris Bogen Preucil with an Alumni Achievement Award.

Rochester, New York
October 16, 2004