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FARMINGTON HILLS, MI— Steppingstone School for Gifted Education announced today that they will host nine (9) violin students from Thailand to their 2nd annual Steppingstone Summer Music Academy (SSMA). Tami Morse, Co-Director, Steppingstone Music Academy, who is completing her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree at Stony Brook University in New York stated that the students are between the ages of 11 and 19 and will be accompanied by their instructor, Lin Wang. Morse, working with colleague Zheng Jennifer Huang, was able to arrange for the students to travel to the United States to attend the Academy. The group plans on performing at various venues featuring performances of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, among other repertoire. During their time at the SSMA the students will receive private lessons, chamber music coaching, classes in music history and theory as well as play in a small orchestra where Plymouth Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Canton conductor Nan Washburn will visit them for a guest coaching. According to Morse the students are excited to experience the United States and get the opportunity to get to know their American peers. The trip will conclude with a performance at the Steppingstone School on Friday July 25 at 7 p.m. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. The Steppingstone School for Gifted Education is located at 28555 Middlebelt Rd., Farmington Hills, MI 48334.

Steppingstone Summer Music Academy provides an immersive summer music experience for pianists and string players. Serving students of all ages, the day camp features weekly performances from faculty and students as well as comprehensive in-depth instruction in all areas of music study. The SSMA contains two divisions: the Suzuki program, which accepts all beginning students in a one-, two-, or three week course and the Academy, which accepts all students able to prepare for a solo and /or ensemble performance. The Academy starts on July 7 and concludes on July 25th. SSMA is still accepting students. For application information please call (248) 539-1666 or visit the website at www.steppingstoneschool.org.

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI—Two members of the Association of Independent Michigan Schools (AIMS) will begin a cooperative effort fall term, conjoining their educational programs under one roof.

Steppingstone School for Gifted Education and The International School will share the facilities at 28555 Middlebelt Road in Farmington Hills.

In December 2007, the donors of Steppingstone’s present campus withdrew their support, citing difficult economic conditions, and announced their decision to sell the property.

Necessitating a move on short notice, the Steppingstone board of trustees and Kiyo Morse, Steppingstone founder and Head of School, began exploring various options for a new location and enlisted the aid of AIMS executive director Dick Halsey.

When Dick explained the situation to me,” said AIMS member Jack Faxon, Headmaster, The International School, “I was very empathetic to their situation. I thought we could put our extra space to good use and benefit another school at the same time.”

We look forward to this increase in our schools use and to a promising association,” Faxon stated.

During their meetings, Faxon and Morse discovered that, although the missions of their schools differed, they had similar educational philosophies.

There is a good fit here,” said Morse, “our programs are complementary. We’ll share our strengths and combine our experience for the mutual benefit of our students and families.”

Our combined student body opens up many interesting possibilities and ideas,” Morse continued, “the synergy is there.”

The International School will maintain its program of foreign language immersion while offering cultural and language diversity, a rounded physical education program, a gymnasium, a state-of-the-art science lab and a dedicated computer room.

Steppingstone will preserve its gifted child academic and personal development curriculum and bring with it a diverse student body, a Suzuki music program, expert computer technology instruction and equipment as well as the unique SMART (Steppingstone Magnetic Resonance Training) center.

Steppingstone Summer Music Academy is scheduling appointments for Scholarship Auditions to their 3 week summer academy. Auditions will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2008 from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Housed in the Steppingstone School for Gifted Education in Farmington Hills, Michigan the SSMA provides an immersive summer music experience for pianists and string players. Serving students of all ages, the day camp features weekly performances from faculty and students as well as comprehensive in-depth instruction in all areas of music study. The SSMA contains two divisions: the Suzuki program, which accepts all beginning students in a one-, two-, or three-week course and the Academy, which accepts all students able to prepare for a solo and/or ensemble performance. The Academy program takes place over one three-week course. This year the camp will be held from July 7 – July 25, 2008. A 25% tuition discount will be awarded to the top 20% of auditioning students who register by May 1, 2008 says, Mary Stolberg, Director of the Suzuki Violin Camp. Stolberg who will be one of the audition judges said that students should come prepared with the following for their audition. A solo of the student’s choice, 2 three-octave scales and 3 two-octave scales of the student’s choice. To schedule an Audition appointment, call Steppingstone School at 248-324-0692 between 9 am. & 5 p.m. Audition results will be available on April 28, 2008.For more information please visit Steppingstone at www.steppingstoneschool.org.