In 2023, Bermuda Kids announced a special partnership with The Department of Child and Family Services, along with the Foster Care Coordinator, and began a scholarship fund for children in foster care. These scholarships, aim to provide fully funded Kindermusik classes to babies and young toddlers, as suggested by the Foster Care team. Thanks to many Bermuda Kids families, we have been able to to share in the joy of bonding and learning through Kindermusik's curricular to children and their foster families, this past year.
It is with great pride to announce the continuation of this partnership and officially name the scholarship fund in honor of our Kindermusik mentor, Ms. Suzanne Dunkerley.
Suzanne came to Bermuda in 1983 to teach violin for the Menuhin Foundation of Bermuda. Prior to this she had been teaching violin and performing professionally in the UK. She was the leader of the Bermuda Philharmonic Orchestra for 13 years as well as the Saltus Concert Society. She also appeared as a soloist with both orchestras and played with other local ensembles including the Pembroke Players.
Some of her performing highlights include playing in the Bermuda Festival’s 20th Anniversary Concert, conducted by Lord Yehudi Menuhin, as well as the Menuhin Centenary Celebration in the 2016 Bermuda Festival. She also played in a band accompanying Smokey Robinson during a performance in Bermuda.
Suzanne started teaching Kindermusik in 1995 to a small group of homeschoolers. This grew into “Kindermusik with Suzanne” and over 25 years Suzanne had the privilege of reaching well over 1,700 children until her retirement at the end of 2020. Every year from 2002 to 2020 Kindermusik with Suzanne was awarded “Top Program” status by Kindermusik International, placing her program in the top 5% worldwide.
Suzanne’s goal as a Kindermusik teacher was always to give children a love for music while having fun - something she felt that Kindermusik does so well. "Kindermusik introduces children not only to music, but to movement, to creativity, to exploration, to thinking outside the box, to finding new possibilities and enjoying them. My intent was never to turn little children into musical prodigies but to give them a love for music as well as helping them to explore and create through music. It was all about having fun – what could be better than that?!!”
Suzanne is thrilled that the legacy of Kindermusik with Suzanne is now continuing to flourish with Bermuda Kids.
If you would like to give the gift of Kindermusik, by donating towards a semester of classes for a Foster Child, please use the reference 'Scholarship" in a direct deposit to:
HSBC account:
BDA: 011-042090-015
USD: 011-042090-511
Account name: Alexandra KM Lima
Any amount is appreciated. Many thanks to those families who have already shown their support over the past year. On behalf of the Foster Care Team and myself, we appreciate your support of arts education as well as your commitment to making our community a vibrant and connected one.
If you have any questions or want to learn more about this exciting collaboration, I would love to talk with you! Please email info@bdakids.com