Making her way through the hallway from Florida State University’s choral office to rehearsal, Suzanne Rita Byrnes came across the 3-year-old sibling of one of her Capital Children’s Choir students. Walking up to him, she told him she wanted to teach him something. They held hands and moved up the seven stairs to the choral room, singing the scales — Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti — until, missing a step, they jumped in place for the final Do.

The next week she was inspired when he ran up to her and declared that it was his turn. Jumping up the stairs he sang his scales with self-assurance. The moment inspired and reaffirmed for Byrnes her mission as a music education professor and Director of the Capital Children’s Choir, as she prepares the group for their upcoming concert on Monday, Dec. 11.

“It’s just precious, and he’s not even a formal member, he just comes with his sister,” says Byrnes, who favors those who practice music with a full heart. “I prefer listening to people who put some soul and love into their music. Technique is cool, but it doesn’t impress me. I don’t care if there’s a wrong note here or there.”

Her journey to the Capital Children’s Choir wasn’t a conventional one. Byrnes earned her bachelor’s in music education from McGill University and a bachelor’s in education from Universite d’Ottawa. After teaching choir, band, and orchestra in a French arts high school, she was ready to set the world on fire as a leading lady conductor. Byrnes went back to earn her masters in choral conducting and music education, before a doctorate at Florida State situated her in Tallahassee.

During her time at FSU, Clifford Madsen supervised her degree and placed her with Judy Bowers who was the director of the Children’s Choir at the time. Byrnes surprised herself and fell madly in love with the work, and after graduation moved to Kansas City, inspired to start a similar community outreach program. She served as director of the Kansas City Children’s Chorus for 12 years before coming back to FSU and taking over her current position.

“It’s really a process-oriented program,” explains Byrnes. “The role of this choir is to help the children learn how to sing and enjoy music. It only costs $15 a semester to join and I’ve given scholarships because I’m not going to turn anyone away.”

Originally from Ottawa, Canada, Brynes says her French Canadian upbringingencouraged music as part of family and friend get-togethers—her mom tapping away at the spoons and everyone gathering around the piano to sing.

Byrnes began her formal music education in seventh grade, with the flute in her middle school band.

She felt lucky to have music teachers who challenged the group, bringing them to competitions and eventually winning one and playing at the national arts center. The excitement of that performance had Byrnes hooked, and she continued studying music in high school. When her advisors asked why she didn’t want to go into law or physics after graduation, which would make her more money, she answered confidently that music would always make her happy.

Read the rest of the story by visiting the Tallahassee Democrat

or read more by downloading the rest of the article here