Forest City School for Strings

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Patrick Burroughs, founder of Forest City School for Strings.

Pat was a distinguished Canadian educator, founder, and visionary leader in string pedagogy. As a proud native of Canada's West Coast, Pat began his studies in Victoria, BC, and trained at the Banff Centre and the University of Toronto, later studying with many renowned teachers across North America and Europe.

In 1970, he founded the Bach Youth Ensemble in Toronto, touring nationally and internationally. He went on to play a significant role in music education across Canada through his work at the University of Western Ontario, the Banff Centre, and numerous festivals and organizations. A dedicated advocate of the Suzuki method, he influenced generations of students and teachers.

Pat served for twenty years as conductor of the Woodstock Strings, collaborating with many of Canada’s leading artists, and received numerous honours, including the Woodstock Medallion, recognition from the American String Teachers’ Association, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

As founding President and Music Director of the Forest City School for Talent Education (est. 1988), Patrick Burroughs transformed a small Suzuki group class in a church basement into one of Canada’s most respected youth string programs. He leaves an enduring legacy in the countless lives he enriched and the generations of students he inspired—many of whom have gone on to lead vibrant musical lives as professionals, dedicated amateurs, and passionate supporters of the arts.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, May 4 at 11:00 AM at St. George’s Anglican Church in London, Ontario. Our May 9 year-end recital will be dedicated to Pat’s memory, in honour of his life and lasting legacy.

Our thoughts are with Pat’s cherished family—his wife, Bonnie; his daughter, Lisa, and son-in-law, Dean; his granddaughter, Marina; and his beloved stepchildren and their families.

Thank you for everything, Mr. Burroughs. We love you and we will cherish your memory always.

🌟 Guest Artist Residency: Prof. Marie Bégin (Université de Montréal)

Presented by FCSS and sponsored by the London Community Foundation and the Paul Seed Fund, we are thrilled to welcome acclaimed violinist Marie Bégin, named one of CBC’s Top 30 Musicians Under 30 (2020). 

Guest Recital

Saturday, March 7 – 7:30 p.m.
Metropolitan United Church
With pianist Dan Luong
Program includes works by Gershwin/Heifetz and Ravel, along with Ernst’s devilishly virtuosic "Last Rose of Summer" for solo violin! 

FCSS students: FREE admission
Tickets: $15 adults | $5 children

Student Masterclasses (Open to the public)

Friday, March 6 | 6:00–8:00 p.m. – Metropolitan United 

Saturday, March 7* | 8:30–11:30 a.m. – Banting Auditorium

We are so excited to welcome Prof. Bégin and grateful to our sponsors for making this possible! Please join us for this very special event and bring your friends, families, and fellow music lovers! 🎻❤️

🎻 **FCSS Summer Music Camp 2026 – Registration Now Open!** 🎶

London’s Forest City School for Strings invites budding **violin, viola, cello, and harp** students of all levels (ages 4–17) to join our 3rd Annual Two-Week Summer Music Camp--a vibrant musical community where students grow artistically, collaborate with peers, and form lifelong friendships.

📅 **Dates:** July 20–31, 2026 (Mon–Fri, 8:30am–4:30pm)
📍 **Location:** TBC
⏰ **Early Bird Deadline:** Feb 28 (save $25)
📝 **Registration Deadline:** May 31

Students enjoy an immersive experience including:
• Private lessons and coachings
• Orchestra, chamber music, and ensemble rehearsals
• Technique, repertoire, theory, and composition classes
• Choir & musical theatre (Junior/Intermediate)
• Masterclasses with guest artists (Senior Institute)
• Creative arts, sports, and team-building activities
• **Final showcase performances** at the end of each week

Programs available from **Pre-Twinkle (ages 3–5)** through our **Senior String Institute (ages 14–17, RCM 6+)**.

✨ **Spaces are limited — secure your spot early!**
Register online and e-transfer tuition to **[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])** (student name in subject line).

📩 Questions? [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
🔗 Full details & registration: Link in bio

Wishing best of luck to our FCSS Quartet playing the first two movements of Mozart's K. 155 String Quartet at the OMFA Provincial today in Kitchener-Waterloo! Toi, toi, toi!

🎉 SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION STILL OPEN! 🎉
The 2025 FCSS Summer Music Camp is back for students ages 3–17 for two weeks of private lessons, orchestra, theatre, arts & crafts, sports, and fun!

We have extended our enrollment deadline until June 1st, so act fast as places are limited!

🗓 Enroll by June 1 to avoid the $50 late fee
📝 Link in Bio!

Questions? DM us or email our Music Director at [email protected].

Congratulations to our students and faculty on a very fine year-end recital today! We are so proud of the incredible progress of each of our classes and can't wait to see what new projects our faculty will be cooking up at summer camp and in September!
Wishing all of our FCSS families a wonderful summer! 🌞

We at Forest City School for Strings would like to thank the wonderful people with the Gordon Jeffery Music Foundation for their continued belief in our mandate to bring high-level music education to the city of London! Ongoing support from the Gordon Jeffery Foundation allows us to continue to plan and host activities such as our FCSS Summer Music Camp with peace of mind. Thank you, from all of the staff and students of FCSS--we couldn't do what we do without you!

Friends, faculty, and families of FCSS: check out the wonderful musical programming of the series! You will be glad you did! 🎻❤️

FCSS Summer Music Camp, in collaboration with Maple and Spruce Music Academy, is in its 3rd season!

This year, we are adding a half-day pre-twinkle program for youngsters who haven't yet begun private lessons with our fabulous junior instructor, Kelly Wallraff!! 🎻🥰