11/16/2015

For UWM piano professor, tough love brings lifelong affection

Breann Schossow

October 16, 2015

Journal Sentinel

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The first time Leah Duckert took a music theory course with UW-Milwaukee's Gregoria Karides Suchy in the mid-'90s, she flunked.

Duckert tried again — and still struggled. So Karides Suchy invited Duckert to her home on a Saturday, sitting with her at the piano for three hours until the musical concepts started to make sense.

Today Duckert is a high school band director in West Bend and remains grateful to her professor from decades ago.

For her special brand of dedication, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee honored the 91-year-old Karides Suchy with its Distinguished Alumni Service Award last week.

Duckert was one of her nominators, contacted by the Peck School of the Arts dean to share her "Suchy Story."

"The fact that she offered her time was unique and rare," Duckert said. "I was scared, but she worked patiently with me until I got the concepts."

Read more: Journal Sentinel

Nov 16, 2015 3:59:00 PM | Music, Students & Faculty

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