The Copper Country Suzuki Association, or CCSA, is an organization which has served Michigan’s Copper Country for over 35 years. In 1971, the Copper Country Intermediate School District received a state arts grant to purchase child-sized violins to be used in a Suzuki program . At the birth of the organization the original teachers donated much of their time and energy to recruiting new students. They worked diligently for 17 years before retiring. Their absence was a severe loss for the CCSA, who then formed a connection with Michigan Technological University, who were looking for a concertmaster for the Keweenaw Symphony Orchestra. Together, they advertised for a joint hire position, beginning a partnership that would alter slightly over the years but still remain strong. CCSA held its violin, viola, cello, and other string instrument classes in churches, schools, and Michigan Technological University facilities, and was supported by donations and charitable contributions. In 1991, CCSA began to apply annually for the Michigan Council for the Arts & Cultural Affairs grant, which they received in slowly increasing increments over the years. This helped the growth of the organization significantly. Eventually, a youth orchestra (Keweenaw Youth Symphony Orchestra) for the entire Copper Country area was formed, combining students from several school districts. Today, the CCSA has 4 teachers in a variety of areas, ranging from string instruments to piano to pre-instrument classes for 2-4 year olds. The KYSO plays 2 concerts per year at the Rozsa Center at MTU, as well as doing performances within the individual schools. The financial security of the organization, so tenuous in the past, has been recently secured by a generous contribution from an anonymous donor through the Keweenaw Community Foundation.