Sav Buist

Long before glowing acclaim from NPR and Billboard, packed shows, unforgettable festival appearances, millions of streams, and collaborations with everyone from BTS to Contemporary Youth Orchestra, the journey of The Accidentals commenced in a public high school classroom in Traverse City, MI. As the story goes, concertmaster violinist Savannah Buist and cellist Katie Larson raised their hands at the request for volunteers to play a music boosters concert and wound up being musical soulmates.

Although Sav attended Interlochen Arts Academy during her senior year of high school, she credits many TCAPS programs, teachers, and experiences for supporting and encouraging her passion for music. She attended Silver Lake Elementary School, West Middle School, and Traverse City West Senior High School through 11th grade.

Sav says the Arts programs at West Senior High School were next level, explaining, "Katie and I formed The Accidentals because our Orchestra teacher (Ann Marie Jones) encouraged us to create the alternative strings club after school and managed to get the Booster Club to fund the purchase of electric orchestra instruments. We would stay late and play our fav rock songs on our orchestra instruments. Then she brought a female fronted band (The Moxie Strings) in to play for the orchestra and we realized this was possible for us. Sometimes you have to see it to believe it."

When asked about her favorite teachers, she answered, "Mrs. Littlefield - Dungjen (English) - she believed in me, she treated me with respect and gave me confidence to share my writing with others, Penny Colenso (Librarian) she gave me a safe place to be in school and took me to the National Writers Series, and hung my poetry in the library windows, she was a constant in my life. Ann Marie Jones, for the reasons listed above."

Sav says TCAPS encouraged her to pick up and learn an instrument in the 6th grade and fostered that love of music throughout her teenage years. She credits music for helping her overcome social anxiety and giving her purpose.

"The arts were important to me. I wasn't a "typical" learner. Teachers like the ones I mentioned above altered the way they taught to the way I learned. They might change something that was audible to visual for me and that made a difference in how I felt about myself," said Buist, "It's easy to think we aren't smart because we don't understand something the way it is being delivered. If we believe that we are all intelligent beings and we all process information differently and we try to adjust the way the information is delivered to accommodate the learner, we are more likely to be successful in life and in school."

When asked what advice she has for students today, Sav said, "Ask for what you need. From "repeat the question" to mental health - ask for what you need and keep asking. You are your own best advocate. Don't give up."

Since leaving high school, Sav and The Accidentals have released multiple albums, played countless shows and festivals, and even started a nonprofit in 2020 called Play It Forward, Again and Again, to help provide access to instruments, lessons, and mentors for all aspiring musicians.

Learn more about The Accidentals, their music, and many successes at www.theaccidentalsmusic.com.