School of Music seeking high schoolers for the String Experience in October

The Fredonia School of Music is accepting applications from high school string players to participate in a unique master class with The Shanghai Quartet, special guests of this year's String Experience on Saturday, Oct. 3 on the Fredonia campus.

String Experience will also welcome high school string players who wish to participate in the day's activities, including clinics and workshops with Fredonia string faculty members Dr. David Colwell and Maureen Yuen (violin), David Rose (viola), Dr. Natasha Farny (cello), and Kieran Hanlon and Brett Shurtliffe (double bass). Sessions will be offered in Jazz, Fiddling, Bach, Musician Health and Fitness, Overcoming Performance Nerves, and How to Prepare for College Auditions. All String Experience participants will have the opportunity to observe the special chamber coaching with The Shanghai Quartet, as well as receive a free ticket to their performance that evening in King Concert Hall. Lunch and dinner on campus are provided for registered participants. 

The Shanghai Quartet will work with three or four pre-formed string chamber ensembles (trios, quartets and quintets) who will be chosen in advance by Fredonia string faculty. Interested ensembles should contact Dr. Farny at Natasha.Farny@fredonia.edu. Space is limited and early reservations are encouraged.

Called "utterly sublime" by The New York Times, The Shanghai Quartet will be in residence at Fredonia from Sept. 29 through Oct. 4, offering master classes, clinics and a conversation about modern career paths in music, in addition to their workshop during String Experience.

Another special guest of String Experience this year is Fredonia alumnus Roberta Guaspari-Tzavaras, founder of the famous Opus 118 Harlem School of Music and subject of the award-winning movie, “Music of the Heart” starring Meryl Streep. Her talk, "Building and Sustaining the Music Program: Opportunities in Music Education" will be offered for any and all interested music educators from 1:00 to1:45 p.m. The talk is free but registration is required. Those planning to attend are asked to email Jennifer Darrell-Sterbak at sterbajd@fredonia.edu. Educators are welcome attend Roberta's session with or without attending the entire day of String Experience activities.

The Shanghai Quartet residency is made possible by a generous gift from Stanley and Elizabeth Star and the Williams Visiting Professorship endowment through the Fredonia College Foundation.