News Detail
String Society 2014 Kicks-Off!
Portions of this article contributed by Jamie Dalgleish '13.
Monday, Augsut 4 kicked-off the first day of String Society, a weeklong camp for talented youth players of string instruments (violin, viola, cello, & bass) offered through D-E's Summer Connections program (www.d-e.org/summer).
Directed by D-E Performing Arts Department faculty member and violinist Annaliesa Place, String Society is targeted at musicians ages 13-18 and offers a variety of unique musical experiences. The first day of String Society included a gathering of the entire ensemble right away, in order to begin to rehearse orchestral pieces that will be performed in a Grand Finale concert later this week on Friday, August 8 at 3:00 p.m. in Schenck Auditorium. (Editor's Note: Members of the public are welcome and encouraged to attend this exciting and free! concert event.) The large ensemble ran through the Presto of Vivaldi’s “Summer” from The Four Seasons and a few other pieces. Next, campers split into sectionals to go over trickier spots in the orchestra by instrument section: violin I, II and II; cello I, II and III, and viola and bass. The ensemble practiced under the direction of cellist Diego Garcia, who is also a member of the D-E Performing Arts Department faculty, and a talented composer in his own right.
After a break for campers to either play sports or do yoga, everyone came back in to rehearse chamber music. In this setting, the group of campers was broken down into smaller groups of trios or quartets to work in a conductor-less setting, so campers can learn to be leaders and followers simultaneously to work as a cohesive group. After the lunch break, campers came back for chamber music coaching, to go over difficult sections of the music they played in their smaller ensembles earlier. The day finished with a treat: a Tango trio came in and performed some classic Tango pieces, and taught the music and Argentine culture and history to give the backstory of Tango as a genre of music. After the trio played their music and shared characteristic tricks in the style of music, String Society was treated to a lesson in playing Tango music. By the end of the day, the students were playing Tango along with the professionals!
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Monday, Augsut 4 kicked-off the first day of String Society, a weeklong camp for talented youth players of string instruments (violin, viola, cello, & bass) offered through D-E's Summer Connections program (www.d-e.org/summer).
Directed by D-E Performing Arts Department faculty member and violinist Annaliesa Place, String Society is targeted at musicians ages 13-18 and offers a variety of unique musical experiences. The first day of String Society included a gathering of the entire ensemble right away, in order to begin to rehearse orchestral pieces that will be performed in a Grand Finale concert later this week on Friday, August 8 at 3:00 p.m. in Schenck Auditorium. (Editor's Note: Members of the public are welcome and encouraged to attend this exciting and free! concert event.) The large ensemble ran through the Presto of Vivaldi’s “Summer” from The Four Seasons and a few other pieces. Next, campers split into sectionals to go over trickier spots in the orchestra by instrument section: violin I, II and II; cello I, II and III, and viola and bass. The ensemble practiced under the direction of cellist Diego Garcia, who is also a member of the D-E Performing Arts Department faculty, and a talented composer in his own right.
After a break for campers to either play sports or do yoga, everyone came back in to rehearse chamber music. In this setting, the group of campers was broken down into smaller groups of trios or quartets to work in a conductor-less setting, so campers can learn to be leaders and followers simultaneously to work as a cohesive group. After the lunch break, campers came back for chamber music coaching, to go over difficult sections of the music they played in their smaller ensembles earlier. The day finished with a treat: a Tango trio came in and performed some classic Tango pieces, and taught the music and Argentine culture and history to give the backstory of Tango as a genre of music. After the trio played their music and shared characteristic tricks in the style of music, String Society was treated to a lesson in playing Tango music. By the end of the day, the students were playing Tango along with the professionals!
There are many counselors and teachers for all four instruments at the summer string camp. According to Ms. Place: "This is a wonderful opportunity for campers to have learning and playing experience with highly qualified professionals. In this setting, campers learn to play up to the professional level as they are stretched and challenged to do their best and to always be improving as a musician. We look forward to sharing the experience of this upcoming week with everyone during our Grand Finale concert this Friday, August 8 at 3:00 p.m. in Schenck Auditorium!"
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Located in Englewood, New Jersey, Dwight-Englewood is a greater New York City area private school with a rigorous college prep curriculum for boys and girls in preschool through grade 12.