Violin Studio
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You could be part of the 51¶ºÄÌ Miss Violin Studio! Imagine yourself one of the
20 violinists at USM—regional, national and international, Undergrads and Grads—who
make up the violin sections of the orchestra, who play in chamber groups, and who
listen to and support each other in performance class! We perform in master classes
with world-renowned artists. We enter and win competitions. We are awarded scholarships
at major summer festivals and assistantships at leading universities!
As a violinist at USM, you will have the opportunity to participate in the following activities within a supportive, yet challenging environment:
- Weekly, individual lessons: Lessons provide personalized training, focusing on your development as a violinist and musician. We foster an environment that champions curiosity and enthusiasm. In these weekly lessons, we will delve into technical foundations, sound production, intonation, and musical phrasing. Discoveries never cease!
- Weekly Violin Performance Class: We learn to perform more effectively by performing for each other, providing helpful criticism in a supportive environment.
- Chamber Music: Every violinist plays in a chamber group, with weekly coachings and a pair of concerts at semester’s end. The top groups of these concerts perform in a competition, winning cash prizes!
- The 51¶ºÄÌ Miss Symphony Orchestra: The symphony plays a six-program season each year, often featuring major soloists, including Joshua Bell, Placido Domingo, James Galway, which is a truly inspiring experience. Local music-lovers crowd the auditorium to hear these outstanding concerts. This year a select group will perform in New York’s Carnegie Hall!
Master Classes
Leading local, regional, and national artists visit to give master classes, often paired with Guest Artist Recitals. Recent examples:
- Nicholas Kitchen and Ruggero Allifranchini, violinists from the Borromeo Quartet, New England Conservatory
- Prof. Cármelo de los Santos, University of New Mexico
- Marta Szlubowska, Concertmaster, Mississippi Symphony Orchestra
- Alexandre Brussilovsky, Violin Soloist, Competition Judge and Music Director, Paris, France
- Robin Scott and Janet Ying, violinists from the Ying Quartet, Eastman
Annual Violin Studio Recitals
- Bachtoberfest: Music for Unaccompanied Violin
- Violin Studio Recitals I & II Fall Semester
- Etudes, Caprices, Studies and Other Virtuous Torture
- Violin Studio Recitals I & II Spring Semester
Alumni Accomplishments
- Patricia Quintero (MM ‘15) of Vera String Quartet, appointed Quartet in Residence, Curtis Institute
- Luis Alfaro (BM ‘17) awarded Graduate Assistantship, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Concerto Winner (Sibelius) Northern Lights Music Festival
- Pedro Oseias (BM ‘16) awarded Graduate Assistantship, Florida State; awarded Scholarship to attend the Aspen Music Festival and School
- Rainel Joubert (MM ‘16) Community-Embedded Musicians, Houston Symphony
- Samuel Araujo (BM ‘17) awarded Graduate Assistantship, Texas Christian
- John Eze Uzodinma, II (BM ’17) awarded the Presser Foundation’s Undergraduate Scholar Award; awarded Orchestral Fellowship to attend the Aspen Music Festival and School
Summer Festivals Attended By Students
Our students visit world-stages, some of the Summer Festivals attended include:
- Aspen, Chautauqua, Brevard, Sewanee, Round Top, Eastern, Texas, and Northern Lights.
