Open to all high school string players in and outside of Maine

Study with DaPonte String Quartet this September

Mon, 04/23/2018 - 7:15pm

The DaPonte String Quartet is accepting applications to its annual three-day Quartet Workshop for High School String Players at Camp Kieve’s Wavus campus in Jefferson Sept. 21-23.

Twenty students, selected by audition, are organized into five string quartets. They are coached in the round by the individual members of the Quartet: violinists Lydia Forbes, Ferdinand Liva, violist Kirsten Monke and cellist Myles Jordan.

Every year since 2001 the Quartet has mentored some of the best aspiring young players in Maine. Last year the Quartet implemented a long-held goal of inviting string players from urban performing arts schools outside Maine to participate, in order to broaden the experience for all students. Their travel costs are largely underwritten by Friends of the DaPonte String Quartet. The cost of food and lodging for all students is made possible by an endowment created by the Kennedy family, founders of Camp Kieve, in 2001.

The three-day weekend is dedicated to the study of chamber music, its preparation and performance, through the great works of the string quartet literature. The coaching sessions focus on the elements of ensemble playing: listening, communication, cueing, rhythm, intonation, blending, and theory and music history.

At the completion of the workshop, a concert is presented by all the students for parents and friends. For some, this is a student’s first exposure to playing chamber music, and it is an experience that will stay with them for a lifetime.

The deadline for applications is June 15. To apply, visit www.DaPonte.com