Ovations Summer Strings Academy at Mason provides middle and high school string players a unique opportunity to explore small ensemble chamber music repertoire and skills, while also offering a full string orchestra experience.
“Too often, I hear from students, parents and colleagues, ‘I wish there was a camp that focused on chamber music in this area’,” says Ovations Co-Director Alexandra Morrison. “I tell them it already exists, and it’s FANTASTIC!”
This year’s Ovations Summer Strings Academy takes place on June 26 -July 1, 2016, the week after local school districts usually finish up. Some advantages of this are:
- It doesn’t take up the whole summer, and students’ families are generally not going on vacation yet.
- It doesn’t overlap or interrupt most other summer strings camps.
- It reinforces skills that students need for their school programs and private lessons.
The Chamber Music Experience
All students play in a small ensemble or quartet and participate in a chamber recital on the Thursday evening of that week, performed in a professional university theater. “Students gain confidence in their playing and become independent counters,” explains Ms. Morrison. “They learn how to better read, breathe and communicate in a small group setting.” The ensemble coaches are all well-vetted string educators from the region.
The String Orchestra Experience
All students who register for the program are accepted. An on-site audition process on the first day (Sunday) allows the coaches to place each student into the most appropriate chamber group and orchestra level (there are two levels of orchestra). This year, the orchestra guest conductors are the engaging and talented Scott Wood (Director/ Conductor, Arlington Philharmonic) and former Ovations co-director Erin Eberly (Director of Orchestras, James Madison HS). Students will participate in sectionals on a daily basis, and both orchestras will perform in a final concert on Friday evening at the end of the week.
Other opportunties for students to enjoy include guest performers, performing in a master class with an accompanist, getting a taste of the university experience, social activities and more!
“Get ready for a challenging, intense, fun, and rewarding week of music!” says Potomac Arts Academy Assistant Director Matt Geske, who has observed the Ovations program for the past seven years. “Every year after the final concert performance, parents are thrilled and thoroughly impressed with what their child has been able to accomplish in just one week. I think the students themselves are surprised as well!”