Ambassadors of Chamber Music
The Monroe Arts Alliance is proud to sponsor the Ambassadors of
Chamber Music with Adam DeGraff, violinist of Lewisburg, WV.
This program is designed to be an intensive chamber music
training program for a select group of advanced string students.
A number of professional musicians will be participating in this
program as teachers. In addition to learning for themselves how
to prepare, rehearse, and perform in a string quartet (and other
configurations), these students will be learning how to start up,
maintain and lead chamber groups of their own. The goal here
is that when the ACM program ends, a group of talented students
will be ready to pass on what they learned to a new group of music
students. This program is tuition free to all participants. The
only payment these students must make is a promise to "pay it
forward" to the next generation of chamber musicians.
This year, six area youth participated in the Ambassadors summer program. Miriam Liske-Doorandish (age 12) and Kaily Shenker (age 12), students of Lisa-Liske Doorandish , cellist, Blacksburg, Virginia, joined four of violinist Adam DeGraff's students: Ben Lovett from Lewisburg (age 12), Brynna Strand from Lewisburg (age 12), Hannah Soukup from Gap Mills (age 16), and Peter Soukup from Gap Mills (age 10). The group met two days a week, approximately four hours a day, for ten weeks of intensive chamber music study and rehearsal. Two of the violin students, Brynna and Hannah, learned to play the viola in order to round out the quartet parts which consist of 1st and 2nd violin, viola, and cello. Some of the pieces the chamber group learned and later performed are: Canzonetta from the 1st Quartet by Mendelssohn, 1st movement of Quartet #13 by Mozart, Allegro from Quartet #23 (Eine Kline Nachtmusik) by Mozart.
When questioned about the program, Hannah Soukup responded:
"Violin has become a very big part of my life since I began
playing 3 years ago. My pursuits outside of violin are quite
varied. Some of them are figure skating, drawing, poetry and
far too many other interests than I really have time for when
I'm not practicing, teaching violin, or doing other violin-related
activities. Being a part of ACM this summer has taught me a lot
more about the complexities of playing chamber music. The most
enjoyable part of playing together, for me, is developing the
connection and interaction musically between the players and
the music. I am very grateful to Adam DeGraff, to all the
sponsors and donors, and to the Monroe Arts Alliance, for
making my violin studies and my participation in ACM possible."
Peter Soukup responded: "I first began taking violin lessons at the age of seven. I wasn't very motivated then, but over time and with the guidance of a great violin teacher, I started to become more serious. Now, I really enjoy playing the violin. I like playing together with other students in the orchestra and chamber group. I like the challenge and sense of accomplishment of learning new pieces. I have really come to enjoy and appreciate classical music."
"In ACM this summer, I have learned much about what it takes to play chamber music as a group of musicians. I also have learned how difficult chamber music is and what an important part of classical music chamber music is. I really think that performing chamber music in the community is a great thing and I thank the Monroe Arts Alliance for supporting this."
The ACM chamber group has given 3 performances to date: one at High Rocks, a camp in Pocahontas County for at-risk teenaged girls; one at a reception for donors for the new Greenbrier County Library; and a private performance for a local resident who is terminally ill. The group looks forward to upcoming performances in local nursing homes, and performances in Lewisburg, Union, and Blacksburg. The first stage of the sharing process of the ACM program will begin in September. Following the regular practice of the new Community Chamber Orchestra which has begun in Lewisburg, interested musicians will divide into chamber groups which will be led by ACM students. Any area musicians interested in taking part in this new chamber music program may contact Adam DeGraff (304) 645-6894) or adamdegraff@yahoo.com for more information, or contact the Monroe Arts Alliance.
Ambassadors of Chamber Music is a tuition free program but that does not mean that it is not costly. The costs to cover this 12 week intensive program will come to nearly $10,000. If you would like to help bring this exciting new program to life, please consider making a monetary donation to the Monroe Arts Alliance. Please make your check out to the Monroe Arts Alliance and in the memo field of your check, write "Ambassadors of Chamber Music." Send the check to Adam DeGraff, 174-A Davis Stuart Road, Lewisburg, WV 2490l and it will be forwarded on to MAA. The Monroe Arts Alliance, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization committed to community service through the promotion of the arts in Monroe County and the surrounding area. Your donation will be fully tax deductible.