July 22-26, 2024 | 9 am - 1 pm |
91 Music Building
An Immersive Experience
The Strings Institute is an intensive music camp for string players in middle school,
high school, and college. Violin, viola, cello, and bass players are welcome to apply.
The String Institute offers string ensembles, masterclasses, technique classes, chamber
coaching, music theory classes, and culminates in a final performance on the last
day.
REGISTER TODAY
2024 PROGRAM
Technique Classes
Posture, tone production, right and left hand technique.
String Ensembles
Chamber orchestra sessions, with a performance at the end of the week.
String Sectionals
Students will work with faculty on orchestral and chamber music by instrument and
section
Masterclasses
Campers have the opportunity to perform solo pieces and work one on one with faculty.
Music Electives
Students can choose one elective according to their interests such as Beginning Conducting,
and more!
Final Performance
As a culmination of our work together, campers will participate in a performance on
the final day that showcases what they have learned throughout the week.
2024 FACULTY
Dr. Catalina Barraza
Dr. Catalina Barraza has extensive experience as a professional violinist, orchestral
conductor, and pedagogue. Dr. Barraza's performance and pedagogical background encompass
the United States, Chile, Israel, Spain, Mexico, and Colombia, including orchestras
such as Jackson Symphony Orchestra in Michigan, the World Orchestra, and the Colombia
National Symphony Orchestra and many other ensembles. As an orchestral conductor,
Dr. Barraza has led the Mason Youth Philharmonic Conductor in the mid-Michigan area,
New Horizons chapter in East Lansing, Michigan, as well as guest conductor for Cambrian
Symphony. In past summers, Dr. Barraza has been a violin faculty and orchestra conductor
at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. An active pedagogue, Dr. Barraza is passionate about
bringing music to students from diverse backgrounds. She is a regular coach for Palo
Alto Chamber Orchestra, San Jose Youth Symphony, and San Jose Youth Chamber Orchestra. She has served as a lead violin teacher
in the Overture program at the Sphinx Organization and taught in Jackson Community
Music School. She currently holds the position of Assistant Professor of Violin/Viola at
San José State University, California. Dr. Barraza is the string area coordinator
at San Jose State University. She is also the director of 91 Summer String Institute, and she serves in the advisory
board of the California Orchestra Directors Association.
Bruce Moyer
Professor Bruce Moyer serves as the bass teacher and the Coordinator of the Strings
Program. He started his career at age thirteen with a rock and roll band in Philadelphia.
After a few years with a Jazz combo, he began to study Classical Music on the double
bass at Temple University with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra and went on to
receive a Master's degree in performance from the New England Conservatory of Music
in Boston. Upon graduation, he became Principal Bassist of the Portland Maine Symphony
before coming to California to accept positions with the Sacramento Symphony, the
San José Symphony, and the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. In addition, he has freelanced
with all of the major Bay Area performing organizations, including the symphony, ballet,
and opera orchestras of San Francisco. Currently, he is a member of Symphony Silicon
Valley, the Carmel Bach Festival, and is Principal Bass of the Monterey Symphony.
In addition to performing, Professor Moyer strongly believes in the importance of
music education in society and is a faculty member at Santa Clara and Stanford Universities
as well. He maintains one of the largest private studios in California and has many
students that have gone on to study at prestigious institutions and pursue professional
careers in the field.
Dr. James Lin
Dr. James Lin, cellist, moved to the bay area to join the associate faculty of West
Valley College Music Department in the fall of 2008. He has become one of the most
well-established cello teachers in the South Bay, with students of all ages and abilities
participating in orchestral, chamber and solo performances throughout the Bay Area.
His students have also won prizes at various local, nationwide and international competitions.
Dr. Lin is a highly sought-after adjudicator and clinician for various competitions
and elite music programs in N. California. Dr Lin has orchestral experience with Milwaukee
Symphony, Madison Symphony Orchestra, New Haven Symphony, Modesto Symphony, Fresno
Symphony, Moscow Chamber Orchestra, I Musici de Montreal. Orchestral, Solo and Chamber
performances have taken him throughout North America and Europe. His performances
have ranged widely from performing with members of the Emerson String Quartet to sharing
stage with Jazz legend Arturo Sandoval to international concerts and recordings with
The Yale Cellos. Dr Lin has received fellowships to participate at Banff, Orford,
Musicorda, Spoleto, and Norfolk festivals. He has received degrees from SUNY-Stony
Brook, UW-Madison and Yale University. His mentors are Uri Vardi, Janos Starker, Aldo
Parisot and Colin Carr.
Thomas Alexander
Thomas Alexander started the violin at the age of four after he was captivated by
the magic and splendor of The Nutcracker. He began studying through the Suzuki Method
shortly thereafter and has been playing violin ever since. He pursued advanced studies,
receiving his BS degree in violin performance from UC San Diego. Over three decades
in the Bay Area, he has played with many community and professional orchestras near
and around San Francisco. He spent 15 years working with the San Francisco Civic Symphony
Association of San Francisco, playing concertmaster in multiple groups, and creating
the ensembles “Mozart to Mendelssohn,” “Civic Strings,” and “Civic Pops.” He started
impromptuSF, dedicated to the pursuit of making live
music enjoyable for both musicians and audience members. He has been teaching adults
for over 20 years and began working with youth through the Cambrian Symphony in ’14
and in earnest in ’22 with the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra.
Carolyn Shannon - String Assistant
Carolyn is passionate about nurturing students and guiding them to their full musical
potential. She began Suzuki violin lessons with Katy Green in Idaho. In school, Carolyn
played with the Caldwell orchestras where she discovered her love of chamber music.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in applied violin from Northwest Nazarene University,
studying with Jennifer Drake and Dr. Jennifer Sullivan, performing with the Meridian
Symphony and coaching chamber ensembles.