Stringendo Orchestra School of the Hudson Valley

Developing an Interest and Love for Music

In 2001, Jon Handman and Emily Schaad launched Stringendo Orchestra School of the Hudson Valley. The organization began as a partnership, and a year-round extension of Summer Strings music camp. That first year the fall and spring seasons had four orchestras and about 140 students. Today, over 200 students between 1st and 12th grades participate in Stringendo classes in orchestra and fiddling. These musical groups provide a community where students from all over the Hudson Valley can develop their interest and love for music. Financial aid and low tuition help to make participation available to every interested string player. Stringendo’s goal is to both supplement and enhance string education, and musicians in Stringendo are members of their school orchestra programs wherever possible.

Orchestra Program

Stringendo’s seven string orchestras meet on Saturdays and are conducted by Jonathan Handman, Kristina Rizzo, Liz Handman, Danielle Stier and Marisa Bettina. The orchestra classes are grouped carefully by playing level and are focused on cultivating a culture of rhythmic literacy, communicative ensemble skills, strong string technique and a non-competitive community atmosphere. Stringendo’s most advanced orchestra, Vivace, includes approximately 28 – 32 high school students. Over the years the orchestra has studied and performed a large range of repertoire, including Serenades by Dvorak, Elgar, Suk and Tchaikovsky, Diamond’s Rounds, Ellisor’s Conversations in Silence, Nordgren’s Portraits of Country Fiddlers, Shostakovitch’s 8th Chamber Symphony, and Tchaikovsky’s Souvenir de Florence. In 2009 Vivace participated in the ASTA National String Orchestra Festival, a competition for school and youth orchestras throughout the United States, and was named Grand Champion of the festival. The orchestra was invited to perform at the 2011 NYSSMA Summer Music Conference in Albany, was featured on Live from Lincoln Center’s Student Stars, and was awarded Second Place in The American Prize for Orchestras, 2011. Vivace students represent the music programs of Arlington, Hyde Park, Kingston, Mahopac, Poughkeepsie, Red Hook, Rhinebeck, Spackenkill, Tabernacle Christian Academy, and Wappingers High Schools. In 2013 Vivace won The American Prize in the Youth Orchestra Category.

Strawberry Hill Fiddlers

Strawberry Hill Fiddlers is a unique program based on learning traditional music by ear. Open to violin, viola, cello and bass players, the Fiddlers offer exposure to various non-classical styles, improvisation, singing, dancing and body percussion. Strawberry Hill Fiddlers currently hosts five levels of fiddle groups whose performances represent the music of many cultures, and are directed by Stephen Minor, Chelsea Needham, Carole Schaad, and Danielle Stier. The Fiddlers have performed in Minneapolis, MN; Kansas City, MO; Boone, NC; Rochester and Saratoga Springs, NY and throughout Scotland.  They have been featured on Jay Ungar and Molly Mason’s radio show Dancing on the Air and have performed as an opening act for Barrage and Natalie MacMaster.  The group released its first CD, Evolution, in April, 2007. I Said Love was released in June, 2009 and their latest CD Strawberry Jam was released in June, 2012.

Summer Strings

Summer Strings is a summer day camp for string players in 2nd through 10th grades. At camp, students divide their time between learning fiddle tunes by ear and standard string orchestra performance. Fiddle groups boast small class sizes (6-10 students) and present their own arrangements with accompaniment at the conclusion of each week. A highlight of the Summer Strings week is our own Music Jeopardy game, designed to promote and develop vocabulary and rhythmic literacy. Daily concerts, workshops in traditional dance, a guest fiddle teacher each week and a talented staff of counsellors round out the camp program. Visiting performers and teachers have included Barebones and Wildflowers; John Kirk and Trish Miller; Peter, Paul and George; Judy Hyman; Peter and Mary Alice Amidon; Bill and Livia Vanaver; Jay Ungar and Molly Mason; Lissa Schneckenburger; Donna Hebert; Ambrose Verdibello; Edwin Fion and Frank Camiola. Nanette Koch and co-director Carole Schaad join Stringendo faculty at Summer Strings.

In 2008, Stringendo combined officially with Summer Strings and Strawberry Hill Fiddlers to form Stringendo, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.