Developing an Interest and Love for Music
In 2001 Jon Handman and Emily Schaad launched Stringendo Orchestra School of the Hudson Valley as a year-round extension of the Summer Strings music camp. Today, over 200 students in first to twelfth grades participate in Stringendo classes in orchestra, fiddle, summer camp and private lessons for violin, viola, cello and bass. These musical groups provide a community where students of the Hudson Valley can develop their musical talents. Financial aid and low tuition help to make participation widely available. Stringendo's goal is to both supplement and enhance string education. Musicians in Stringendo are members of their school orchestra programs wherever possible, representing schools in Dutchess, Ulster, Putnam, Greene, Columbia, Westchester and Orange Counties, as well as the state of Connecticut.Stringendo's seven string orchestras meet on Saturdays during the school year. Orchestras are grouped carefully by playing level, and are focused on cultivating a culture of rhythmic literacy, communicative ensemble skills, and strong string technique in a non-competitive community atmosphere. The Strawberry Hill Fiddle program has six groups of “berries” this year: Strawberries, Raspberries, Mulberries, Cranberries, Boysenberries, and Elderberries. They meet on Tuesdays during the school year to explore the many worlds of traditional music. They learn tunes by ear, then arrange and perform both at home and on tour. The fiddlers are committed to community service and share their music at many community events, schools and senior residences. Summer Strings is a summer day camp that focuses on orchestra and traditional music in a relaxed and fun setting. Students may attend for any or all of the three weeks. Stringendo’s Vivace and Chaconne orchestras have participated in the ASTA National String Orchestra Festival, a competition for school and youth orchestras. Vivace has claimed the “Grand Champion” of the festival two times. In 2013 Vivace won The American Prize Competition in Orchestral Performance- Youth Orchestra, and Jon Handman won The American Prize Competition in the Conducting - Youth Orchestra Division. In 2014 Vivace was named "Best Youth Orchestra" in Hudson Valley Magazine’s "Best of the Hudson Valley,” and Stringendo was honored to receive the Dutchess County Executive's Arts Award in the "Arts in Education" category from Arts Mid-Hudson.