The Strings Program at The Sunderman Conservatory is focused in developing intelligent, thinking string players at a high performing standard who are poised to further their musical studies as professional performers, teachers, musicologists and simply as well-rounded musicians.
We emphasize the importance of establishing a solid foundation in string performance during the building block years as undergraduates. Students are guided through performance practice, stringent scales and techniques exams, studio classes, chamber music, and string ensembles by our members of the string faculty. Students are strongly encouraged to prepare auditions for national and international summer music festivals, competitions, and concert series with the intense support of their teachers. Strings students often visit neighboring cities Baltimore, Washington D.C., Harrisburg, and New York to perform and to observe first-rate performances of groups such as the Julliard Quartet, Tokyo Quartet and New York Philharmonic.
Under the guidance of the best Feldenkrais instructors, strings students benefit from weekly group or individual sessions to enhance natural posture, and alleviate mental and physical tension in preparation for performances. The goal for ongoing Feldenkrais lessons is to intensify creativity and efficiency in daily practice while finding physical freedom.
Students in the strings program regularly participate in solo performances on campus that include weekly Studio Class with piano accompaniment, weekly Now Hear This! afternoon concerts, Notes at Noon series at the Library, student degree recitals, and masterclasses with illustrious guest artists. In order to gain important professional performance experience, the strings program provides opportunities on and off campus that include performances with local orchestras, professional chamber music gigs, and Sunderman Strings tours in the east coast.
Dr. F. William Sunderman, an accomplished amateur violinist who gave the gift to establish the Conservatory, envisioned a rich strings program and bequeathed his personal library of violin and chamber music to the Musselman Library.