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the Quarter Noteis a publication of the String Academy of Wisconsin at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. This issue was edited by Darcy Drexler and designed by Caryl McAllister.

String Academy of WisconsinP.O. Box 11941Milwaukee, WI 53211-0941414-963-4729www.stringacademyofwisconsin.org

In this issueStudent News (this page)

Alumni NewsFaculty NewsPerformancesMemories

Alana Dust Appointed Cello TeacherSarah KapustinSenior RecitalsFall Honors RecitalsThanks YouJacob Wunsch

During the SummerViolin and Cello Teachers Workshops

Student NewsCassidy Franzmeier won first place in the County Line Elementary School’s Talent Show held on April 28, 2008. She played La Folia accompanied by her mother, Lisa, on piano.

Violinists Jordan Chevako and Daniel Yeager were soloists with the Elmbrook Summer Orchestra this past July. The violinists performed Kreisler’s Praeludium and Allegro at the outdoor concert at Bayshore Town Center.

Brian Zhang was one of ten winners in the Madison Music Camp statewide scholarship competition. He also is a recipient of the 2008 Oconomowoc Choir Music Scholarship.

The members of the I Cellisti group performed in Masterclass for the Mendelssohn String Quartet last May at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center.

Sean Lee served as concertmaster for the Intermediate Symphony at Interlochen Music Camp (first session) last July.

String Academy students presented a Spring Play-In at Kenwood United Methodist Church in late April.

All three Wasielewski’s entered and placed in the Lake Park Talent Contest in July 2008.

Stephen Wasielewski won second place in the 6 to 10-year-old category, playing Danse Rustique.

Katie Wasielewski won second place in the 11 to 14-year-old category, playing a piece from the Bach Unaccompanied Suites for Cello.

Thaddeus Wasielewski won first place in the 15 to 19-year-old category, playing Allegro Brillante.

The String Academy of W

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P.O. Box 11941, M

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ww

.stringacademyofw

isconsin.org

Non-Profit

Organization

U.S. Postage PaidM

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IPerm

it No. 4736

Opus 18, No.1 December 2008

MemoriesIt is 8:00 am and I am sitting in the back row of room 320, watching the usual Saturday morning violin class commence. I observe the small, fumbling hands, watch the two restless feet, and smile at the roguish grin that tugs at the corners of her mouth. Glancing around the room, I see her parents; I take in their casual Saturday morning clothes, look at the coffee in his hand and the tea in hers. I can’t help but chuckle at the exasperated expressions on both of their faces as they watch their daughter. The girl looks around the room, ignoring the teacher and her instructions. Fidgeting, she moves this way and that, smoothly avoiding the teacher’s guiding hands. My chuckle soon turns into a laugh as the look on the teacher’s face starts to mirror those of her parents. They use every imaginable technique to get her to stand still: her father hisses a few impatient words at her, her mother slips her some candy and her teacher attempts to coax her with sugar-coated words. Nothing works. The child still fidgets, still smiles with an impish sparkle in her eye and now turns to chat with the pianist. Despite her misbehavior, her energy is infectious. Soon, the whole room is chuckling along with me as they watch this small child win her battle against three adults.

Suddenly, the teacher jumps up triumphantly; she has thought of a solution. Digging in her pocket, she finally produces a shiny, new quarter. If the girl can stand still on the quarter until she is finished playing, she says, she may keep it. The child’s eyes light up and she finally lifts the one-eighth sized violin up to her shoulders, almost dropping it as she tucks it under her chin. Her teacher, already anticipating problems, kneels close by, ready to catch the instrument if it falls. The girl brings the bow up and draws it unsteadily cross the strings. I catch her parents wincing as the first few notes of “Twinkle, Twinkle” squeak from the instrument. Within a few minutes, the song is over, and she bows triumphantly to the applause of the humored audience.Forgetting about the violin, she prances back to where her parents are sitting, tightly grasping the shiny quarter in her small fist. They smile proudly at her and take the violin from her hands, while at the same time wondering if their daughter will ever change. I jump awake. At my side the clock reads 7:00 a.m., May 15th, 2008. It is the morning of my last concert at the String Academy of Wisconsin. Remembering my dream of myself as a child, I laugh. I remember my Beginner days at the String Academy in 1995. I had started off with no hope or talent and had slowly grown year by year, steadily advancing through each level of musicality. Now a leader in the esteemed Violin Virtuosi, I find it hard to

picture myself as that restless little girl of the past who seemed to have no future in music. Ideally, the young children who will open the concert today will continue studying violin even though it means sacrificing every Saturday morning for the rest of their childhood years. The skills they will gain are priceless. I know from experience that with this talent in music they will grow into focused and disciplined young adults. I no longer have to be bribed with a quarter to pick up my instrument. I get out of bed and unpack by violin, preparing for the next hour and a half of diligent practice. I am ready and determined to take on the toughest violin concerto. I am ready to practice the fastest notes for hours and to play passionately. But most of all, I know that after thirteen years at the String Academy of Wisconsin, I am ready to approach the future not only as a violinist, but as an undergraduate student eager to make a difference in the world. Katya Papatla studied at the String Academy of Wisconsin for 13 years. She is currently a freshmanat Duke University.

Alumni NewsThe Nicolet High School Symphonic Orchestra premiered Linnea Snyder’s Opus No. 1 on June 3, 2008. This nine minute composition is a fanfare for full orchestra. Linnea is a 2008 SAW alumna and former student of Katherine Brooks. She is a freshman theory and composition student with a minor in French at Boston University.

Violinist Alex Ayers appeared as a soloist with the Milwaukee Summer Philharmonia on August 16th. Mr. Ayers performed the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor. SAW alum Adam Ayers was principal cellist in the orchestra. Alex was also featured in an article in the West edition of M Magazine this past April.

Violist Christine Liu presented one of her doctoral recitals at UW-Madison this past April.

Faculty NewsScott Cook was awarded the 2008 Studio Teacher of the Year award from Civic Music Association. He received the award at ceremonies last May.

Jamie Hofman was a member of the Eastern Music Festival this past summer.

Darcy Drexler performed with the Great Lakes Baroque ensemble in an outdoor concert on the “Musical Mondays” series at Lake Park in July. She was also a guest clinician for the Prelude Music Camp in Madison last July.

In July 2007 Jessicca Williams participated in the Tuscia Opera Festival located in Viterbo, Italy. Ms. Williams performed The Marriage of Figaro and various works for orchestra and choir in Viterbo, Civita di Bagnoregio, and Bolsena under maestros Stefano Vignati and Jorge Perez-Gomez. In July

2008, Ms. Williams served as a faculty member at the Friends of Music Festival in Inchun, South Korea. She instructed American and Korean violin students in chamber music, private lessons and various concerts at venues which included an orphanage and hospital in the Seoul region of South Korea.

PerformancesString Academy students performed at Bayshore Town Center on Saturday, December 1, 2007 and again the following week at the downtown Milwaukee Public Library on Saturday, December 8. The students enrolled in the 2008 summer session presented an outdoor concert at Bayshore Town Center in July.

Alana Dust Appointed as Cello TeacherWe are pleased to announce the appointment of Alana Dust to the String Academy cello faculty this fall. Ms. Dust received the Premier Talent Scholarship to study with Elizabeth Simkin at Ithaca College for a B.M. in Cello Performance. She also received a Full Fellowship to study with Anthony Elliott at the University of Michigan to earn her M.M. in Cello Performance. While in Ann Arbor, she was on the faculty at the Plymouth Music School and the Novi Music Academy. Ms. Dust’s chamber music studies were with

members and former members of Takacs, Cavani, Ying, Audubon, Concord, Pacifica and Ariadne String Quartets as well as Ani Kavafian, Jaime Laredo, Martin Katz and Anner Bylsma. Among her cello and theory duties at the String Academy, she is working with cello students in our Urban Outreach program at Milwaukee Academy of Chinese Languages. Please join the SAW faculty in welcoming Alana to the String Academy.

Fall Honors RecitalsThirteen violinists and cellists were presented in performance on Sunday, October 12 in the String Academy’s Fall 2008 Honors Recital. Cellists Joseph Doyle, Lauren Simmons, Ross Nevin and Jacob Wunsch, and violinists Margaret Knox, Cassidy Franzmeier, Abigail Schneider, Sebastian Konewko, Maggie Duris, Bertrand Stone, Tarryck Kalishek, Henry Wu and Brian Zhang performed in the UWM Peck School of the Arts Recital Hall. Pianists Steve Ayers, Mark Konewko, and Vicky Schneider accompanied the soloists.

Senior RecitalsSeveral String Academy seniors presented full recitals at their high schools.

Cellist James Castaneda performed his senior recital on June 5th at the Prairie School in Racine.

Violinist Katya Papatla presented her senior recital on June 14th at Homestead High.

Jonathan Yu gave his senior recital at Homestead High School on June 7th.

Ms. Papatla and Mr. Yu studied with Darcy Drexler. Mr. Castenada studied with Scott Cook.

Thank You !!We wish to thank all of our supporters. You are important to us and we appreciate each and every one of you! Thank you for all you do to help our school with your financial contributions and volunteer efforts.

Jacob WunschCellist Jacob Wunsch won first place in the state-wide American String Teachers Association (ASTA) competition, advancing to the upcoming regional competition. Jacob is a student of Scott Cook.

Sarah KapustinSarah Kapustin has been appointed first violinist of the Rubens Quartet, based in The Hague. This well-established young quartet has an extensive touring schedule. They already have professional management in Europe, and are seeking international management, a United States debut and a residency at a musical institution. Sarah is excited to be a member of the Rubens Quartet. It is always challenging to find the right mix of musical ideas and approaches, personalities and chemistry to have a successful chamber group. Someone had introduced them, and everything clicked into place at the first meeting. Sarah will continue to tour with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, including concerts this December and next March, which include final concerts in Carnegie Hall. She will also be touring with Marlboro on the Road this spring. Sarah will appear with the Musicians

from Marlboro at Ravinia on Friday, May 8, 2009. She just completed her third and final stint as a junior at Marlboro and looks forward to the possibility of returning in a senior position. She is maintaining residencies both in The Hague and New York this year. On December 10th, Sarah performed a live recital on the French National Classical Radio Network. Collaborating with pianist Maria Bellaoussova, they played the Gabriel Faure Sonata in A major. Sarah had studied chamber music for two years under a Fulbright Scholarship at the Paris Conservatory. Visit www.sarahkapustin.com for more information. SAW sends congratulations and best wishes Sarah on her new appointment and look forward to seeing her at Ravinia next May.

Fall Group ConcertsThe String Academy’s Annual Fall Concerts took place to packed audiences on Saturday, November 22 in the Peck School of the Arts Recital Hall. All violin and cello groups (along with pianists Steve Ayers and Lisa Franzmeier) participated in the 10 am and 12 noon performances. Our newest cello and violin beginners were excited and proud to appear in their first concert. They presented some of String Academy’s long standing and popular early repertoire: Ants, Long Song, See Saw, and of course, Twinkle Variations. Other groups performed works by Bach, Schumann, Vivaldi, Brahms, Corelli, Kabalevsky, Mendelssohn, Kreisler, Rameau, Villa Lobos along with traditional folk songs and favorite American Fiddle tunes.

The String Academy presented its sixteenth violin teacher training workshop this past July. Through the years, participants ranging from the teens to the early eighties have come from more than thirty states and also Canada and England. This year, twelve teachers (studio, public school: elementary and secondary, and college) visited the UWM campus July 10-13th for four full days of sessions and activities. Darcy Drexler along with SAW Founder, Mimi Zweig presented sessions on the physical approach to playing, working with children of all ages and levels, techniques

in tone, intonation, vibrato, shifting as well as the business and technological side of string teaching. SAW students: Rehan Dhala, Margaret Knox, Rebekah Ruetz, Bertrand Stone, Cassidy Franzmeier and Brian Zhang helped with demonstrations of various technical and musical concepts. A reading session of new music for young children was held along with daily hands-on opportunities in the technique sessions. SAW students delighted the group with a summer recital that included repertoire studied in the workshop sessions. During the same period, a group

of enthusiastic cello teachers from throughout the United States met at the String Academy for the workshop, Teaching Cello to Children. SAW faculty member Scott Cook led the four day event with former faculty member, Trischa Loebl. All aspects of cello playing and teaching were discussed and demonstrated by faculty and students Allen Kang, Joseph Doyle and Kartik Papatla. This annual workshop draws participants to the String Academy at the UWM campus from all parts of the country and has had many of those attending in the past return again for a “re-fueling.” One participant from California summed it up by saying, “if I had only been able to attend one hour of the workshop, the long trip was worth it, as it is, I can’t wait to get back to my students!” But it was not all work. Our visitors got to experience the wonderful summer evening activities (festivals, the lake front and restaurants) of Milwaukee. A relaxing final luncheon wrapped up the intensive workshop. Participants were of all ages and levels of teaching experience and heartily responded to the weekend of information, activities, and discussion.

The SAW students who participated in groups during the summer session prepared for two concerts this year. The first was staged at a new outdoor venue at the Bay Shore Town Center on Tuesday, July 22. The second was held the next day, Wednesday, July 23, at UWM in the Helen Bader Recital Hall. Students in both concerts played solos, group pieces that were prepared in class by faculty members David Anderson, Katie Brooks and Darcy Drexler, as well as a string quartet coached by Scott Cook. The concerts blasted off with Up Like A Rocket performed by the beginners, Joseph Povinelli, Gideon Woehl-Sauvignon, Ingrid Buschkopf, Elena Cain, Joshua Chamberlain, Henry Dallman, Lucia Estrada, Maya Groser, Deborah Johnson, Ryan Lim, Camden Perry and Matthew Price. The

beginners were joined by the other students who played a variety of pieces from Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and fiddle tunes to a Concertino by G. Baciewicz which featured the Paganini class. The solo performances featured Cassidy Franzmeier, Tarryck Kalishek, Margaret Knox, Kartik Papatla, Rebecca Ruetz, Bertrand Stone, Brian Zhang, Alex Zhu and Justin Zhu. The first movement of F. J. Haydn’s Quinten quartet was performed by Alexis Lindsey, violin; Thad Wasielewski, violin; Mikhail Grinwald, viola; David Gould, cello. The pianists for the summer concerts included Julie Cucunato, Lisa Franzmeier and Trischa Loebl. A special performance was given by Brian Zhang who played P. Sarasate’s Zapateado accompanied by his brother, Kevin, on piano.

During the Summer … Two of this summer’s violin beginners are daughters of former String Academy students. Deborah Johnson, daughter of Rikena DiMartino, niece of SAW studevks. Shown here are Megan Buschkopf with her daughter, Ingrid.

Violin and Cello Teacher Workshops

Spring ConcertsSaturday, March 21, 2009

at 10 am and 12 noonUWM Peck School of the Arts Recital Hall

Both concerts are free and feature violin and cello groupsas well as a winner of the 2009 SAW Concerto Competition.

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Permit No. 4736

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