Strings

Beginning Strings • Junior Strings•Conservatory Strings•Chamber Strings•

String orchestra - Santa Monica, Ca 

Open Enrollment 
Online registration begins August 1, 2023. Enrollment is open throughout the year and students can enroll at any time. Parents will need to complete the two-step registration process at their child’s first rehearsal. Students should bring their instruments.

Weekly Rehearsals
Each ensemble will have 36 weekly rehearsals and 2 concerts starting from September 1, 2023 through the week of May 6, 2024.

ALL CLASSES ARE HELD AT THE SANTA MONICA CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC

Concerts
The two concert/potluck dates are Sunday December 17, 2023 and Saturday May 11, 2024 each at 4 pm.

Tuition
To participate, students should register and must be paid-off for current session.

A Tuition fee for Fall Session is $270 which includes 12 Weekly rehearsals.

A Tuition fee for Winter Session is $270 which includes 12 Weekly rehearsals.

A Tuition fee for Spring Session is $270 which includes 12 Weekly rehearsals.

Please click here to register your child’s spot in the program.

If you require van pick-up/drop off service for your child, please click on this link AFTER you have registered your child.

Beginning Strings – Weekly Rehearsals Friday 3:30-4:30 

Beginning Strings is a absolute beginner level who have never played before, learning and performance ensemble for elementary age violin, viola, cello and string bass students. It is an SMBMF program hosted at the Santa Monica Conservatory and all current K-5th-grade students are invited. No previous experience is necessary.

Members will learn exciting pieces and develop level appropriate music skills such as sight reading, rhythmic development, and chamber playing. They will also develop social skills within a structured musical environment. Parents can expect rewarding growth and ever-increasing appreciation of music. Our staff will prepare students for middle school performance levels and help them realize their maximum potential as young musicians.

member of the Conservatory Strings jr. Orchestra 2015

Junior Strings – Weekly Rehearsals Friday 3:30-4:30 

Junior Strings is a beginner level learning and performance ensemble for elementary age violin, viola, cello and string bass students. It is an SMBMF program hosted at the Santa Monica Conservatory and all current K-5th-grade students are invited. No previous experience is necessary.

Members will learn exciting pieces and develop level appropriate music skills such as sight reading, rhythmic development, and chamber playing. They will also develop social skills within a structured musical environment. Parents can expect rewarding growth and ever-increasing appreciation of music. Our staff will prepare students for middle school performance levels and help them realize their maximum potential as young musicians.

violin_viola_children_youth_orchestas

Conservatory Strings – Weekly Rehearsals Friday 3:30-4:45

Conservatory Strings is an intermediate level learning and performance ensemble for elementary age violin, viola, cello and string bass students.

Members will learn exciting pieces and develop level appropriate music skills such as sight reading, rhythmic development, and chamber playing. They will also develop social skills within a structured musical environment. Parents can expect rewarding growth and ever-increasing appreciation of music. Our staff will prepare students for middle school performance levels and help them realize their maximum potential as young musicians.

Chamber Strings – Weekly Rehearsals Friday 4:45-6:15

Chamber Strings is an advanced learning and performance ensemble for elementary and middle school age violin, viola, cello and string bass students.

violin_viola_children_youth_orchestasMembers will learn exciting pieces and further develop level appropriate music skills such as sight reading, rhythmic development, and chamber playing. They will also continue to develop social skills within a structured musical environment. Parents can expect rewarding growth and ever-increasing appreciation of music. Our staff will prepare students for middle school and high school performance levels and help them realize their maximum potential as young musicians.

String Quartets – Weekly rehearsals – Wednesdays – Time TBD

Faculty

Photo of Ellery Wiess

Ellery Weiss earned his degree in Violin Performance from UCLA in 2013 studying with world renowned Violinist Guillaume Sutre.

Ellery was born and raised in Santa Monica, attending Roosevelt Elementary, Lincoln Middle School, and Santa Monica High School where he was the first violin in Symphony Orchestra.

As a teacher, he is fully invested in his students. He teaches students ranging from near beginners to high school students.

Ellery also is a dedicated and successful Faculty member at the Santa Monica Conservatory of Music.

Photo of Celeste TamosCeleste Ramos is a 6th-generation violinist residing in Santa Monica, California. She was born and raised in Santa Monica and attended McKinley Elementary, Lincoln Middle School, and Pacifica Christian High School.

Celeste began her violin studies at the age of 3 and is an undergraduate at the University of Redlands, majoring in violin performance. Through her studies at the University of Redlands, Celeste has been involved in orchestra, chamber ensembles, and performing recitals. She is currently studying under violinist, performer, recording artist, and educator Sam Fischer.

Celeste has an immense passion for music and is currently focusing on growing her presence as a concert artist while teaching violin at the Santa Monica Conservatory of Music.

John Redfield strings orchestra santa monicaJohn Redfield began playing cello at the age of 8, and with the help of private teachers practiced hard throughout Elementary, Middle and High School and was awarded a full scholarship to Indiana University where he attended private studies and master classes with the world-renowned Hungarian cellist and teacher Janos Starker.

Starker’s teacher was Schiffer, Schiffer’s teacher was David Popper, and now the Popper Methodology is taught by John Redfield at the Santa Monica Conservatory of Music. No cello methodology can compare to the rigors or rewards of the Popper Methodology, an essential for all aspiring professional cellists.

After living in Italy and performing throughout Europe for 13 years, John Redfield returned to Santa Monica, co-founded the Elemental Strings youth orchestra, is currently Founder/Director of the Santa Monica Conservatory of Music, as well as a member of the

SMMUSD District Advisory Committee for the Performing Arts.

His numerous current and past cello students include prizewinners as well as those pursuing music at Yale, NYU, Georgetown, USC, and UCLA. As a performer, in his little free time from teaching, John has chosen to dedicate himself to performances of the solo cello repertoire (Bach, Kodaly, Cassado, Hindemith, etc.) in 3-4 recitals per year. John plays a Dutch cello dated 1700.


Location:
The Santa Monica Conservatory of Music
1501 Colorado Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Call/Text: (310)576-3600