Watch a video from the Michigan Chamber Music Marathon 2006:
An essential component of the String Department programs, chamber music constitutes a major part of the School of Music, Theatre & Dance curriculum and activities. Each term students have the opportunity to participate in various chamber formations, receive weekly coachings, attend masterclasses with faculty members and guests, and present a public performance at the end of the term.
In addition to masterclasses by visiting ensembles, the School of Music, Theatre and Dance hosts the Phoenix Quartet (Gabe Bolkowsky, Alicia Doudna, violins; Stephanie Fong, viola; Mary Ann Ramos, cello) as Quartet in residence. In addition to presenting concerts for the School, the Quartet is very active in coaching string quartets and piano chamber music.
In our own chamber music concert series, Michigan Chamber Players, faculty members are showcased in adventurous programs, often in collaboration with students.
Chamber Music Classes
String Quartet - Headed by Prof. Andrew Jennings, this class delves into the concepts, workings, and vast repertoire of the string quartet. Each term, students are grouped into quartets and work on repertoire from as early as Haydn to contemporary pieces freshly composed at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Quartets receive weekly coachings from members of the string faculty. Coaches lead several quartet masterclasses each term, in which quartets play for each other, and relevant topics of interest are explored in detail. At the end of the term each quartet will perform in a special quartet class public concert.
Piano Chamber Music - These ensemble classes explore the rich and varied literature of piano chamber music. Headed by Professor Christopher Harding, the classes consist of ensembles with piano, generally trios, quartets, and quintets with strings and/or winds, but also duo piano and occasionally piano and instrumental duo sonatas. Groups receive coachings from various faculty members, participate in masterclasses and perform in concert at the end of the term.
Duo Class - This class offers a wonderful opportunity for a semester-long collaboration with a regular partner on sonata and duo repertoire. Students receive coachings (from Prof. Katherine Collier who heads the course, as well as from their individual teachers), participate in masterclasses, and perform for each other's juries at the end of the term. Many times, long term working relationships are established through these initial collaborations.
In addition, students from around the school have many opportunities to forge collaborations with pianists in the Collaborative Piano Program, under the tutelage of Prof. Martin Katz, which include coachings from Prof. Katz and other faculty members, participation in masterclasses, and public performances in concert.
