Cultural Art Strings to Create a Manchester Youth Orchestra
photo courtesy of CAS
Cultural Art Strings, which has provided Manchester with a youth strings education program for the past three years, is expanding in it’s fourth. This year, their annual summer camp, in addition to accepting children interested in violin, viola, cello and bass, will now welcome wind, brass, percussion and guitar students, with the intention of creating the first ever Manchester Youth Orchestra!
The annual two-week summer camp will take place at the Manchester United Methodist Church, June 15-26. It is open to students ages 5-13. Students interested in playing the string instruments, violin, viola, cello and bass, require no previous experience. New this year, CAS welcomes applications from wind, brass, percussion and guitar students with at least one year experience. The camp curriculum is rich in music, arts and creative movement. Campers have the option of half day or full day. Full day camp includes process based projects and intense music study. There are still a few openings left for this year’s camp. Click HERE for more information.
To celebrate and help raise additional funds for programming, CAS will present two benefit concerts. Chef Jay of Deliverable Delights will be providing food for both concerts. All proceeds will benefit Cultural Art Strings and will go directly to helping them provide music education for the youth of Manchester.
The first concert is Tangos and Tapas: A Celebration of Spanish Music and Small Plates to delight your senses! on Friday, May 29th at 7pm at the Blacksmith Shop, 324 East Main Street. Come hear the Cultural Art Strings Faculty with friends and students and featuring Xavier Verna and Daniel Winnick performing Piazzolla’s L’Histoire du Tango. Suggested donation $20 for adults and $8 for students. Advance tickets are recommended and can be purchased HERE.
The second concert, Summer Music Camp Celebration Concert will be held at the Home of Kent and Lynn Miller located at 10529 Rolling Oaks in Manchester on Saturday, June 13th at 3pm. The Millers are two of the many founding supporters of the program. Celebrate the Opening of Summer Music Camp with with music and kabobs. The concert will feature CAS faculty, staff, guest artists and current students. Suggested donation is $12. Advance tickets are recommended and can be purchased HERE.
Cultural Art Strings has to date handed out over $3600 in scholarships and subsidized lesson fees to make the program available to anyone regardless of financial circumstances but relies on community support to make this happen. If you are unable to attend any of the concerts, but would like to help with the formation of Manchester’s first youth orchestra or support CAS in general, consider making a tax-deductible contribution. Your gift will support Riverfolk’s mission to engage the community in music and arts experiences, nurture creativity and promote cultural diversity. Sponsorship opportunities still exist for any area businesses wishing to support the program. Please contact aileen@culturalartstrings.org for more information.
CAS would like to thank Manchester United Methodist Church that houses the lessons, group classes and recitals and the community for additional financial support. In addition, CAS received a Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs award for $2400 to help support it’s Teaching Fellow mentorship program.
photo courtesy of CAS
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