Press and News

Jackson Hole, Wyoming – October 10, 2007 – The Grand Teton Music Festival announced today plans for its annual StringFest for area middle school music students. The unique three-day string clinic brings the orchestra students of Jackson Hole and Star Valley Middle Schools together with Festival veteran violinist Barbara Scowcroft for an intense collaborative rehearsal and concert experience. StringFest 2007 runs November 13-15 and culminates in a public performance by the young musicians in the Festival’s newly renovated Walk Festival Hall, Thursday, November 15 at 7:30 pm. Admission is free, no tickets required. All ages are welcome.

StringFest launches the Grand Teton Music Festival’s in-school programs each year – the students of Jackson Hole Middle School and Star Valley Junior High School begin working on their music for this performance as soon as the school year begins. The clinician, GTMF veteran musician and Utah Symphony violinist Barbara Scowcroft, will visit the seventh and eighth grade orchestra classes of Vincent Gutwein (Jackson) and Brian Ashton (Star Valley) November 13 and 14 to work with each group separately before they join forces for an all-day rehearsal followed by their combined performance in Walk Festival Hall on Thursday, November 15. A transformative experience, StringFest helps students learn and indeed participate in the practices and policies of a professional

Grand Teton Music Festival Fall Concerts orchestra. On the final day, students work with peers they’d never met before and play their way though intense rehearsals and finally a public concert. They themselves can hear a marked change in their musicianship over the course of one very intensive and rewarding day.

“It’s really wonderful to see the students supporting each other, working together,” said StringFest clinician Barbara Scowcroft. “There is such joy in seeing them make new friends through their interest in classical music – there’s this incredible synergy, and that’s the ultimate magic of music.”


ABOUT THE FESTIVAL’s ONGOING EDUCATION & OUTREACH PROGRAMS

The Grand Teton Music Festival believes music is fundamental to the human experience, and achieves this vision not only through great performances, but also through a commitment to educational programming. The Festival reaches out to people of all levels of interest and ability through its education and outreach initiatives. From a child’s first experience attending a live performance, to advanced instruction for music students, to continuing education for adult learners these programs reach more than 12,000 young students, musicians, and adults each year.

The majority of the Grand Teton Music Festival’s education and outreach initiatives provide music and education experiences to the youth of Jackson Hole and the surrounding regions. School year programming includes: StringFest (three-day clinic for seventh and eighth grade string students), Tune-UP! (private instrument lessons for middle school band and orchestra students), Music In The Schools (Festival musicians visit local classrooms), and Open the House: GTMF Presents (Jackson Hole High School Band and Orchestra perform their spring concerts in Walk Festival Hall). Annual summer programming features the popular 6:15 Music Machine (a free orchestra concert for children and families at Walk Festival Hall), and an Orchestra Mentorship Program (career shadowing for advanced high school instrumental music students).

For more information about the Festival’s education and outreach programming, contact Liz Kintz at 307-733-3050 x109.