Birch Bay
Over 70 teachers from eight states and Canada enjoyed the 53rd annual WASTA Birch Bay String Teachers’ Workshop in August. Held in Ferndale, Washington, the intensive five-day workshop is the oldest continually-operating string workshop in America. Featured were the reading of over 100 new works for string and full orchestra along with technique and skill-building sessions taught by outstanding workshop faculty members. There were five major presentations by guest clinician Michael Hopkins of the University of Michigan, along with special sessions on Middle School ideas, motivational concepts, and instrument main-tenance.
A special session consisted of vignette presentations by eight workshop participants of ideas and activities which have worked well for them. Outlines of these presentations will appear on the WASTA website.
Another outstanding feature of the workshop was a conductor’s master class with Maestro Arthur Shaw, who critiqued eight participants who conducted a live orchestra in pre-assigned standard repertoire.
There was no lack of social activity after hours, including the traditional barbecued salmon dinner on the beach at Birch Bay, followed by the infamous String Teachers’ Campfire.
Next year’s workshop will be July 30 - August 3, 2012. Find information at www.stringspecialist.com/birchbay, or follow us on Facebook under “Birch Bay Strings”.
Birch Bay String Teachers' Workshop
3445 Hollywood Drive NE
Olympia WA 98516
Phone 360-491-3931
Fax 360-491-4979
e-mail: iedlund@stringspecialist.com
www.stringspecialist.com/birchbay