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Chamber Music Weekend

 

 
 
   

We proudly bring to you "At First Sight", a Christ-centered, chamber music sight--reading workshop for youth. On June 20, 2011, At First Sight will open its third season. We are confident that AFS 2011 will be as wonderful an experience for everyone involved as it has been for the previous two years.

At First Sight is an outgrowth of Chamber Music Weekend, a successful chamber music event for amateur and professional musicians, now in its fourteenth season. CMW meets each summer on the campus of Southern Adventist University. During four intense days, participants work together in varied chamber groups, from trios to octets, bringing to life some of the greatest music ever written. In the process, they experience the joy and exhilaration which naturally flow from creative and recreational playing.

  

In its first twelve years, CMW grew from 35 to over 100 participants. The percentage of students involved also increased significantly. To meet their specific needs, we added young people's divisions and hired teachers to help them. By that time, however, CMW had exceeded the capacity of our beautiful facilities at SAU, and we needed a change.

This need became the driving force for the creation of At First Sight, a chamber music program designed specifically for youth. Taking place immediately following Chamber Music Weekend, At First Sight provides many opportunities not possible within CMW itself.

We can now:

  • bring in artist coaches and teachers, to help students develop their ensemble abilities.
  • involve more teaching staff, ensuring a low student-teacher ratio.
  • focus on vital sight-reading and ensemble playing skills, as well as offer technique training.
  • introduce master classes, discussions, and performance opportunities tailored to youth.
  • meet the specific needs of beginning sight-readers, introducing them to the joy of making music together.
  • devote the entire facility to the use of AFS participants.
  • provide a forum for young people to ask questions of professional Christian musicians, and to express concerns about being a Christian musician in today's culture.
  • direct the young people's attention to the Giver of their gift, and provide opportunities for them to share it that gift with others.


We are as excited about these possibilities for the 2011 season, as we were about the success of AFS in 2009 and 2010. We are confident that each student who comes will grow as a musician. Even more, we are thrilled to be able to share with the young people the joy of playing great chamber music.