U of R String Chamber Music Ensemble Performs

"Seeing the potential of all these talented students and then seeing them reach it is amazing," said Jeanne Skrocki, Music Director of the String Chamber Music Ensembles at the University of Riverside, of her string chamber music students. On Friday, Nov. 22, the string chamber music ensemble gathered together at the Frederick Loewe Performance Hall at the University of Redlands to share their love for music with the public at the ensemble's winter concert. Under the direction of the talented Jeanne Skrocki, string chamber ensemble students performed what was the first concert of the year. The string chamber ensemble group at the University of Redlands School of Music puts on a concert twice a year, once every semester. This was the first University of Redlands string chamber ensemble performance for many freshmen and the last winter concert for many University of Redlands seniors. "Through the small group atmosphere that the chamber group creates, students gain the listening and technical skills that are crucial in music," Skrocki said. Colin Barstad is a freshman at the University of Redlands, and this was his first string chamber ensemble winter concert. "This has been a great experience. I've always been a fan of small ensemble music. I enjoy individual sound more than a mass of sound. The teachers I get to work with at the School of Music are amazing," said Barstad. Seana Thompson is one of the many talented musicians in the string chamber ensemble group. She will be graduating in spring of 2014 as a music major, and aspires to work in the field of film scoring. She is a devoted cello player with a passion for music. Thompson added to Barstad's enthusiasm concerning the group. "The best part about it is that we focus on making one sound together, but at the same time, portray our individual strengths as well. It's fun figuring out the balance with all of our different [musicians] because we're all so [diverse] with different strengths," said Thompson. The String Chamber Ensemble of the University of Redlands brought life to the Fredereick Loewe Performance Hall as they played. The students performed in string quartets, trios and duos pieces, including Joseph Haydn’s “Sunrise” quartet, Antonin Dvorak’s “American” quartet, Mendelssohn’s second piano trio, and duos by Maurice Moszkowski, Charles De Beriot and the Handel-Halvorsen Passacaglia. Concertgoers shared their thoughts on the performances. "It was just amazing," Ward Thompson, father of musician Seana Thompson, said. "Every piece they played was lovely, and I especially enjoyed the last piece." At the concert's conclusion, the parents of the musicians joined their families to chat and take pictures to capture the moments. [END] U of R String Chamber Music Ensembles Date: Friday, November 22, 2013 Time: 8:00 p.m. Event Location: University of Redlands Address: 1200 East Colton Ave. Colton CA 92373 Description: At Frederick Loewe Performance Hall, Watchorn Hall. Under the direction of Jeanne Skrocki, presents winter concert. CONTACT INFO Phone: School of Music 909-748-8700 ORIGINAL ARTICLE: "Seeing the potential of all these talented students ad then seeing them reach it is amazing," music director of the String Chamber Music Ensembles at the University of Riverside said about her string chamber music students. On Friday, November 22nd, the string chamber music ensemble gathered together at the Frederick Loewe Performance Hall at the University of Redlands to share their love for music with the public at the ensemble's winter concert. Under the direction of the talented Jeanne Skrocki, string chamber ensemble students performed what was the first concert of the year. The string chamber ensemble group at the University of Redlands School of Music puts on a concert twice a year, once every semester. This was the first University of Redlands string chamber ensemble performance for many freshman and the last winter concert for many University of Redlands seniors. "Through the small group atmosphere that the chamber group creates students gain the listening and technical skills that are crucial in music,'' Skrocki said. The string chamber ensemble group is not only a group of talented School of Music Students, but also an oppurtunity for student to further improve their musical skills. Colin Barstad is a freshmen at the University of Redlands and this was his first string chamber ensemble winter concert. "This has been a great a experience. I've always been a fan of small ensemble music. I enjoy individual sound more rather than a mass of sound. The teachers I get to work with at the School of Music are amazing," said Barstad. Seana Thompson is one of the many talented musicians within the string chamber ensemble group. She will be graduating in spring of 2014 as a music major and aspires to work in the field of film scoring. She is devoted cello player with a passion for music. Thompson added to Barstad's enthusiasm concerning the group. "The best part about it is that we focus on on making one sound together but at the same time portray our individual strengths as well. It's fun figuring out the balance with all of our different [musicians] because we're all so [diverse] with different strengths," said Thompson. The String Chamber Ensemble of the University of Redlands brought life to the Fredereick Loewe Performance Hall as beautiful music was created by the string chamber ensemble students. The students performed in string quartets, trios and duos including: Joseph Haydn’s “Sunrise” quartet, Antonin Dvorak’s “American” quartet, Mendelssohn’s second piano trio and duos by Maurice Moszkowski, Charles De Beriot and the Handel-Halvorsen Passacaglia. The audience, made up of family members and residents of Redlands, were left both amazed and impressed at the evident talent all the School of Music portrayed through those quartets, duos, and trios. It was a beautiful and amazing performance, as was observed by the audience, and was a great way to end the the day. "It was just amazing," Ward Thompson, supporting father present of Seana Thompson, said. "Every piece they played was lovely and I especially enjoyed the last piece that they played." At the end of one amazing winter concert the string chamber music ensemble students and Direcor Jeanne Skrocki put on, REdlands resident left the performance hall with joy and amazement. Proud parents excitedly reunited with their talented string chamber ensemble members and took many pictures to capture the moment of a fantastic evening. That night, a group of young people shared their passion, their talents, and the immense love they have instilled upon them for music wth the city of REdlands; they did so in such a manner that the happiness they feel each time they start playing their instrument inevitably overcame each and every person sitting in that Frederick Loewe Performance Hall that evening.