Please help us welcome violist Polly Malan, the new director of Santa Cruz Chamber Strings. Polly is a well-known local performer and teacher, hand-picked by violinist Cynthia Baehr-Williams, founder of the program, to continue her work. Although she is retiring, Cynthia will work alongside Polly this fall to facilitate a smooth transition.
Santa Cruz Chamber Strings is designed for beginning to intermediate string players (violin, viola, cello, bass). The program provides an introductory environment for young string players to learn how to play in a group ensemble, develop a sense of musical community, listen to and work with others, and contribute individual skills to a shared orchestral performance. One goal of the program is to prepare students to advance to our signature program, the Santa Cruz County Youth Symphony. Chamber Strings participants perform in a recital at the United Methodist Church in December, and they also perform at the Youth Symphony’s Spring Concert at Samper Recital Hall in May.
Elementary, middle, and high-school students of any skill level are welcome to apply to Santa Cruz Chamber Strings. Rehearsals take place on Mondays from 3:30 to 4:45 at the United Methodist Church, 250 California Street, Santa Cruz. The program is broken up into 2 sessions — Fall and Spring — with each session consisting of 9 or 10 rehearsals and a performance.
The deadline to apply for the Fall 2026 session is September 7, 2026. If you miss the deadline, please go ahead and apply anyway and we’ll do our best to include you. Polly will contact you with more information. Auditions will take place on September 14. The first rehearsal will be Monday, September 21. The spring session of Chamber Strings usually starts the second Monday in March. In 2027 it will start Monday, March 8.
Tuition
Tuition is $350 per student per session. Please wait to pay until you receive your invoice. Payment will be accepted by check or credit card. Financial aid is available for those families that need it and can be requested on the application.
How to Apply
Please begin by filling out the 2026–27 Application Form. Polly will get in touch with you with more information. If you have questions, please email info@sccys.org.
Please help us spread the word about this wonderful program! We hope to continue inspiring and motivating the young musicians of Santa Cruz County for many years.
The photos on this page were taken by Kevin Monahan at the Santa Cruz Chamber Strings Concert on December 2, 2023.