Violinist Cynthia Baehr-Williams, co-director of our Chamber Music Academy, also leads our Santa Cruz Chamber Strings program for beginning to intermediate string players (violin, viola, cello, bass).
Chamber Strings 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 2024 session is September 1, 2024. If you miss the deadline, please go ahead and apply anyway and we’ll do our best to include you. Cynthia will contact you the first week of September with more information. Auditions will take place on September 7. The first rehearsal will be Monday, September 16.
Tuition
Tuition is $300 per student. 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 2024–25 Application Form. Cynthia 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! Cynthia is a great musician and educator, and we are fortunate to be able to provide a home for her ongoing work, inspiring and motivating the young musicians of Santa Cruz County.
The photos on this page were taken by Kevin Monahan at the Santa Cruz Chamber Strings Concert on December 2, 2023.