String Area

Overview

The CSU string area seeks to empower students with the knowledge, skills and experience needed for a successful career in music. One-on-one training with artist/scholars, chamber ensemble coaching sessions, rehearsals and concerts with the University Symphony and Sinfonia Orchestras promote the intellectual, creative and artistic growth of each student. We believe that total musicianship involves training the artists of the future to have a breadth of knowledge. Professional musicians today are performers, scholars, educators and active supporters of the cause of music. Our string program guides the aspiring musician towards the fulfillment of these goals.

String Area Guidelines (PDF)
String Area UDQE Preparation & Requirements (PDF)

String Events

Colorado Harp Seminar
Colorado Cello Intensive
Cellobrate
Spring 2026 Student Recitals / FREE

Spring 2026 Student Recitals / FREE

February 13, 2026 - May 2, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Please join us in celebrating the recital performances of our CSU music students. Student Recitals are FREE and open to the public. Note: Dates, times, and locations are subject to change, please check back to confirm performance details. Saturday, February 19, 2026: 5 p.m., Organ Recital Hall, Henry Buckley, Clarinet Saturday, February 28, 2026: 5:30 [...]
2026 CSU Jazz High School Honor Band

2026 CSU Jazz High School Honor Band

April 13, 2026 - April 17, 2026 at 12:00 AM
The CSU Jazz High School Honor Band Festival will bring together the top high school jazz students in Colorado for an educational experience focused on strengthening students’ ensemble and improvisation skills while building community among young Jazz musicians. Students will work with CSU faculty for instrumental sectionals and full-ensemble rehearsals.
Flute Studio Recital / FREE

Flute Studio Recital / FREE

April 16, 2026 at 6:00 PM
The students of Dr. Ysmael Reyes present a program of solo and chamber works for flute in assorted styles and genres. 
Jazz Combos Concert: <em>Combos I and II</em>

Jazz Combos Concert: Combos I and II

April 16, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Jazz Combos I and II, directed by Wil Swindler and Dr. Seth Lewis, present a concert of small-group jazz. The program includes music by renowned jazz artists, as well as original student compositions and arrangements. 
Trombone Choir Concert / FREE

Trombone Choir Concert / FREE

April 19, 2026 at 4:00 PM
The Trombone Studio, under the direction of Dr. Drew Leslie, presents a program of music composed and arranged for trombone ensemble. The concert features the CSU Trombone Choir as well as the NoCo Bones, which is a large trombone choir made up of both CSU students and area high school trombonists. A variety of pieces [...]

Humanities Research Day

April 22, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Please join the Blake Center in April 2026 for our first Humanities Research Day! This event builds on our past end of the year events celebrating our Faculty Research Fellows by creating a space to highlight even more of the fantastic research done by humanists at CSU. The event will include research talks by our [...]
Guitar Studio Recital / FREE

Guitar Studio Recital / FREE

April 22, 2026 at 6:00 PM
The students of Jeff LaQuatra present a program of works for guitar in assorted styles and genres. 
All-Choral Finale Concert

All-Choral Finale Concert

April 22, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Come celebrate with us! The choral area ends the school year with a dynamic concert featuring the Chamber Choir, conducted by Dr. James Kim, the Concert Choir, conducted by Dr. Nathan Payant, and the University Chorus, conducted by graduate teaching assistant, Carly Neumann. Expect an evening of uplifting music, vibrant choral artists, and a joyful [...]
<strong>Moved & Combined</strong>:Undergraduate Chamber Music Concert / FREE

Moved & Combined:Undergraduate Chamber Music Concert / FREE

April 23, 2026 at 7:00 PM
This concert has been moved and combined with the concert on April 21, 2026.   Undergraduate students will perform a concert of chamber music for quartets, trios, and quintets with repertoire to be announced. 
<strong>MOVED</strong>: String Chamber Music Concert / FREE

MOVED: String Chamber Music Concert / FREE

April 24, 2026 at 7:30 PM
This concert has been moved to April 21, 2026. String area students in various small ensembles will perform works from repertoire for string quartet, trios, and various mixed ensembles. 
Wind Symphony Concert: <em>Enigma!</em>

Wind Symphony Concert: Enigma!

April 24, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Enigma!  Featuring graduate student conductors David Davis and Amanda Manning along with guest soloists Joel Bacon, Organ, AndrewRutten, Bass Clarinet and Dan Goble, Alto Saxophone Fascinated by mystery? Drawn to puzzles? This concert is for you! The Wind Symphony, directed by Dr. Rebecca Phillips, presents Enigma, a concert exploring works that are musical conundrums. The ensemble’s final concert of the season features graduate student conductors David Davis and [...]
2026 CSU Percussion Solo and Ensemble Competition and Festival

2026 CSU Percussion Solo and Ensemble Competition and Festival

April 25, 2026 at 12:00 AM
PAS Percussion Solo and Ensemble Festivals and Competitions give students throughout the United States opportunities to learn music and percussion through performance and expert adjudicator feedback. CSU is excited to host the competition and festival again in 2026.
Percussion Ensemble Festival Concert

Percussion Ensemble Festival Concert

April 25, 2026 at 6:00 PM
The Percussion Ensemble performs repertoire for contemporary chamber ensemble by composers such as Andy Akiho, Alejandro Viñao, and John Cage. The concert features a variety of percussion instrumentation and styles of music. 
Double Reed Studio Recital / FREE

Double Reed Studio Recital / FREE

April 26, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Students of the oboe and bassoon studios of Dr. Galit Kaunitz and Dr. Cayla Bellamy perform solo and ensemble works written from the 1600s to the present day. 
Saxophone Studio Recital / FREE

Saxophone Studio Recital / FREE

April 26, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Students of saxophone professors Peter Sommer and Dr. Dan Goble present a recital of solo and chamber works for saxophone, including classic and contemporary literature featuring a dynamic range of expression and musical interplay. 
Concert Orchestra Concert: <em>The Birds and the Bees</em> / FREE

Concert Orchestra Concert: The Birds and the Bees / FREE

April 26, 2026 at 7:30 PM
The Birds and the Bees  The concert theme grew out of suggestions from orchestra members, many who represent disciplines beyond music, including the sciences. Together, we explore how music can illuminate the vital roles of birds and pollinating insects in sustaining ecosystems. Through works inspired by flight, song, and the rhythms of nature, the program invites audiences to reflect [...]
Marching Band London Trip Information Meeting

Marching Band London Trip Information Meeting

April 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM
The CSU Marching Band has been invited to perform in London in May 2027! We are hosting a meeting on Monday, April 27 at 6:00 PM MST to discuss details of the trip. All members of the 2026 CSU Marching Band are eligible to participate as performers on this tour. Attending the meeting is not required, [...]
<strong>CANCELLED</strong><em>Guest Artist Concert</em>: Andrew Lynge, Percussion / FREE

CANCELLEDGuest Artist Concert: Andrew Lynge, Percussion / FREE

April 28, 2026 at 7:30 PM
*This concert has been cancelled. Dr. Andrew Lynge’s debut solo album, Alchemy: Music for Solo Percussion and Fixed Media, was released in 2024 on the Equilibrium Recording Label and includes works by Russell Wharton, Alejandro Viñao, Tyler Bradley Walker, and John Psathas. He leads the internationally acclaimed UA Percussion Ensemble, winners of the 2020 and 2024 PAS International Percussion Ensemble Competitions, the highest honor received by [...]
Jazz Ensembles Concert: With Guest Artist Jonathan Kreisberg, Guitar

Jazz Ensembles Concert: With Guest Artist Jonathan Kreisberg, Guitar

April 28, 2026 at 7:30 PM
With guest artist Jonathan Kreisberg, Guitar Jazz Ensembles I and II, directed by Wil Swindler and Darren Kramer, are joined by NYC jazz guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg. The groups perform original music by Johnathan Kreisberg, as well as arrangements of standard jazz repertoire; the concert also features a new piece by Wil Swindler. New York City jazz composer and guitarist, Jonathan Kreisberg has been steadily building his name as one of the most compelling composer/performers in jazz. Combining timeless melodicism with [...]
Symphonic Band Concert: <em>Folk Music Traditions</em>

Symphonic Band Concert: Folk Music Traditions

April 30, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Conducted by Jayme Taylor with Graduate Student Conductor Cameron Honnen Featuring the folk music traditions of four cultures: Japanese, English/British, Central and Eastern European Ashkenazi Jew/Yiddish dance music, and American Folk songs.
2026 CSU Color Guard Auditions: In-person and Online Options

2026 CSU Color Guard Auditions: In-person and Online Options

May 1, 2026 - May 2, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Friday, May 1, 5 p.m. | Video Option: Color Guard Auditions due to CSUcolorguard@gmail.com Saturday, May 2, 1:30-6:30 p.m. | Live Option: Color Guard Auditions at Glenn Morris Field House Registration deadline is Monday, April 27 at 11:59 p.m. | Use the CSUMB Intent Form More information about the CSU Marching Band and the color [...]
World Percussion Ensemble Concert

World Percussion Ensemble Concert

May 3, 2026 at 6:00 PM
The World Percussion ensembles at CSU include the Brazilian Samba Ensembles, G.H. Green Xylophone Ragtime Ensemble, Civil War Rope Drum Ensemble, and the Steel Drum Ensemble ala Trinidad and Tobago. The concert showcases a variety of instruments and styles.  
Trombone Studio Recital / FREE

Trombone Studio Recital / FREE

May 3, 2026 at 7:30 PM
An evening of solo and chamber music that highlights the trombone in a variety of musical settings. The recital features undergraduate and graduate students from the CSU Trombone Studio under the guidance and coaching of Dr. Drew Leslie. 
Concert Band Concert: <em>Of the People</em> / FREE

Concert Band Concert: Of the People / FREE

May 4, 2026 at 7:30 PM
The Concert Band presents Of the People, featuring music and composers inspired by the voices, stories, and experiences that unite us. This concert features works by Pierre LaPlante, Michael Markowski, and Michele Fernández. Please join us at the UCA alongside ensemble director, Dr. Christina Herman, graduate conductor Cameron Honnen, and the students of the Concert [...]
String Area Honors Recital / FREE

String Area Honors Recital / FREE

May 4, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Join us for a concert featuring various pieces and concerti performed by students from the string studios at CSU! 
Keyboard Area Studio Recital / FREE

Keyboard Area Studio Recital / FREE

May 5, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Join us for a concert featuring various pieces and concerti performed by members of the keyboard studio led by Dr. Bryan Wallick. 
<em>Music in the Museum</em>: CSU Graduate Students / FREE

Music in the Museum: CSU Graduate Students / FREE

May 6, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Music in the Museum Concert Series at the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art explores the cross-fertilization of music and the visual arts through concerts in the galleries with performances by Colorado State University MFA students. Featured performers to be announced soon! This program is held in GAMA’s  Galleries. These concerts are free and open to the public, but we [...]
University Symphony Orchestra Concert: <em>Virtuoso Voices</em>

University Symphony Orchestra Concert: Virtuoso Voices

May 7, 2026 at 7:30 PM
The Ralph Opera Program at CSU, under the direction of Dr. Tiffany Blake, with the University Smphony Orchestra, led by Dr. Rachel Waddell, unite for an evening that celebrates the artistry of CSU’s vocal and instrumental performers. The program features Amy Effinger, winner of the annual Concerto Competition, performing the first movement of Édouard Lalo’s [...]
2026 CSU Percussion Camp

2026 CSU Percussion Camp

June 1, 2026 - June 2, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Percussion Camp for high school students includes instruction on how to successfully prepare and audition to become a collegiate music major. The workshop focuses on the four primary percussion instruments: Mallets (2 and 4 mallets), Timpani, Snare Drum, and Drum Set, as well as insight into applications, scholarships, equipment, and skills in being a college student.
2026 Summer Voice Intensive

June 1, 2026 - June 5, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Spend a week honing your craft on the beautiful CSU campus! Auditioned students will perform a solo in our beautiful Recital Hall. Participants will also take voice lessons with CSU faculty, and participate in workshops, masterclasses, and talkbacks, including 'Conquering the College Audition.
2026 Organ Week

2026 Organ Week at Colorado State University

June 7, 2026 - June 11, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Organ Week is designed for high school students interested in expanding (or beginning) their organ study. Led by a faculty of prominent concert and church organists, the program features one-to-one instruction, masterclasses, and recitals on the finest pipe organs in northern Colorado, including CSU’s Casavant organ.
2026 CSU Jazz Summer Workshop

June 10, 2026 - June 12, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Join CSU Jazz Faculty Wil Swindler, Peter Sommer, Seth Lewis, Gabriel Santiago, David Mesquitic, and more for the 5th annual CSU Jazz Summer Workshop. The workshop will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and focus on small-group jazz playing and improvisation. Students will also study jazz history, listening, and theory, and attend instrument-specific masterclasses. Full schedule details will be released after registration closes.
2026 Colorado Harp Seminar

2026 Colorado Harp Seminar

June 14, 2026 - June 20, 2026 at 12:00 AM
The Colorado Harp Seminar is a weeklong immersive opportunity for high school and undergraduate pedal harpists, with a distinct focus on musician wellness. Directed by faculty member Kathryn Harms at Colorado State University, the seminar is designed to support, inspire, and nurture both excellent musicianship and personal growth. Students receive private lessons and participate in harp ensemble, masterclasses, and interactive workshops throughout the week.
2026 Colorado Kodály Institute

2026 Colorado Kodály Institute

July 11, 2026 - July 24, 2026 at 12:00 AM
The Master of Music, Music Education Specialization, Kodály Option is designed for elementary classroom music teachers, independent music instructors, and secondary music teachers interested in developing their teaching, conducting, musicianship, and depth of knowledge about music education.

Concert Version: The Music Man by Meredith Wilson

July 11, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Students in the Colorado State University Summer Conducting Seminar, the residency component of CSU’s Master of Music, Music Education – Conducting Specialization, present a concertized version of The Music Man, by Meredith Wilson, in the annual summer seminar final performance.

2026 Colorado Cello Intensive

July 26, 2026 - August 2, 2026 at 12:00 AM
The Colorado Cello Intensive is a week-long program designed to maximize technical, musical, and personal growth. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 4:1, the Colorado Cello Intensive (CCI) is dedicated to helping students reach their full potential. We believe in the work hard, play hard mentality and offer students an array of evening possibilities, including hiking, concerts, and more. Surrounded by the beautiful Rocky Mountains in Fort Collins, Colorado, CCI is the ideal location to develop your playing this summer!
2026 International Keyboard Odyssiad® and Festival, USA

2026 International Keyboard Odyssiad® and Festival, USA

August 3, 2026 - August 7, 2026 at 12:00 AM
The International Keyboard Odyssiad® & Festival, U.S.A., is a summer piano competition and festival featuring more than a dozen guest artists and pianists in the LIVE Semifinal and Final Rounds of the Olympic-styled Odyssiad® competition, Group Masterclasses and Young Artist Development Sessions with master teachers and judges, and riveting evening concerts by international piano competition medalists and world-renowned guest artist pianists.

String News

Nabile Galvan headshot

Announcing Nabile Galván as CSU assistant professor of Music Education

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Announcing Nabile Galván as CSU assistant professor of Music Education.

2025 New viola professor Rose Wollman pictured with chin resting on top of viola.

Announcing Dr. Rose Wollman as CSU viola professor

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The School of Music, Theatre, and Dance welcomes Rose Wollman as assistant professor of viola. Hailed as “innovative” and “stylish” by the Chicago Classical Review, violist, Rose Wollman is a sought-after soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, and teacher. Dr. Wollman received her D.M. from the IU Jacobs School of Music and is thrilled to be […]

Viola student, Bella Penna plays instrument in her ROTC uniform

Music student Bella Penna plays National Anthem at Lt. Col. Matthew Tillman’s Ram Battalion retirement

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Music student Bella Penna plays National Anthem at Lt. Col. Matthew Tillman’s Army ROTC Ram Battalion retirement.

Artists-in-Residence

Mendelssohn Trio 2021 Promotional Photo

The Mendelssohn Trio: Formed in 1988, the trio is named for cellist Barbara Thiem's great grandfather, Franz von Mendelssohn, a nephew of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy and an important supporter of artists and musicians in the Berlin of the early 20th century. While performing the standard repertoire of the 18th and 19th centuries the trio has made an effort to introduce its audiences to works by 20th century American and European composers. The members give frequent concerts and work closely with students on chamber music projects.

Duo Francois Promotional Photo

The Duo Francois has been performing at National and International venues since 2008.  This dynamic and versatile duo are known for their interpretations of the classic repertoire and are champions of new compositions in the violin and piano genre.  Several pieces have been composed for the Duo Francois by some of the finest composers of the 21st century.

Their latest CD entitled "Mexico City Blues" featuring three commissioned works earned the Duo a silver medal in both the 'Duo' and 'Emerging Artist' categories at the Global Music Awards and also received regognition by the American Prize in the category of chamber music.

Since 2008, the Duo Francois has also provided masterclasses and lessons, nationally and internationally, to numerous prospective students, and many of these students have pursued graduate work at CSU as a result.

Graduate String Quartet Program

Prerequisites for Admission: Bachelor’s Degree in Music, variety of solo and chamber music repertoire.

Opportunities:

  • Assistance in developing artistic and business-related aspects for a successful quartet career
  • Participation in LEAP courses is encouraged
  • Seminar Topics Include:
    • Outreach Program Development
    • Creative Programming
    • Commissioning New Works
    • Arts Leadership & Administration
    • Chamber Music literature/Pedagogy
    • Supervised Coaching Experience

Students will be Involved in the Following:

  • Daily Rehearsal Time
  • Dedicated ensemble rehearsal space in our new state-of-the-art teaching and performance facility
  • Weekly Coaching

Additional Professional Work Available:

  • Opportunities with four professional symphonies in Northern Colorado
  • Teaching Opportunities
  • Chamber Music Performances

For more information, please contact Ron Francois.

CSU Music Information Request Form

  • Contact Information

  • Interests

    Would you like to request a complimentary lesson with the professor of your instrument/voice? You will be connected with the appropriate professor, who will be in touch to schedule the lesson (either in-person or virtually, depending on availability and coordination of schedules).