USAO Offers Summer ‘Fiddle Fun’ Strings Workshop

String players of all ages will have an opportunity to work one-on-one with one of the world’s premiere violinists at “Fiddle Fun” this summer at the University of Science and Arts. Internationally known violinist and conductor Yuval Waldman will teach the violin, viola and cello camp, scheduled July 13-17 at USAO.

The weeklong camp runs daily from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Registration is $275 per person of all ages. A nonrefundable deposit of $75 is due by July 1, with the balance due July 13. A late fee of $10 will be added for enrollment after July 1. Students are responsible for their own snacks during the mid-morning break.

“Fiddle Fun” is designed as a “total immersion program for violin, viola and cello students of all ages and levels: beginner to advanced,” planners say. Waldman serves as guest director for the program.

The Russian-born Israeli musician has performed across the globe as a soloist with major orchestras in concerts and on radio and television. Following his New York debut in the International Series of Carnegie Hall, Jeunesse Musicales, Waldman has made appearances across the United States, Canada, Europe and Israel.

Waldman has directed the Fiddle Fun camp at USAO for two years. He just completed the Festival of Music and Ideas at USAO in the spring. The festival, also known as "The Five Bs," began in fall 2007 as a means to explore the music of five genius composers whose lives cover 350 years of history and whose last names coincidentally begin with the letter “B.” The festivals highlighted the work and lives of Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Bela Bartok and Leonard Bernstein.

In addition to acclaim for his performances of standard repertory, Waldman is well known for his thoughtful and stylish performances and recordings of Baroque music, both as a violinist and as a conductor. He has championed rarely performed 19th century masterpieces and has commissioned and premiered numerous works by contemporary American and Israeli composers.

Waldman currently directs the World Bank Mozart Festival in Washington, D.C., New American Chamber Orchestra in New York City and is first violinist of the Kinor Quartet.

Joining Waldman is Heather Bush, director of the Overture String Orchestra and the Oklahoma City Summer Strings Camp.

Information about the Fiddle Fun program and registration is available from the USAO Office of Academic Affairs at (405) 574-1221 or from Rhenada Finch, event coordinator, at (405) 278-1584.