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Emerald Isle String Haven


A String Camp for Adult Students of Violin, Viola, and Cello
 
Sunday, June 23 – Friday, June 28, 2024
 
Colombiere Retreat Center, Clarkston, MI
We are pleased to announce our 10th annual Emerald Isle String Haven camp for adult students of the violin, viola, and cello, taking place at the Colombiere Retreat Center in Clarkston, Michigan from Sunday, June 23 (2pm) – Friday, June 28 (noon), 2024.

Are you an amateur, adult student of the violin, viola, or cello looking to develop your skills? Or perhaps you are a strings teacher desiring more training on a secondary instrument. Then our string camp is just the place for you!

Colombiere Conference Center makes for a wonderful retreat from the daily distractions of life so you can focus on your skills as a string player. Our goal is that, under the guidance of experienced and devoted teachers, you will leave the camp (or "Haven" as we prefer to call it!) inspired, enriched, and having gained useful skills and knowledge to help you progress on your instrument. We are here to help you become better players!

Registration is Open for 2024!

For CELLO please email Jamie Fiste for a registration form: fiste1ja@gmail.com

For VIOLA please email Reed Anderson for a registration form: maxian419@gmail.com

For VIOLIN, please email Takeshi Abo for a registration form: takeshiaboviolin@gmail.com

Please let us know a little of your experience on your instrument. It helps us plan for the camp and ensure the camp is a good fit for you!


Colombiere Retreat Center is between Flint and Detroit, MI off I75.

 

 

Please watch our short promotional video for the Emerald Isle String Haven!

 


Here is a short video about the retreat center,

 

 

Takeshi Abo, violinist

Violin Faculty: A brilliant and engaging violinist, Takeshi Abo’s playing has been praised by critics as "Angelic" and "Breathtakingly beautiful.” He regularly performs throughout the United States and Japan.  An active orchestral violinist, Abo has performed as Concertmaster with many orchestras, and currently holds that position with both the Alma and Midland Symphony Orchestras. Dr. Abo is Visiting Assistant Professor of Violin and Viola at Alma College in Michigan. He has served as Assistant Professor of Violin and Viola at Central Michigan University, and has taught at Albion College, Interlochen Arts Camp and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. Along with teaching at collegiate institutions, Abo maintains a private studio where he educates violinists of the next generation. His students have been accepted at Indiana University, New York University, De Paul University, Brigham Young University, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Central Michigan University, among others. Dr. Abo earned his bachelor's degree at Kyoto City University of Arts in Japan and his master's and doctorate at Michigan State University.  He has studied with Yuji Tougi, Yukiko Igarashi, Yuko Iwatani, Mari Nishizono, Misako Kameda, Joseph Fuchs, and Robert Dan.

Violin Faculty: Diana Dyer Anderson has a Bachelor of Violin Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music where her primary teachers were David Cerone and Bernard Goldschmidt of the Cleveland Orchestra. Following her degree program, Anderson earned a position as Core Violinist with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, a position she has held for 37 seasons. In addition to performing with the Toledo Symphony, Anderson is a founding teacher at Toledo School for the Arts, where she is Director of String Orchestras, as well as teaching Chamber Music, Mariachi, and two levels of guitar. Anderson was fortunate to be raised in a home full of string musicians and learned to love string chamber music from a very young age by rehearsing and performing with family. Diana Anderson hopes to continue to foster the love of chamber music through the significant relationships it can create. Diana Anderson lives in Sylvania, OH with her husband, violist Reed Anderson.

Reed Anderson, viola Faculty

Viola Faculty: Reed Anderson became a Core Member of the Viola Section in the Toledo Symphony in the Fall of 1988, previously serving as Principal Viola with the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, in Wheeling, WV, and Asst. Principal Viola in the Shreveport Symphony, in Shreveport, LA. Reed graduated from the University of Michigan in 1984, as a viola student of Francis Bundra, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in Viola Performance, and also earned his Master’s Degree as a student of Donald McInnes, while attending U. of M. Reed is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy, where he studied viola with David Holland. Reed maintains an active viola studio, and plays with the Toledo Symphony String Quartet, providing lecture demonstrations throughout the regional school system. The quartet also provides music for many private functions. Reed has soloed with the TSO, and is a frequent guest artist on the Toledo Blade Chamber Music Series. Reed’s personal hobbies include; traveling, hiking, camping, disc golf, and fishing for any freshwater species, with an emphasis on fly fishing, and fly tying.

Jamie Fiste cellist

Cello Faculty: Jamie Fiste is Associate Professor of Cello at Central Michigan University. An active recitalist and chamber musician, his performance engagements have taken him to Hungary, France, Spain, and Germany. An avid collaborator, Dr. Fiste currently performs in the Saarburg Music Festival in Germany and was Co-Artistic Director for the Plymouth Chamber Music Festival in Plymouth, MA from 2001-2007, where he also performed with artists of international stature. He has frequently performed in the Ashmont Hill Chamber Music Series in Boston, Massachusetts, with players from the Boston Symphony and faculty from Boston University. Dr. Fiste has also performed at the Music Festival of Arkansas and Hot Springs Music Festival and was a prizewinner in the Rolland String Competition, Cello Society Competition, the University of Illinois Undergraduate and Graduate Concerto Competitions. He was also a member of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra in Providence, RI. Dr. Fiste studied with Laurien Laufman and Karen Buranskas and participated in master classes with Janos Starker and Fritz Magg.

Sample String Camp Schedule

8:15 AM: Breakfast in Dinning Hall
9:00 - 9:30 AM: Warm ups outside, weather permitting (without instruments)
9:40 - 11:00 AM: Fingerboard geography/technique. A great opportunity to venture into the uncharted regions of the fingerboard! Technique topics include vibrato, tone production, string crossings, and the like. Another great opportunity to learn or fine tune your technique!
11:10 - 12:00 AM: Violin/viola/cello choir. A fun time of making music with other players on your own instrument!
12:15 - 1:30: Lunch in Dinning Hall
1:00 - 2:00 PM: Lessons by availability (additional cost) /free time/chamber music rehearsals
2:00 - 3:30 PM: Chamber music rehearsals and coachings. It is important to balance all the technique with actual music making. Apply what you have learned in your technique classes and make some music with other campers in duets, trios, or quartets!
3:40 PM - 4:30 PM: String Orchestra
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM: Lessons by availability/free time/chamber music rehearsals
5:40 PM: Dinner in Dinning Hall
7:30 PM: Faculty Open Rehearsal in Chapel for Thursday evening concert. See how professionals rehearse chamber music! Free time/chamber music rehearsals

2024 Emerald Isle String Haven Cost

The cost of to attend the Emerald Isle String Haven is surprisingly reasonable. The following costs cover everything: room and board (Includes 5 nights, 14 meals), all the classes, chamber music coachings, string orchestra, open rehearsals, and the final concert. There is also a lower fee if you would rather be a commuter (see below).

Private lessons will be an additional $40 an hour or $20 a half hour.

The dinning hall accommodates vegetarians and vegans.

If you choose a room without a private bath, shower facilities do include private shower stalls.

Gender neutral, private bathrooms are available that include a private shower stall.

Single with private bathroom: $1120

Single without private bathroom: $980

If you have a spouse, partner, or family staying with you, a double/triple room with bath may be available. Please email us for availability

Commuters: $680 + meals (Breakfast $12.00, Lunch $15.00, Dinner $17.00)

NOTE: All reservations need to be made through The Emerald Isle String Haven.


For CELLO please email Jamie Fiste for a registration form at fiste1ja@gmail.com

For VIOLA please email Reed Anderson for a registration form: maxian419@gmail.com

For VIOLIN, please email Takeshi Abo for a registration form at takeshiaboviolin@gmail.com

Please let us know a little of your experience on your instrument. It helps us plan for the camp and ensure the camp is a good fit for you!
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