Hailed by London's Strad Magazine as “a virtual laboratory for excellence,” the Starling Preparatory String Project teaches musical knowledge and technical skills on stringed instruments to talented children with professional potential before college age. The Starling Preparatory String Project's premier program, the Starling Chamber Orchestra, gives students unprecedented opportunities to perform both as soloists and in ensembles, tour nationally and internationally, and make recordings.
During the school year, the young musicians of the Starling Preparatory String Project spend their Saturdays together. A typical day includes a private lesson, theory, ear training, composition or chamber music classes, and a two-hour orchestra rehearsal. The Starling Chamber Orchestra performs frequently at the Aspen Music Festival and School, where many Starling students enroll for nine weeks of intensive training.
Admission
The Starling Preparatory String Project provides musical instruction to students age 18 and under. Applicants usually are enrolled in a public or private elementary or secondary school for academic studies. Applicants from foreign countries must make arrangements to live in Cincinnati with a parent or guardian, and a visa issued by a fulltime private or public elementary or secondary school may be required. Contact the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service for information.
The live performace examination before the faculty jury is the single most important factor for admission. Applicants must display a high degree of musical talent and ability on their chosen instrument. Audition requirements vary according to age and instrument. For specific requirements, applications or scholarship information, please call 513.556.9550. The Starling Preparatory String Project does not accept beginners. Parents of children ages four through eight who are interested in beginning instruction are encouraged to inquire about the “Starling Kids” program.
Starling Kids Founded by Kurt Sassmannshaus, “Starling Kids” is an innovative program that makes the proven and successful methods of the Starling program available to a large number of young children in the Greater Cincinnati area.
“Starling Kids” provides an individual program of instruction for students, ages four through eight, to learn instrumental skills. Each child receives a weekly private violin lesson and attends musicianship and group classes. Instrumental technique is taught in lessons while rhythm and note reading are presented in the classes. The teachers for this program are especially selected from an experienced class of graduate students at the University of Cincinnati Collge-Conservatory of Music. Call 513.556.9550 for information.
$5,100 per year. Scholarships are available.
Starling Kids:
Call 513.556.9550
