I don't think my parents imagined that one of their kids would perform at the White House. They're just really, really happy. The string school is an intensive weekend and after-school music education program for young people. Students take private lessons with one of the teachers associated with the string school. In addition, they typically join one of the school's six orchestras that give concerts four or more times a year.
Community service is an instrumental part of the school's mission.
Small groups of its members often perform at local churches, rest homes and civic organizations. This month alone, members will hold six free performances in Durham. One benefit of the string school's affiliation with the university music department is that Duke music professors at times offer master classes to students in the string school. Violist Jonathan Bagg, a Ciompi Quartet member and the music department's director of undergraduate studies, and cellist Fred Raimi, also a quartet member, have served as guest instructors on a regular basis. The involvement of the music department helps us to give a vision of quality to the students, which we can see realized in practice.