ENGLEWOOD, N.J.—The 24th annual Elisabeth Morrow School Summer String Festival took place from Aug. 12 to 16 at The Elisabeth Morrow School in Englewood and it was a glorious event.
On Aug. 13, 220 young violinists, violists, cellists, harpists, and bassists ages 4 to 13 rehearsed and performed music by Stravinsky, Bach, Handel, and Puccini in an instructional and joyful music training program created and directed by Amelia Gold, arts department chair.
The conductors of the orchestra were Carey White, Wayne DuMaine and Gold.
Gold is a Juilliard graduate and accomplished violinist who has accompanied Madonna, toured with the Juilliard Orchestra in France, and coached Meryl Streep for her role in “Music of the Heart.”
The summer music program is a magnet for talent, drawing 218 students this year from the tri-state area, California, and as far away as Europe and Asia.
Joining the students on Aug. 13 for their “Performance Workshop” was the iconic group DuoScope, comprised of violinist Evin Blomberg and cellist Natalie Helm.
Blomberg and Helm met at the Colburn Music Conservatory in 2013, where they began collaborating and quickly rose to fame in both the classical and crossover music worlds. They are one of the most sought after string duos in the world today.
From music videos of newly constructed arrangements of popular classics to live performances, DuoSkope reaches an increasingly wide audience base and their unique presence through YouTube and other forms of social media bring performances to audiences of all age groups.
Blomberg is a former counselor at the Summer String Festival and is married to another former student and former counselor who is also now the concertmaster of the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
“It is so exciting to have former String Festival community members become famous artists and return to inspire our students,” said Gold.
Several dozen community members and media attended the “Performance Workshop” with DuoSkope that was held in the school’s Peter Lawrence Gymkhana from 2:15 to 3 p.m.
Gold began the program by welcoming everyone to enjoy “the blossoming students,” and speaking eloquently about how music is the universal language.
Soon afterwards, the young musicians shouted “Duoscope!” as the guest performers entered the gym and walked up on the stage.
Blomberg and Helm gave an introduction and discussed their unique music genre and proceeded to perform seven of their own pieces, including arrangements from the movies “The Lion King” and “La La Land.” Then, the students joined them to play “Libertango” by Astor Piazzolla together.
After the concert ended, the duo was surrounded by ardent young fans asking for autographs.
“These kids were amazing!” said Helm. “My heart throbbed and I got chills when I listened to them play!”
“They are so talented!” added Blomberg.
This May, over 300 students from cities throughout the U.S. and abroad auditioned for the Elisabeth Morrow School Summer String Festival. Among the accepted students, one-third of the children selected by Gold to participate come from underserved communities within New York and New Jersey. Many of these students received scholarships and financial aid funded by The Russell Berrie Foundation and private donations.
A team of highly trained musicians, including faculty and String Festival alumni, provided the students with individualized and in-depth training.
The Elisabeth Morrow School Summer String Festival receives additional support from the school’s alumni network and current families of the school.
The program has spawned many outstanding musicians that have gone on to Juilliard School of Music, Mannes Music School and Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Over 80 alumni return to rehearse, mentor, and perform with students.
“We have 56 faculty members, all quite famous performing artists and teachers,” Gold said.
Students and their parents and all supporters rave about the EMS music program.
Sharon Hajjar’s children all went through the program and the summer string camp as both students and counselors.
“Besides honing their music skills and learning to perform, they loved being made so welcome,” she said. “It’s a wonderful feeling of family.”
Justin Calley, who had came from Manhattan with his mother, Rosie Calley, to hear his 6-year-old son, Liam, play violin in the Summer String Festival.
“He loved being here and it has been a great opportunity for him to play alongside so many other talented kids and instructors. I hope that he will be back next summer and for many years to come,” he said.