Favorite Strings Musicians

David Deveau - 22 Seasons with Strings Music Festival

Many of our audience members have seen all 25 years of Strings’ concerts, but what you may not know, is that some of our artists have been here just as long! Thirteen musicians have returned to Strings for more than half of the years the festival has been in existence. Below you can find out who they are, how long they’ve been here, when they first performed, and when they’re performing this year.  

Ken Greene, 24 seasons, 1988 (June 23 – July 28)

David Deveau, 22 seasons, 1990 (July 28)

Andrés Cárdenes, 21 seasons, 1992 (June 23 – August 4)

Anne Martindale Williams, 18 seasons, 1992 (August 1, August4)

David Hardy, 17 seasons, 1994 (July 28 – August 4)

William VerMeulen, 17 seasons, 1994 (June 23, June 27)

Mark Nuccio, 16 seasons, 1995 (July 7, August 1)

Katherine Collier, 15 seasons, 1994

Yizhak Schotten, 15 seasons, 1994

Cary Lewis, 14 seasons, 1994

Sylvia VerMeulen, 13 seasons, 1996 (June 23)

Debra Ellet-Holland, 13 seasons, 1997

Brent Rowan, 13 seasons, 2000 (July 6)

For more live music in Steamboat Springs, visit the Strings Music Festival website.

The Founders of Strings

Betse Grassby, Annie DeGroff, Kay Clagett - 1992

"Kay and Betse- you rock! Remember when you were so nervous about how Strings would manifest? Well, wow!"
"Betse, Kay, Anne working out of one small office at Storm Meadows."

These three have been with Strings since the beginning. Join us tomorrow night for the Opening Night Orchestra concert, when they relive some of the highlights from the past 25 years. Strings is so successful because of you!

Strings Silent Auction Items 2012

This Saturday, Strings Music Festival kicks off the season with Opening Night Orchestra featuring cellist Gary Hoffman. Before the concert, check out the Silent Auction, hosted by the Guild of Strings Music Festival in conjunction with the Kitchen and Garden Tour. Bidding is available at the evening concerts June 23-July 20 and 8:30-9:30am on July 21 at the Strings Music Pavilion.

Featured kitchen on the Kitchen and Garden Tour

Silent Auction Items

Trips & Experiences

Golf tournament in Augusta: 3 day attendance (not play) and 4 night stay at Country Inn & Suites. Two practice rounds and the par 3 contest.

Hahn’s Peak Roadhouse: Two night stay in 1-bedroom cabin, with $50 gift certificate

4 Rodeo tickets and BBQ for 4

Birding day trip to North Park and Arapahoe National Wild Refuge, includes lunch

1-hour ride with policeman and donuts from Milk Run

Steamboat Flyfisher gift certificate and hand tied flies by Robert Thiesen

Golf

18-Holes at Catamount Ranch and Club: one round of golf for four, with cart

Rollingstone Ranch Golf Course: one round of golf for four, with cart, and men's v-neck sweater vest and striped golf shirt

Music

Reserved parking space at Strings for 2013

Premier front row seating for Chris Botti and dinner at Riggio’s Ristorante

Premier front row seating for Lee Ann Womack and dinner at the Laundry

Premier front row seating for k.d. lang and the siss boom bang and 4-course chef-prepared dinner for 2 by Damon Renfroe

Two Steamboat Symphony Orchestra 2013 season passes

1-hour piano lesson with Baya Kakouberi

1-hour violin lesson with Gary Levinson

2-hour master class with Monique Mead

1-hour cello lesson with David Hardy

Strings street sign 

Personal Fitness & Beauty

Jim Hooper Personal Training: 2 sessions and 10 class punch card

Pilate Body: 3 private sessions with Monika Reineke

Forever Fit: 2 personal training sessions with Sarah Coleman

Acqua Salon and Spa Gift Certificate

Look good, feel good: 2 sessions gentle strength massage, gift certificate to Dragonfly, spa pedicure from Wildhorse

Food & Cooking

McKnight’s Irish Pub & Loft: private party

1-hour consulting with The Main Event: private parties, reunions, weddings

Taste of Steamboat: Cider Fixins, Daniela’s Chocolate, server and cookbooks

Cooking with Kramer: 5 course meal for 6, demonstration, preparation, eating

Evening of flower design, wine and tapas for six by Tall Tulips and Classic Wines

Art

Handmade local ceramics by Julie K. Anderson

Limited edition art print by B.J. Stych

Family portrait by Jessica Maynard: up to 6 people, includes CD with images

One of a kind paper sculpture of a violin by Becky Rupnow

Winter in Yellowstone: Photographed and framed by Michael Lichtenstein

Christmas Time on Lincoln Ave: photographed and framed by Michael Lichtenstein

Photographic pigment print 15”x15” by David Patterson

Lance Whitner Mixed Media Painting 12”x12”

Jewelry & Accessories

Judith Ripka Heart Dangle Bracelet: sterling silver with white sapphire pave heart

Triple strand turquoise necklace and earrings by Tibby Speare

Black leather bubble purse, Elliott Lucca and women’s “chunky” St. John’s necklace

Design your own necklace with Marion Kahn 

Around the House

Man Camp: 25 bottles of beer, portable grill, camo bin with gloves, belt, bison

FUN4KIDS: Steamboat Arts and Crafts Gym, bean bag chair, House of Bounce

Puppy Love: Gift certificates to Pet Kare, Paws & Claws, Weavers’ Wash, Happy Tails, 4Paw Spa

One tree two baskets: 1 aspen nursery tree, 2 hanging baskets
8 Christmas ornaments with hand painted Steamboat scenes from Art Studio Company

Set of 3 thermal totes from Thirty-One: large with wheels, picnic tote and lunch size

Tole painted gardening box

Stamp chest from Olivia’s Home Furnishings

Lotus Crystal Bowl

Towel ring and TP holder in rustic copper, with installation

Hooked pillow, gift certificate to Annie’s Home Consignments

Friends and Family at Strings

Strings Music Festival

Some return to Strings every summer to reunite with friends and family. Some only attend one concert, but share a moment with a special person. Here are a few poignant memories of lifelong connections made at Strings.

"Meeting friends, spontaneously before a Different Tempo concert and the chatter at intermission."
"Sharing a couple of concerts with family members visiting from Australia."
"My mom, sister and brother-in-law rocking out to Celtic music. We came in with no idea who they were and loved them." -Jan Levy

Thank you to everyone who has made Strings a part of your life. Your love of music keeps the festival alive.

Engaging the Classical Audience

Strings Music Pavilion

The #1 reason people don’t attend a classical concert is due to lack of interest. 

The internet teams with articles discussing the death of classical music. The questions continue to pour out. If classical music is dying because of lack of interest, how do we increase interest? How do we get more people to like classical music?  

In a study done by the NEA, 36.4 million people attended a classical, jazz, or opera performance in 2008. With 16% of the total US adult population already attending classical performances, affiliated organizations should focus not on the part of the population who doesn’t like classical music, but the part that does. After all no one is talking about how to get more people interested in football or politics. 

If 16% of the US adult population actually attend live classical performances, it is safe to assume that more than 16% enjoy listening to classical music. Therefore orchestras and classical music organizations should target those who are already interested in classical music, but are not attending live concerts.  

The newest strategy to attract more people is touring orchestras. If people won’t come to the performance hall to hear live classical music, then let’s bring classical music to the people. 

The Brooklyn Philharmonic pulled off a successful season, despite not having a permanent “home.” They toured Brighton Beach, Downtown Brooklyn, and the Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza to much enthusiasm by concert goers. Closer to home, the Colorado Symphony Orchestra is also moving around the state. Performances out of Boettcher Hall include visits to Lone Tree, Parker, Arvada, and Vail.

Andres Cardenes, Conductor

But even better than organizations guessing how to tailor programs to fit their audience is finding out straight from them what they want. With so many methods of reaching people, from mailings to phone calls to social networking, arts organizations should spend more time engaging their audience.  

An engaged audience will pay higher ticket prices, travel to new places for concerts, and most importantly bring others along with them. If we cater to those already interested, the hard work of raising attendance at classical concerts will happen naturally.

Strings Music Pavilion

"My favorite memory of Strings is the Pavilion."

Strings Music Pavilion

"The day our Board voted to build the Pavilion." -Henry Savage
"Seeing the Pavilion built in 9 months - a miracle!"
"This beautiful Pavilion replacing the old flapping tent."
"Opening night of the Pavilion."
"I love the new venue, particularly the acoustics; quite a departure from the tent on the hill." -Corey Langer

The Strings Music Pavilion, in Steamboat Springs Colorado, was completed in 2008, replacing the performing arts tent. The 560-seat venue makes for an intimate concert setting and outstanding live music. In 2012, the Pavilion won Best of the Boat’s “Best Live Entertainment Venue.”