More Love than Hate in A Cappella Music

A cappella music, which seems like a new fad right now, actually started in the 15^th century as a type of church music sung without accompaniment. Recently, it has grown in popularity at high schools and colleges where a cappella groups arrange pop songs. Using only their voices, the group creates a background of music, mimicking the sounds made by drums, guitar, piano, etc., while one person sings the lead.

NBC’s show The Sing-Off has moved a cappella a little bit higher into the mainstream by hosting a competition where the winning group takes home $200,000 and scores a recording contract with Sony. On Monday night The Pentatonix took home the season three championship title, and I have to admit they were my favorite from the beginning.

Singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles was a judge on the show, and she shared some insight on a cappella music with New York Magazine. When asked why people are either obsessed with a cappella music or hate it and she replied, “I don't know why it’s such a hot bed of dispute; it’s interesting. My sister did it when I was growing up, so it was always something I sort of revered and couldn’t wait to be a part of. I love that in the a cappella community, we’re all sort of self-professed nerds and we wear that badge with pride. Like, ‘Yeah, we’re music nerds, get over it!’”

After a quick trip through the blogosphere it seems like New York Magazine is right when they say people either love it or hate it. Here’s what others say.

Spotify Makes Sharing Legal

As I mentioned last week, Spotify has paid all the royalty rights to broadcast songs to its listeners. So if the service is free and Spotify has to pay to stream songs, then how does it operate?

The free Spotify service takes advantage of advertising to cover some of its costs. Every now and then the music is interrupted for a radio ad. Some ads also pop up on the Spotify interface while the music is playing. As far as I can tell, there is no way to minimize or close these ads before their allotted screen time is over. In this way, the advertising is less like the banners you see on websites and more like TV commercials where you have to wait the five minutes to get back to the show.

Spotify also offers a premium service. For $4.99 a month users can access the service ad free, and for $9.99 a month they can use Spotify on a mobile device. As smartphones are becoming more and more popular, this option will probably appeal to more consumers. Those who want to have all the latest music at the gym, in the car, and other places iPods are commonly seen, may switch over to using a cell phone and Spotify.

So these two ways are partly how Spotify hopes to make a profit, but what about the artists?

Thank You Gloria Gossard

My favorite memory of Strings is, “The Persuasions singing Happy Birthday to Gloria Gossard.”

The Persuasians at the Strings Tent - 1995

Gloria Gossard

With Thanksgiving less than a week away, we want to say “thank you” to Gloria Gossard. This remarkable woman had a contagious sense of humor, a love of the community, and a generous spirit. Gloria Gossard began her work with Strings Music Festival in the late 1980s and went on to become a board member from 1993 to 2000. She loved attending Strings concerts and set the record for the most concerts ever attended.

In the community she is remembered as the 1998 Philanthropist of the Year, the 2000 winner of the Hazie Werner Award for Excellence, the 2008 winner of the biennial Steamboat Springs Heritage Award, and for the Gloria Gossard Park on Emerald Mountain. From history, to the arts, to the environment, Steamboat Springs would not be what it is today without her.

Spotify: A Blend of Music Software

On a snowy Steamboat weekend with the mountain not yet open, I decided to get myself up to date on the newest music software: Spotify.

After navigating to Spotify and clicking sign up, my Facebook account information was automatically entered and all I had to do was accept the terms of agreement. No new username, no new password, no new endless pages of information, and I was in. After a quick software download I had a whole new music library at the tip of my fingers. Or should I say libraries.

My Favorite Memory of Strings is...

...the Music Directors.

John Sant’Ambrogio

Andrés Cárdenes is the best music director ever.
-Kathy and Keith

Andrés Cárdenes Rocks!

Andrés leading and conducting the orchestra in the fabulous Pavilion.
-Cheryl Kutscher

Mom and Dad, thank you music family! We love piano!
-Isabel and Tino Cárdenes

Andrés Cárdenes and Monique Mead

Did you know that our Music Directors help out with Strings all year round? When they're not in Steamboat they are lining up musicians for the next summer and choosing music for the program.  Our past Music Directors have been John Sant'Ambrogio (1988-1993), Yizhak Schotten and Katherine Collier (1994-2008), and Andrés Cárdenes and Monique Mead (2009-present).

Music Therapy Helps Our Veterans

Amazing Grace. Taps. America the Beautiful. These and other patriotic songs and hymns are playing around the nation this week at memorial services and parades honoring and remembering our veterans.

In 1919 President Wilson first proclaimed November 11 as Armistice Day: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…" The day originally honored veterans and remembered soldiers lost in World War I.

Today we still celebrate Armistice Day, now known as Veterans Day, on November 11. But for some veterans, the music associated with Veterans Day strikes a deeper chord. 

The Guild: 22 Years of Strings Support

Strings Music Festival Guild 1990

“I remember the first Guild. I was there when we coined ‘Noteworthy Affairs.’”

My favorite memory of Strings is… “the many years I volunteered for Strings and my years with the Guild. I have many wonderful music friends and memories from those days.” -Ann Perry


The Guild of Strings Music Festival has been around almost as long as the festival itself. The Guild began in 1990 and was started by Gloria Smith, Molly Cox, Criss Fetcher, Lynn Greco, Ja Hanson, and Carol Ryan. Nine of the original Guild members are still involved with Strings today. Back then their goal was to organize and help Strings with fundraising events.

And they are still at it today. This year, they raised $25,000 for Strings Music Festival through events such as the Kitchen and Garden Tour and the Silent Auction. They are also a critical part of our concerts, providing leadership for the other community volunteers. To get involved with the Guild, email chloe@steamboatvillagebrokers.com.

What is your favorite Guild memory?