Quartets are encouraged to apply for the fellowship which includes a stipend, room and board, musical development and the chance to enrich the wider community

IMG_7847

Read more news stories here

The Baltimore-based Mount Vernon Virtuosi (MVV) has announced details of its new string quartet fellowship and invites young quartets to apply for the residency, which includes performance and outreach opportunities, monthly stipends and free room and board.

Spearheaded by cellist Amit Peled, the new fellowship will coincide with the opening of the Mount Vernon Virtuosi Music House, a completely renovated house in East Baltimore which will house the musicians and serve as the central hub of the orchestra. 

Beginning on 1 September 2024, the residency combines musical career development with direct community outreach. Fellows will work three days a week in outreach projects, including teaching in Baltimore City public schools, playing at nursing homes and giving benefit concerts. One member of the quartet will work at a food pantry every Saturday. As the work is part-time, fellows can and are encouraged to find other work in the area as well. 

Each quartet member will receive a $1,200 monthly stipend in addition to free room and board in the house. The stipend will support their work for MVV while also allowing time for outside work as well.

The quartet will receive regular coachings either from artistic director Peled, or his colleagues. Additionally, quartet members will participate in all Mount Vernon Virtuosi season concerts. There are four concert series each year, including some outreach concerts as well.

To apply, quartets must submit an audition video comprising two contrasting quartet pieces of choice, minimum 15 minutes in length, resume and biographies for all quartet members and a short video explaining the quartet’s community work philosophy.

There is a $50 application fee and the deadline to apply is 15 May 2024.

All applicants should be American citizens, green card holders or otherwise authorized to stay and work in the US. Applications should be sent to: christen@mountvernonvirtuosi.com

Best of Technique

In The Best of Technique you’ll discover the top playing tips of the world’s leading string players and teachers. It’s packed full of exercises for students, plus examples from the standard repertoire to show you how to integrate the technique into your playing.

Masterclass

The Strad’s Masterclass series brings together the finest string players with some of the greatest string works ever written. Always one of our most popular sections, Masterclass has been an invaluable aid to aspiring soloists, chamber musicians and string teachers since the 1990s.

Calendars

American collector David L. Fulton amassed one of the 20th century’s finest collections of stringed instruments. This year’s calendar pays tribute to some of these priceless treasures, including Yehudi Menuhin’s celebrated ‘Lord Wilton’ Guarneri, the Carlo Bergonzi once played by Fritz Kreisler, and four instruments by Antonio Stradivari.