Fall String Festival 2025

We have an exciting festival in store for teachers, parents, and string students from Twinklers to advanced levels. Register now.

Festival Date: Sat., Nov. 8, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (optional master class lessons start at 9:00 a.m.)

Location: Mt. Ararat MIDDLE School & Orion Performing Arts Center, 66 Republic Ave, Topsham, ME

Registration Deadline: Oct. 25, 2025

Scholarship Application Deadline: Oct. 20, 2025

Follow Maine Suzuki Association on Facebook for updates and announcements.

Guest Dalcroze Eurythmics Instructor

Adriana Ausch-Simmel

From DalcrozeUSA.org "Dalcroze Education is a playful, experiential approach to teaching and learning music. It is a process for awakening, developing, and refining innate musicality through rhythmic movement (often called eurhythmics), ear-training, and improvisation."

Offerings

Violin, Viola, & Cello Group Classes. For students from beginning to advanced.
Fiddle Classes. Students of all abilities will learn fiddle tunes and play for a contradance after lunch. Special fiddling class for advanced fiddlers.
Contra Dance. Great for the entire family, including beginners.
FUN Dalcroze Classes. For all students.
Optional Chamber Music. We encourage all students to experience the Dalcroze class; however, students in Book 5 and up may sign up for a chamber music experience with coaching. Music will be distributed after the registration deadline when we know the makeup of the ensembles. Registrants will be notified.
Optional Master Class Lessons. Student shares a 50-minute lesson with other students at a similar level taught by excellent teachers. Each student plays individually for the teacher and also learns by observing other students at a similar level in their same class. Students should have a fairly well-polished piece prepared to play for the teacher. Students in Bk. 1 get 10 min. per student, Bks. 2 & 3 get 15 min, Bks. 4 & up get 20 min. This optional enrichment begins at 9:00 a.m. and is open to students of any level.
Play-In 3:15 p.m. in the Orion Performing Arts Center adjacent to the middle school. This is a casual final class of music played at group classes and chamber music sessions. Guests welcome to observe.
Parents or Designated Guardian of Students 12 and Younger Should Plan to Attend with them: Students need to move from room to room for each period of the day and need to be supervised.

Scholarships

MSA members are eligible for partial scholarships based on financial need. The application deadline for this is Oct. 20, 2025. Info and application form are at this LINK.

MSA Membership (required for Tuition Discount)

Membership is only $20/year for a family. Become a member or renew your MSA member HERE.

If you joined MSA last year for the Fall String Festival, it's time to renew your annual membership. Festival discounts apply.

If you joined MSA or renewed your membership AFTER the last Fall String Festival, your membership is current. Festival discounts apply.

If you choose not to join MSA, you receive no discounts.

Contact msamusic@gmail.com if you have questions about your membership.

Registration

Deadline: Oct. 25, 2025

Registration Form: Use this LINK to register. Pay online using credit/debit, PayPal, or Venmo.

If you have any questions or problems, contact msamusic@gmail.com.

Fees: $60/student for MSA member families; $90/student for non-members.

Optional master class lessons are $20/student for MSA member families; $25/student for non-members.

All online invoices include a 4.3% processing fee to cover charges from financial institutions. MSA appreciates you covering this fee.

Photos will be taken at the festival and might be used (without names) for publicity.

No refunds

Festival Repertoire

Use this LINK to see repertoire for the group classes and fiddle class. Students should come with Suzuki music well reviewed. Learn as many of the fiddle tunes as you can. However, they will be taught during the fiddle class, including easy parts for less advanced students.

For students in Books 5 & up who choose the chamber music class, our faculty will choose music after the registration deadline. Printable chamber music will be sent to families, so students can learn learn it ahead of time.

Food

Families should provide all their own food and drinks for the day. There will be a lunch break when you can enjoy a bag lunch, spend some time outdoors, and connect with other families.

Schedule

Here is the basic festival schedule. We hope parents will attend the brief MSA Annual Member meeting at 10:00. This is a chance to connect with other MSA parents and teachers and help build a strong organization for our kids.

Fall String Festival Schedule, Nov. 8, 2025

9:00-9:50 a.m.

Master Class Lessons (Optional for extra fee)

10:00-10:50

Group Classes

Parents who are MSA members attend MSA Annual Meeting

11:00-12:00

Dalcroze class (ages 4-11) with Adriana Ausch-Simmel. Parents will participate in the class.

Advanced Fiddling (Bks 5 & up)

LUNCH

12:45-1:30

Basic Fiddling (Bks. 1-4)

Dalcroze (ages 12+, no parental participation) with Adriana Ausch-Simmel or Chamber Music Option Bk 5 and up

1:45-2:35

Contra Dance (all students and parents, learn how to dance)

2:45-3:10 Community-Building Activities

3:15-4:00

Play-Down-- EVERYONE on the Orion Performing Arts Center Stage (includes chamber groups)

TEACHER DALCROZE WORKSHOP FOLLOWS FESTIVAL 4:30-7:00.

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