POLL: Local Chamber Music Organizations

[thomas_williams]

In your local area, are there any organized programs through which young musicians (classical music students below the collegiate level)-- can meet one another and play chamber music together?

POLL ANSWERS:
A. Yes, and they serve the community very well
B. Yes, there are some, but they are limited in scope and don't meet the needs of all students
C. No, there is nothing like this in my area that I am aware of

Please feel free to add your thoughts on this subject.  In my area there are no such organizations that I am aware of, and I think they are greatly needed.  Such groups could be started by teachers, music directors, etc.; the bottom line is that musicians, just like, for instance, athletes, need to know each other and work together; we all need the friendship and support of others who share our interest and passion for classical music.  Thank you all for your replies,

Thomas

[minsmusic]

c. not for classical music.  Not even the conservatorium deals with classical music.  They offer 'contemporary' music only.  Hence there are HUNDREDS of bands.

I live at the top of NSW in Australia.

[schnabels_grandson]

C.    I have been wanting to get together with fellow musicians for a long time, but there are just no groups for such a purpose.  It kind of pisses me off that it's impossible in a city of 80,000 to find just a handful of accomplished musicians to play with.  I hate this artistically void society.  

[Celeste]

I live in a very small town where cow tipping is what many people do on a Friday night. needless to say, there is not classical music organization, but i really wish there was. I think it woluld be great to get input from someone other than my piano teacher. Sometime peer input is better than your piano teacher's

[thomas_williams]

Let's have more comment please!

[squinchy]

I would guess B or A, but not really for piano.

The Neighborhood Music School has quite a few orchestras/quartets of varying levels. There's a youth symphony in Fairfield, also for varying levels. I'm not in either because I'm not proficient enough in my orchestral instrument (viola) to show my face anywhere yet.

A local chapter of the National Music Teachers Association organizes a bunch of concerts/recitals for kids of varying levels-I participate in them quite regularly, since my teacher is a member.

There's also a Young Musicians Festival that's probably also affiliated with a national organization or something, and it's basically an adjudication. You play two pieces-one classical and one by an American composer. Judges rate you on a system of 1 to 5, five being the best. However, they're very nice towards the little kids, as they should be, but once you turn about..14, they begin to get very harsh and critical in their comments. I don't like them very much, but I participate anyways.

Local universities probably have programs during the summer too, but I'm not aware of them.