| From left to right; John Arnesen, Richard Slavich, Basil Vendryes, James Maurer |
Degree Programs
Undergraduate students in the string program may pursue a bachelor
of music, or a bachelor of arts degree, either of which can lead to the
five-year certificate program in education, which in turn leads to Colorado
State Certification in public school music education. Graduate students
may pursue a master of arts, a master of music in performance, or the master
of music in Suzuki Pedagogy degrees.
Performance Opportunities
Regardless of the degree program, all students have extensive performance
opportunities in solo, chamber, and orchestral literature. Each student
also receives individualized attention from active, dedicated active faculty.
Students take weekly solo and chamber music performance classes, perform
in faculty-coached chamber ensembles, and participate in the Lamont
Symphony Orchestra. Many Lamont students enter honors competitions
for solo and chamber music performance.
Suzuki Pedagogy Program
String students interested in teaching may take advantage of Lamont's
Suzuki Program. This nationally recognized program offers graduate students
an opportunity for intensive training, observing master teachers, and gaining
practical teaching experience in the Suzuki method.
Faculty
Richard Slavich, professor of cello, directs the cello and chamber music programs at Lamont. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa in history from Stanford University, he earned his music degrees from Indiana University, where his principal teachers were Fritz Magg and Janos Starker. Mr. Slavich has appeared as a soloist with many orchestras, including the Colorado Symphony and National Repertory Orchestras, and has given recitals extensively throughout the U.S. In 1988 he won the United States Information Agency's Artistic Ambassador competition and presented five weeks of concerts, master classes, and radio broadcasts throughout Asia. Mr. Slavich began his professional career with a three-year engagement as solo cellist of the Nuremberg (Germany) Symphony Orchestra.
James Maurer, professor of violin, is the chair of the string department. He has studied with the great violin pedagogue Ivan Galamian, as well as Eudice Shapiro, Jascha Brodsky, Josef Gingold, and Gabor Rejto. Professor Maurer received his bachelor of music from the Curtis Institute of Music and his master of music from the University of Southern California. As a soloist, he has performed with orchestras in New York, California, Texas, and Louisiana. He has also been a prize winner in many competitions including the Munich International String Quartet Competition, the Coleman Chamber Music Competition, and the Dealy Award. Mr. Maurer is an active clinician, teaching at numerous universities around the country. He is founder of the Denver Suzuki Institute and director of the Denver Talent Education Program, and he serves on the Board of Directors of the Suzuki Association of Americas and as co-editor of the "The Violin Column" of the American Suzuki Journal.
Basil Vendryes, instructor of viola, is
principal violist for the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. He has been a member
of the San Francisco Symphony, the New York and Rochester Philharmonic
Orchestras, and the Aurora String Quartet. Mr. Vendryes has taught at the
San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Summer Music West, the Quartet Program,
and the Raphael Trio Chamber Music Workshop. He also participates in several
educational programs throughout the Denver area. Mr. Vendryes has won several
awards, including first prize in the 1981 American String Teachers Association
National Competition and third prize in the 1988 Bruno Giuranna International
Viola Competition. He has recorded on the Naxos and CRI labels.
John Arnesen, instructor of double bass, is a member of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed as principal bass with the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra, the Central City Opera Orchestra, and the Denver Chamber Orchestra. He received his bachelor of arts in music from Carleton College and has done graduate work at Northwestern University. Mr. Arnesen's teachers have included Warren Benfield, James Clute, and Clifford Biggs.