Elemental Strings Santa Monica Youth Orchestra Facebook Twitter Elemental Strings Santa Monica youth orchestra

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  • About
    • Our History
    • Our Staff
      • Josephine Liu Moerschel
      • Kirsten Bersch
      • Jason Aiello
      • Robert Anderson
      • Grace Hsu
      • Susan Rishik
      • Jody Rubin
    • Our Board
    • Our Partners
  • Auditions
  • Calendar
  • Media
  • Donations
    • Honor roll
  • Forms
    • Current students
    • Mentor forms
  • Contact

Our Staff

Josephine Liu Moerschel, Executive and Artistic Director
Director of Chamber Orchestra, Viola Coach

 

 

 

Kirsten Bersch, Program Director, Violin Coach

 

 

 

 

Jason Aiello, Director of Sinfonia, Cello Coach

 

 

 

 

 Robert Anderson, Composer-in-Residence,  Violin Coach

 

 

 

 

Grace Hsu, Cello Coach

 

 

 

Susan Rishik, Violin Coach

 

 

 

 

Jody Rubin, Viola Coach

 

UPDATES AND NEWS

Sign up to audition for the 2012-2013 season! Click on the audition link in the menu above. All qualified incoming 4th and 5th grade students will be admitted.

We have lots of new pictures up on our flickr page! Click on the media link to see our wonderful students.

Our final concert of the year will be on June 9 at 11am, at First Presbyterian Church in Santa Monica. Come hear our students play chamber music and celebrate the end of the year.

Testimonials

Enrolling our daughter in Elemental Strings literally changed her life. She took away such a love of music that three years later she is still playing with as much joy as ever. It's such a unique opportunity for young children to be able to play in an orchestra, which is what inspired my daughter and many of her friends. Now, as a seventh grader, instead of playing video games or being on Facebook or any of the other things she could be doing, she and her friends are actually playing music!

You and your staff are doing great things with the kids.

Elemental Strings is a wonderful organization and an incredible opportunity for young children to get to play in an orchestra. My daughter loves going to practice every friday - even at the end of a busy week, she looks forward to two hours of playing music. Her playing has improved greatly and even better, she loves playing and practices because she loves it!

Their coaches are the most talented teachers and are so loved by their students. My children's passion and love for music started in Elemental Strings! [Our children] are both now in middle school orchestras and are very strong musicians, love music and join as many music groups as they can. Many of their good friends now are friends they made in Elemental Strings. I wish I had more children to send to the program.

Our daughter looks forward to Elemental Strings every week because she makes friends while learning music from dedicated and enthusiastic teachers. We have seen our daughter improve rapidly since starting with Elemental Strings. She practices on her own initiative. She even asked that we rent a cello when we were out of state over winter break because she didn't want to miss practicing.

Elemental Strings has helped my fourth grader discover the joy of making music as a group. This group of elementary school string players performs a great variety of music and styles that inspires each child to excel at their instrument. My son looks forward to each rehearsal, loves the thrill of performing on stage, and has really enjoyed the exposure that he has gotten to various musical styles and performances, from classical chamber orchestras to bluegrass and the blues.

Elemental Strings has provided my son with an amazing musical education for the last two years. Each week the extraordinary coaches share their passion for music and the students have a chance to experience a range of musical styles. My son has enjoyed every minute he has spent with the group and has grown tremendously as a musician. Elemental Strings is a great asset to our community.

Both of my children have had their music experience in a public elementary school greatly enhanced by participation in the fantastic Elemental Strings program. The opportunity to play together with other string instruments in small groups and the larger orchestra made sticking with the instrument past elementary school an easy decision. The teachers are excellent and offer just the right amount of support and helpful instruction for difficult instruments at this young age. Bravo to the program.

My daughter has had a wonderful experience in Elemental Strings. Elemental Strings takes place on Friday afternoons, after a full day of school, including daycare before school, and our daughter looks forward to it every week. She seems energized after spending two hours playing music with Elemental Strings! I think it's really helping her keep a positive attitude toward school. Thank you!

Both our sons played in Elemental Strings and the years they spent in the program were hugely important, for their development as musicians, and as social animals. Classical music is an exacting discipline, and great fun. It’s also collaborative, and both boys are now wedded to the idea of learning more and more. So – many many thanks to Elemental Strings!’

Elemental Strings is an amazing orchestra program for elementary age students. The teachers are enthusiastic and talented. The children learn so much and have a great time playing together. My daughter loves her teachers, the music, all the new friendships she has made here.

I was in Elemental Strings the very first year it was created and ever since music has been part of my life. As a student we learned how play music and a orchestra and in chamber groups. We interacted with students from other schools who also shared our interest in music, and with these interactions made lifetime friends. Now as a high school student, I mentor a younger member of Elemental Strings to provide free private lessons. This organization is magical and transforms lives for the better.

Last night's concert was fantastic! I couldn't believe the improvement. It all brought tears to my eyes.

Last Tweets

  • Happy students at snack time! http://t.co/hl64gopG #
  • Reinventing Education To Teach Creativity And Entrepreneurship http://t.co/HMsLGhQG #
  • Musicians as entrepreneurs http://t.co/rBOAQdBn #
“An orchestra is a model for an ideal global society—a symbol. You have to create harmony...The point is not to build better musicians. It’s to build better citizens, to see children building their lives from music.” -- Gustavo Dudamel
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