STRINGS
Our string program includes some of the nation’s leading soloists, chamber musicians and orchestral performers who are dedicated to providing the highest level of instruction in violin, viola, cello, double bass and harp. The program includes dedicated full-time faculty as well as guest instructors from the National Symphony Orchestra.
The Program
The string faculty consist of career chamber music players who model a collaborative spirit for our students and provide comprehensive training with all the benefits that a major research university offers. Our students apply chamber music’s heightened demands on finesse, communication, depth of understanding and leadership to solo and orchestral playing.
During each academic year, students in our string program benefit from residencies by guest artists brought to campus through our Masterful Strings recital and masterclass series and through The Clarice’s Artist Partner Programs. Past visiting artists have included Yo-Yo Ma, Andres Cardenes, Dmitri Murrath, Astrid Schween, Pamela Frank, Ilya Kaler, the St. Lawrence String Quartet and the Brentano String Quartet.
Our students benefit from special studio projects and performances that motivate group learning. Our faculty’s dedication to tradition, coupled with an innovative spirit allows students to be both grounded and experimental, as demonstrated by our alumni.
We offer performance degrees for violin, viola, cello, double bass and harp. Introductory courses are offered in classical guitar but no degree program is offered. We do offer a program in jazz guitar.
Graduate Fellowship Ensembles
We offer generous funding, faculty coaching, community engagement and performance opportunities for graduate students through our fellowship program. Learn more on the graduate fellowship ensembles page.
Performance Opportunities
In addition to playing in our ensembles, string students perform regularly with regional and major symphony orchestras and at venues such as the Kennedy Center and the Phillips Collection. We also recognize the value of community and our students often visit local schools, play in parks and perform at senior living facilities.
Orchestras
Our orchestras offer varied performance opportunities. The ensembles are grounded in the core repertory while looking to the future through the commissioning of new works and the exploration of works by underrepresented composers.
Explore the Orchestras
Chamber Music
Chamber music is at the core of the School of Music curriculum. The leadership and communication skills essential to chamber music performance empower the musician and lead to the best performances.
Explore Chamber MusicOur Faculty
String Division Coordinator
James Stern
Professor, Violin
Strings
3117 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park
MD,
20742
Violin
Irina Muresanu
Associate Professor, Violin
Strings
3120 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park
MD,
20742
David Salness
Professor, Violin
Strings
3118 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park
MD,
20742
James Stern
Professor, Violin
Strings
3117 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park
MD,
20742
Viola
Daniel Foster
Lecturer, Viola
Strings
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park
MD,
20742
Philip Kramp
Lecturer, Viola
Strings
Katherine Murdock
Professor, Viola
Strings
3119 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park
MD,
20742
Cello
Eric Kutz
Associate Professor, Cello
Division Coordinator, Strings
3115 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park
MD,
20742
Double Bass
Richard Barber
Lecturer, Double Bass
Strings
1118 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park
MD,
20742
Anthony Manzo
Lecturer, Double Bass
Strings
1118 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park
MD,
20742
Chamber Music
Sally McLain
Lecturer, Violin
Strings
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park
MD,
20742
String Literature
Kenneth Slowik
Lecturer, String Literature
Strings
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park
MD,
20742
Curriculum
B.A.
| Course | Duration | Credits |
| Lessons | 5 semesters | 10 |
| Orchestra | 5 semesters | 5 |
| Class piano | 2 semesters | 4 |
| Music theory | 5 semesters | 17 |
| Music history | 3 semesters | 9 |
| Music electives | 6 | |
| General education, languages, and electives | 69 |
B.M.
| Course | Duration | Credits |
| Lessons + Senior recital | 8 semesters | 18 |
| Orchestra | 8 semesters | 8 |
| Chamber music | 6 semesters | 6 [harp/bass students replace 4 credits with Orch. Excerpts] |
| Class piano | 2 semesters | 4 |
| Music theory | 5 semesters | 17 |
| Music history | 4 semesters | 12 |
| Conducting | 1 semester | 2 |
| Pedagogy | 1 semester | 3 |
| Literature | 1 semester | 1 |
| Music electives | 3 | |
| General education and electives | 46 |
B.M.E.
| Course | Duration | Credits |
| Lessons | 7 semesters | 14 |
| Large Ensembles | 7 semesters | 7 |
| Class Piano | 2 semesters | 4 |
| Music theory | 4 semesters | 14 |
| Music history | 4 semesters | 12 |
| Conducting | 1 course | 2 |
| Music Education | 12 courses | 27 |
| Education | 4 courses | 11 |
| Student Teaching | 2 courses | 12 |
| General education | 34 |
Learn more about the program on the music education page.
M.M.
| Course | Duration | Credits |
| Lessons + Recital | 4 semesters | 10 |
| Orchestra | 4 semesters | 4 |
| Chamber Music | 2 semesters | 2 |
| Pedagogy | 1 course | 3 |
| Research Methods | 1 course | 3 |
| Music Theory | 1 course | 3 |
| Music History | 1 course | 3 |
| Electives | 1 course | 3 |
D.M.A.
| Courses | Duration | Credits |
| Lessons + Recital | 3 semesters | 10 |
| Pedagogy | 2 courses | 6 |
| Literature | 2 courses | 6 |
| Research Methods | 1 course | 3 |
| Academic Electives | 2 courses | 6 |
| Dissertation Research | 2 semesters | 12 |