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String Area

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Strings at UW-Eau Claire

Intro

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Music and Theatre Arts Department maintains a tradition of string excellence. As an undergraduate only department, our focus is on the experience of our undergraduate students. We provide various opportunities for you as both a musician and future educator, and in addition to working with university professors to develop your personal musicianship, there are also many performing opportunities.

Turn your talent into a career with an Applied-Instrumental or Music Education bachelor’s degree from UW-Eau Claire, a program accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. Designed for those aspiring to become performing artists or private studio instructors, the Applied Instrumental Music and Music Education degrees pair a rigorous curriculum with valuable, professional experiences.

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Dr. Felipe Vargas Magdaleno

Dr. Felipe Vargas Magdaleno, originally from Brazil, is a performer and seasoned guitar pedagogue with more than a decade of experience heading guitar programs in Brazil (University of Passo Fundo and Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Sul) and the United States (University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire). Dr. Magdaleno has taught masterclasses and clinics at prestigious institutions in Brazil, such as the Yamandu Costa School of Music, Federal University of Santa Maria, and Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. He is also the founder of guitar festivals and outreach programs, including the Passo Fundo International Guitar Festival the Da Capo outreach program, and the UWEC Guitar Fest.

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Dr. Christine Harada Li | Violin/Viola

Violinist Christine Harada Li enjoys an active career as a performer, educator, and arts leader. As a performer, she has appeared in concerts across North America, Japan, Germany, Italy, Austria, Spain, and Israel. In recent years she has been a featured soloist with the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Marquette Symphony Orchestra, Anchorage Youth Symphony, Tlaquepaque Philharmonic in Mexico, and the UWEC Symphony Orchestra. Passionate about chamber music, she has frequently performed with the award-winning Koinonia Trio, which was formed in 2015.

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Dr. Tulio Rondón | Cello

Cellist and Gambist Tulio Rondón performs throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North and South America as a soloist and chamber musician. Known for his vivid and passionate performances, he started his professional life early as principal cellist of the Aragua Symphony Orchestra in Venezuela. Tulio Rondón's performance career has taken him all over the world, sharing the stage with many internationally celebrated artists.

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Dr. Joshua Schwalbach | String Bass

Josh Schwalbach is Lecturer of Double Bass and Music Theory at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. A dedicated and enthusiastic educator, Josh has also taught undergraduate double bass at College of St. Benedict/St. John's University, University of St. Thomas, and Stony Brook University. His commitment to pre-college pedagogy has led him to work extensively with middle and high school students, centering his teaching methods around the George Vance Progressive Repertoire. Josh’s students have gone on to pursue graduate and undergraduate performance degrees at Indiana University, Cleveland Institute of Music, University of North Texas, and Carnegie Mellon University, as well as to become music educators in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

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Dr. Felipe Vargas Magdaleno

Dr. Felipe Vargas Magdaleno, originally from Brazil, is a performer and seasoned guitar pedagogue with more than a decade of experience heading guitar programs in Brazil (University of Passo Fundo and Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Sul) and the United States (University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire). Dr. Magdaleno has taught masterclasses and clinics at prestigious institutions in Brazil, such as the Yamandu Costa School of Music, Federal University of Santa Maria, and Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. He is also the founder of guitar festivals and outreach programs, including the Passo Fundo International Guitar Festival the Da Capo outreach program, and the UWEC Guitar Fest.

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Dr. Christine Harada Li | Violin/Viola

Violinist Christine Harada Li enjoys an active career as a performer, educator, and arts leader. As a performer, she has appeared in concerts across North America, Japan, Germany, Italy, Austria, Spain, and Israel. In recent years she has been a featured soloist with the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Marquette Symphony Orchestra, Anchorage Youth Symphony, Tlaquepaque Philharmonic in Mexico, and the UWEC Symphony Orchestra. Passionate about chamber music, she has frequently performed with the award-winning Koinonia Trio, which was formed in 2015.

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Dr. Tulio Rondón | Cello

Cellist and Gambist Tulio Rondón performs throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North and South America as a soloist and chamber musician. Known for his vivid and passionate performances, he started his professional life early as principal cellist of the Aragua Symphony Orchestra in Venezuela. Tulio Rondón's performance career has taken him all over the world, sharing the stage with many internationally celebrated artists.

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Dr. Joshua Schwalbach | String Bass

Josh Schwalbach is Lecturer of Double Bass and Music Theory at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. A dedicated and enthusiastic educator, Josh has also taught undergraduate double bass at College of St. Benedict/St. John's University, University of St. Thomas, and Stony Brook University. His commitment to pre-college pedagogy has led him to work extensively with middle and high school students, centering his teaching methods around the George Vance Progressive Repertoire. Josh’s students have gone on to pursue graduate and undergraduate performance degrees at Indiana University, Cleveland Institute of Music, University of North Texas, and Carnegie Mellon University, as well as to become music educators in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

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Dr. Felipe Vargas Magdaleno

Dr. Felipe Vargas Magdaleno, originally from Brazil, is a performer and seasoned guitar pedagogue with more than a decade of experience heading guitar programs in Brazil (University of Passo Fundo and Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Sul) and the United States (University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire). Dr. Magdaleno has taught masterclasses and clinics at prestigious institutions in Brazil, such as the Yamandu Costa School of Music, Federal University of Santa Maria, and Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. He is also the founder of guitar festivals and outreach programs, including the Passo Fundo International Guitar Festival the Da Capo outreach program, and the UWEC Guitar Fest.

STRING AREA DEGREES

The string area at UWEC provides rare opportunities for undergraduate students, whether you are pursuing a major or minor in music or just following a passion. The faculty, who are active performers and supportive pedagogues, provide string students with weekly individual lessons and a studio class in which students perform for their peers. The string area supports a series each year with guest artists from across the country who perform and provide masterclasses for students. Recent graduates have gone on to serve as orchestra conductors and teachers in the schools, to pursue degrees in top graduate programs, to establish private music studios and much more.

Music and Theatre Arts Program Auditions

To be a Music major, Music minor, or Musical Theatre major at UW-Eau Claire, you will need to successfully complete a music audition and be accepted into an applied studio, which is a group of musicians who study under one professor. Program auditions (auditions to become a music major/minor) are separate from ensemble auditions, which are available to all students seeking to be in a band, choir, or orchestra.

Nobuyoshi Yasuda conducts the University Symphony Orchestra in the RCU Theatre at Pablo Center

University Symphony Orchestra Nobuyoshi Yasuda, Conductor

The University Symphony Orchestra is a select ensemble of 70 - 80 musicians consisting of both music major/minor and non-music major students. The orchestra's activities include performing a concert every spring and fall semester, and the annual Holiday Concert and Viennese Ball. The orchestra also performs full-staged operas and musicals for UWEC theatre, most recently outstanding performances of the opera, 'Marriage of Figaro' by W. A. Mozart and the musical, 'Sweeney Todd' by Stephen Sondheim. The orchestra performs extensive symphonic repertoire such as symphonies by Beethoven, Brahms, Bruckner, Tchaikovsky, and Mahler, and works by Debussy, Stravinsky, Richard Strauss, and Wagner.

Students playing in the Clearwater Recital Hall in Pablo Center

Eileen Phillips Cohen String Quartet Dr. Christine Harada Li, director

All four members of the Eileen Phillips Cohen String Quartet receive full in-state tuition for the academic year, and there is the potential for the scholarship to cover a full four-year degree. Financial need is not a consideration. The Quartet is coached regularly by UWEC string faculty, is featured at major departmental and university events, and provides regular recitals. The recipients of the scholarships are also expected to be leaders of the University Symphony Orchestra. The generosity of the L.E. Phillips Family Foundation has created an opportunity for music students through this scholarship rarely seen at the undergraduate level.

Page Family

Music and Theatre Arts Department

Haas Fine Arts Center 156
121 Water Street
Eau Claire, WI 54703
United States

715-836-4954

musicandtheatre@uwec.edu

String Area

Strings at UW-Eau Claire

STRING AREA DEGREES

Auditions

Upcoming Events

PERFORMANCE & ENSEMBLE OPPORTUNITIES

Other Ensemble Opportunities:

Music and Theatre Arts Department