Strings at UTEP
Degrees Offered
UNDERGRADUATE:
- Bachelor of Music in Performance
- Bachelor of Music in Music Education
- Bachelor of Music in Commercial Music
GRADUATE:
- Master of Music in Performance
- Master of Music in Education
For more information on degrees, ensembles and complete curricular handbooks, visit our Undergraduate Programs page and our Graduate Programs page.
Classical String Instruction
UTEP boasts a world-class string faculty and offers students a variety of courses that promote a strong technical and pedagogical foundation. These courses are enhanced by required participation in the UTEP Symphony Orchestra, an audition-only ensemble led by Bohuslav Rattay.
Students have access to a number of performing opportunities including the Virtuosi String Ensemble performances, weekly area recitals, studio classes, frequent community outreach concerts in the form of chamber music and solo performances, and guest artist master classes through the Center for Arts Entrepreneurship.
Orchestra
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Symphony Orchestra, directed by Bohuslav Rattay, has a long and distinguished history of significant performances of diverse solo and symphonic repertoire. It provides the obligatory foundation for String, Wind and Percussion Majors to develop the necessary skills to be successful in either music education or the professional world. Since 2010, the orchestra has accompanied over 42 soloists in addition to presenting works of over 90 composers providing a wealth of experience for performer and variety for the audience.
The UTEP Virtuosi was formed to provide String Majors the opportunity to explore and perform standard string repertoire in a setting that focuses on the joy of small ensemble performance. In 2014, UTEP students and faculty were part of the Opera Bhutan project which joined international soloists in the Kingdom of Bhutan to perform Handel’s Acis and Galatea, marking the first time a Western opera had been performed in that country.
Student Chapter of the American String Teacher’s Association (ASTA)
The Sun City ASTA Chapter at UTEP was created and founded by Dr. Stephanie Meyers in 2008 as an avenue for string students at UTEP to become involved in the preeminent string organization in the U.S. As an official Registered Student Organizations (RSO), the Chapter takes an active role in community outreach performances, fundraising, and learning how to interact as a fully functioning student run entity. The Chapter has traveled to eight national ASTA conferences all over the United States with members of the Chapter since its inception. Additionally, Chapter members participated in a session by Meyers and Nordstrom at the ASTA national conference held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2017.
The String Project at UTEP
The String Project at UTEP, created and founded in 2016, brings together UTEP string students young children in our community (grades K-4) to teach the kids how to play a stringed instrument. This program follows the model for String Projects created by the National String Project Consortium (NSPC) and is followed by String Project sites nationwide. Due to the generous support of UTEP and a Grant from the NAMM Foundation, young students in our richly divers borderland community are allowed access to string playing at a very affordable cost. Meyers is supported at the Project by Master Teacher Ida Steadman, Dr. Stephen Nordstrom (UTEP String Area Faculty), and UTEP String Teaching Assistants (students in the String Area) who are thrilled to have the “real life” opportunity to learn how teach an ensemble and individual instruction before graduation from UTEP. 2017-2018 is the second year of the String Project at UTEP - the String Area plans to ensure its longevity for many years.
Commercial Music
The commercial string major at UTEP is taught a strong foundation in classical string repertoire in addition to learning to play and arrange a variety of commercial styles. As study progresses, repertoire is further geared toward the individual's commercial strengths. Additionally, all commercial music majors take courses in music technology, music business, commercial arranging, improvisation, and courses in recording that take place in UTEP's state-of-the-art recording studio.
String Faculty
- Stephen Nordstrom, D.M.A.; String Area Coordinator, Applied Violin, Viola, and Assistant Conductor of the UTEP Symphony and UTEP Virtuosi Ensemble
- Stephanie Meyers, D.M.A.; Applied Violin, Viola, and Chamber Music
- Zuill Bailey, M.M.; Applied Graduate Cello, Director of UTEP’s Center for Arts Entrepreneurship
- Jesus Apodaca; Applied Bass, Commercial Music
- Michael Way, M.M.; Applied Cello
Should you have questions about the string area, please feel free to contact any faculty member, or Dr. Stephen Nordstrom, String Area Coordinator: sbnordstrom@utep.edu.
Upcoming String Area Events
Special Projects
All-Region Middle School and High School Clinics
A day of learning for El Paso area high school string players, Saturday, September 23, 2017. Contact Dr. Meyers for more information.
UTEP String Project
Links
El Paso Pro-Musica
Continuous partnership with Zuill Bailey, Artistic Director of El Paso Pro-Musica, involving master classes, clinics, performances, and workshops through UTEP’s Center for Arts Entrepreneurship.