Calgary Suzuki Strings Association
The CSSA 23rd Annual Non-Competitive String Festival
May 10-11, 2024
The CSSA String Festival will be held at St. Giles Presbyterian Church - 1102 - 23rd Avenue NW Calgary.
Violinists will attend in person with adjudicator in person. Guitarists will attend in person with adjudicator joining on zoom.
Violin Festival Classes with guest adjudicator Robert Richardson
(Students & Adjudicator will attend in person at St. Giles Presbyterian Church)
Open to all ages and levels (Students may play Suzuki, RCM or other repertoire)
Students may register for Solo, Solo Recital, Duet/Trio/Quartet and/or Ensemble classes. Students may be scheduled on Friday or Saturday. See registration form for complete details and cost information.
Violin Group Classes with guest adjudicator Robert Richardson
(These classes will take place in person at St. Giles Presbyterian Church.)
Suzuki violin students in books 1 - 3 are invited to participate in a fun, motivational group class with adjudicator, Robert Richardson. Participants will be grouped into classes with others who play at a similar level. Students may be scheduled on Friday or Saturday. Cost $20 per student
Classical Guitar Festival Classes with guest adjudicator Paul Madryga
(Students attend in person at St. Giles Presbyterian Church, the adjudicator and out of town students will join us via Zoom)
Open to all ages and levels (Students may play Suzuki, RCM or other repertoire)
Students may register for Solo, Solo Recital, Duet/Trio/Quartet and/or Ensemble classes. Students will be scheduled on Saturday. See registration form for complete details and cost information.
String Festival Guidelines
- Event is open to all, both CSSA members and non-members.
- All festival classes are non-competitive. Students may play Suzuki, RCM or other repertoire.
- The festival class will include the participants' performance, an individual adjudication with written comments, along with some focused time with the adjudicator to review and expand on their observations.
- Music selections in solo and solo recital classes should be played without repeats (exception for Suzuki Books 1 & 2.)
- If possible, students should perform their selections from memory.
- Violinists will need to bring orginal copies of any non-Suzuki repertoire with them to the festival. Please mark the bar numbers.
- Guitarists will need to submit a scan of any non-Suzuki repertoire (with bar numbers marked).
- Recording (audio or visual) the performance of your child only is permitted.
- Violin Students may participate in the group class option only or in addition to a festival class(es).
- All group classes and adjudicated Festival Classes will take place at St. Giles Presbyterian Church.
- Violin students must provide their own accompanist.
- Registrations will be cut off once the maximum enrolment has been reached.
- Please register early to avoid disappointment.
- Late entries may be considered, but not necessarily accepted.
- Fees are non-refundable after April 20th 2024.
Bios and Information About our Adjudicators
Robert Richardson - Violin Adjudicator Paul Madryga - Guitar AdjudicatorRegistration
Robert Richardson
Violin/Viola/Conductor B.Mus, M.Music
Mr. Richardson enjoys regularly teaching at workshops and music festivals across North America and beyond. He has presented on numerous topics at SAA Suzuki conferences and leadership retreats in North America and at several Suzuki Conferences in Europe. Along with Directing the Suzuki Talent Education Program at Brandon University’s Eckhardt-Grammatté Conservatory of Music, he also conducts string orchestras and coaches chamber music. Robert performs regularly on both violin and viola in numerous chamber ensembles, including the Brandon Chamber Players of which he is a founding member. He is presently serving as co-chair of the Interim Board of Suzuki Music/Musique Canada and is excited to finally have a national association which can promote Dr. Suzuki’s philosophy and vision on educating children not only across Canada but the world.
Paul Madryga
Paul's academic credentials include a Bacherlor of Music degree in Classical Guitar at Brandon University and a Masters degree in Classical Guitar Performance from Queensland Conservatorium. Paul completed Suzuki guitar teacher-training with Frank Longay, David Madsen, Andrea Cannon, Joe Pecoraro and William Kossler, and shortly thereafter joined the Suzuki Talent Education Program at Brandon's Eckhardt-Gramatté Conservatory of Music, where he has since maintained a guitar program with a grounding in the Suzuki philosophy. Paul's work at the EGCM includes one-on-one teaching in the Suzuki and traditional environments, Suzuki Guitar group class instruction, the EGCM Guitar Ensemble Program, and professorial duties as director of the Brandon University Guitar Ensemble. Paul is an active performer and has released two CD's, Acoustic Pencil Sketches and Tone Color Paintbrush.
