ORCHESTRAL PROGRAM 2008-2009
CSA String Improv Ensemble (now accepting new students)
Isaac Watras, Director
The CSA String Improv Ensemble is an opportunity for string players with a variety of experience levels to come together and make music that is fun, exhilerating, and challenging. Students work from a basic song format, and are coached to improvise in that format to the height of their skill level. While beginners are taught to create simple improvisations, intermediate and advanced students are challenged to reach their maximum creative and technical potential as the whole group crafts pieces that are never the same twice!
Performance Schedule:
(All concerts are part of the CPW concert series and start at 2 pm. Concerts take place at the Weston Art Gallery, located at the Aronoff Center, Down Town.)
Dec. 14, 2008 with Annalisa Pappano - artistic director of the early music ensemble Catacoustic Consort
Feb. 15, 2009 with Owen Lee - principal bassist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
May 3, 2009 with Aurelian Oprea - actingconcertmaster of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra
Mr. Isaac Watras is the director of the SCA String Improv Ensemble. He has many years of experience working with children and we are very excited about new activities planned with him. Some of those include composing of the level-appropriate piece which will come about by creative input from the orchestra students themselves. This new piece will be performed at the regularly scheduled Orchestra Concerts. Our students will also perform at the concert series of the Contemporary Performer’s Workshop, a non-profit organization that explores and promotes the use of new music in beginning string education.
Rehearsals on Wednesdays from 6:05-7:05pm in the Ballroom. ( - Now accepting new students - )
First rehearsal: September 17, 2008.
Click here to fill out our email registration form
UPDATE: ORCHESTRAS CURRENTLY POSTPONED
After the printing of the program booklet there were changes that necessitated adjustments to personnel and schedule. These changes will improve orchestra programs by providing new direction and additional performing opportunities for the students. Please stay tuned...
The Cincinnati String Academy Orchestral Program, housed in The Center for the Arts in Wyoming, was instituted in 1996 by Paul Bartel, former President of the (CFTA) Board of Directors. This program grew from the first Summer String Fling Orchestra Camp Program, which began in the summer of 1996. For the first time, we are now pleased to offer opportunies for our students to play in a variety of venues in Cincinnati.
Faculty Biographies
Isaac Watras is the Strings Director at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati. He is also a Suzuki certified cello teacher in Books I and II. His previous engagements were as the principal cellist of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, and Mr. Watras has appeared in performance at the Playhouse in the Park, with the Cincinnati Ballet as well as many other groups and venues. Mr. Watras also directs the Contemporary Performers Workshop, a non-profit organization that explores and promotes the use of new music in beginning string education. Holding a Masters in Music Composition from Indiana University, Bloomington IN,and Bachelors in Music Composition from the University of Dayton in Dayton OH. Mr. Watras has completed several composition commissions including pieces written for orchestra, chamber ensembles, theater and film. Mr. Watras principal cello instructors were Yehuda Hannai and Jane Katsuyama.
