February 2025: High School students in Orange County are participating in “Powered By Chamber Music”, a series of workshops created by the Hudson Valley String Quartet and sponsored by Newburgh Chamber Music, culminating in free concerts that are open to the public. Middletown students will perform on Wednesday March 25th at 6pm at Middletown High School, 30 Gardner Ave Ext, Middletown, NY 10940. Goshen students will perform on Thursday March 26th at 6:30pm at Goshen Public Library, 366 Main St, Goshen, NY 10924.
In cooperation with Middletown High School’s orchestra director Megan Gugliotta, and Goshen High School’s orchestra director Kristen Calohan, workshops are currently taking place at their respective schools through February and March. Students are learning the techniques of rehearsing and performing chamber music under the guidance of the Hudson Valley String Quartet. Ms. Gugliotta said, “My students love working with the Quartet”, and one of her students responded “The instructors are so knowledgeable, in just a short amount of time I feel like I've improved my playing so much”.
Carole Cowan, violinist and President of Newburgh Chamber Music, remembers the first time she played in a string quartet. “My high school orchestra director in Newton, Kansas suggested I try a Beethoven quartet with some of my more serious string playing friends. We were “hooked” immediately. It was great to learn how to listen to others, to improve your individual playing, to work together in a small group, and to learn all kinds of beautiful music. Playing chamber music with colleagues and friends still brings me joy these many decades later.” Jeanne Fox, cellist of the Hudson Valley String Quartet, said, “Chamber music skills are an important part of musical training, usually not learned until college. I’m thrilled to bring this unique program to schools in our community, and so appreciative of Newburgh Chamber Music for their support.”
The Hambletonian String Quartet - a student group at Goshen High School