TCMI June 2023 Culmination Concert

Saturday, June 17 at 10am

Holy Spirit Church - Community Center

1800 E Libra Dr, Tempe, AZ 85283

The mission of the Tetra Chamber Music Institute (TCMI) is to train young musicians to perform in small ensembles with excellence and channel their creative strengths to effect positive change in themselves and the community. Founded by the Tetra String Quartet, TCMI is an afterschool chamber music program, the first of its kind in Arizona. As an alternative OR addition to youth orchestra programs, TCMI focuses on each student as an individual with the goal of nurturing each participant intellectually, emotionally, and musically.

To help us continue making TCMI accessible for young musicians regardless of financial situation, donate at: tetraquartet.org/support

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Soon Hee Newbold: Iditarod

Chamber Orchestra: Michael, Joshua H, Benny, Esther G, Charlotte, Emilie, Sami, Nathan, Clare, Renae, Esther P, Matthew, Chloe, Dylan, Anooj, Joshua C, Rachel O, Amelia, Sophia, Jacob, Isabel, Sam, Adam, Evelyn, Angela, Harlen, Aarush, Vizmark, Nicole

Haydn: String Quartet Op 33 No 3

Benny Taylor, violin

I love to play soccer and chess, and I have a great brother called Teddy. I’ve played violin for eight years. This week I learned how to try to play quieter so that my group members could be heard.

Esther Griner, violin

A fun fact about me is that I love reading. Fiction is my favorite. If it’s a good book, I can ‘devour’ all 200 pages in less than 2 hours! Something I learned this week was how to chop on my violin. I chopped putting my bow at the frog, turned it towards my nose, and played up and down instead of across the strings.

Amelia James, viola

A few fun facts about me are that I love to do creative things, including crocheting, knitting, and other fun things. I also love to read books, mostly dystopian. A challenge I overcame while working with my quartet this week was how to communicate while playing. Something I enjoyed doing was the fiddle tune because we didn’t have a strict saying of what we had to do. Instead, there was a basic outline that you can do anything with.

Angela Sun, cello

A fun fact about me is that I do fencing, and I like birds a lot. I also like to draw characters from some animes or games that I play. A challenge that I overcame was public speaking. I liked the exercises that we did when we were in a large group.

Beethoven: Sonatina in F (arr. by Catherine McMichael)

Esther Peng, violin

I want a baby platypus when I go to college, and I want to go to Greece when I’m older. This week I learned how to play better and improve as a quartet.

Matthew Davies-Venn, violin

I like playing tennis and basketball. This week I overcame my shyness.

Chloe Han, violin

I am a dreamer and enjoy telling stories. This week I learned how to improvise while fiddling and the ways of chamber music.

Vismark Valle, cello

I also love to draw designs of different things like homes and planes. This week I discovered that I would love cello fiddling.

Haydn: String Quartet Op 76 No 1, Mvt 1

Sami Manning, violin

My favorite thing to do besides violin is probably sports and card games. When I first got this music, I was very excited but also terrified. But now I can play it, and it’s pretty fun.

Michael Zhang, violin

I prefer Beethoven and Vivaldi to J.S. Bach and Mozart.

Rachel Ostler, viola

Some other interests I have are reading, doing art, and swimming. I learned to not lead the group because many times, I have had to lead things.

Isabel Nasr, cello

My pets are a cat name Cass and a lizard named Frank. My little sister has a snake named Lisa that eats dead mice. During this week, I learned that a lot of coordination is involved in chamber music. Musical and dynamic decisions have to be made as a group and players need to decide on bowings and articulations together.

Pleyel: Quartet in E minor

Renae Brown, violin

I like stories, books and tv, for example, volleyball and family most importantly. I learned this week how to cue in the beginning and in the thick of a piece.

Joshua Hameenanttila, violin

I also have been playing the piano for eight years, and I love it! I enjoyed playing with a group of new people and learned different techniques from them.

Anooj Thatte, violin

I like playing tennis, playing video games, and playing violin, and I would like to go to the Bahamas. I enjoyed the atmosphere in the group I was a part of and how it was fun. A challenge I had was playing a viola part on the violin. I also learned that I like playing the melody, though violin 3 is fun :)

Aarush Ravichand, cello

Outside of playing the cello, I like to doodle whenever I can, wherever I can. I’m also a big Star Wars fan. This week was my first time playing chamber music, and I’d never realized how difficult it is without a conductor, so we really had to teach ourselves to listen to each other’s parts and always cue and respond so we didn’t completely fall about. It makes music so much more enjoyable to play and listen to.

De Falla: Danza Ritual del Fuego (arr. for Cello Quartet)

Christopher Diaz, cello

A fun fact about me is that my favorite food is EXCLUSIVELY Costco pizza. My hair is all natural (it’s bound to become super damaged). During this week, I discovered the importance of balance, whether it was during sessions, coming home, or going to sleep. I found it is important to space out my duties responsibly.

Sebastian Navarro, cello

One fun fact about me is that I have a love of cooking and wrestling with my friend Max. I learned that I’m really good at badminton.

Adam Dodge, cello

I play the guitar, and I enjoy reading. During this week, I learned how to ask for help when needed and listen better.

Sam Smith, cello

Other than orchestra, I do like to draw and sometimes write short stories. I struggled with a section in the song my quartet was playing, so I practiced and had a group member cue me at that part.

Schubert: Scherzo from Cello Quintet

Chamber Orchestra: Arianna, Carlos, Mabel, Makaila, Jazmin, Evan, Catherine, Brenda, Maxwell, Chris, Jane, Sebastian

Haydn: String Quartet Op 77 No 1, Mvt 1

Carlos Hernandez, violin

I play the guitar and have been playing it for seven years, since the third grade. I am also very passionate about volleyball; my favorite food is popcorn chicken. What I discovered about myself is that I am more social than I thought I was, and I can be a good leader if I know what I’m doing.

Makaila Cardon, violin

In addition to playing the violin, I love applying myself to dance specifically ballet, and lyrical jazz. In my spare time, you can find me running, hiking, or biking. Something I learned this week was how to train my ear away from my own part and listen for the melody and harmony of the piece. As well as the importance of subdividing in all parts so that we can move together.

Emilie Valle, violin

I like to play volleyball, and I enjoy playing the piano. I also love to make new friends and learn about other people. Something I learned about myself is that I can speak to an audience and be myself. I learned that the people around me can be on topic and also be fun at the same time.

Riley Alger, cello

I love to make snickerdoodles with my grandma and share them with my friends. This week I learned to be more confident in my playing.

Mozart: Allegro in C Major from String Quartet, No. 4 K157

Clare Lueken, violin

I like hiking in Flagstaff. During this week, I enjoyed meeting new people, and I learned how to better keep the tempo in a small ensemble.

Charlotte de Claremont, violin

One thing about me is that other than music. I am very passionate about art and learning in general, particularly history. During this week, I learned how to play in a quartet and how to stay in tune without a conductor. I also made new friends and learned about non-verbal communication between the quartet and I.

Brenda Hernandez, viola

A fun fact about me is that even though I play the viola, my main and first instrument is the violin. During this week, I enjoyed getting to play chamber music with new people!

Evelyn Pfriem, cello

I like jogging, and I love my three dogs! I’m also very passionate about mental health and perseverance. I discovered that I can overcome any hardship that comes my way! I learned how to enjoy myself despite being nervous.

Bolzoni: Minuetto for String Quartet (arr. Merle J. Issac)

Nathan Davies-Venn, violin

A fun fact about me is that I love tennis. One day I want to go to all the Grand Slams and become a professional tennis player. I also have two birds, and I like dogs. This week I really enjoyed playing with my quartet. I had a lot of fun. I also learned how to chop this week and do other fiddle things. I also enjoyed the experience of playing Iditarod without a conductor.

Dylan Haley, violin

I have a dog called Noli, and I like to read. This week I learned things about fiddling.

Sophia Plache, viola

I do ballet and lyrical dance. This week I learned that movement while playing helps to keep everyone together.

Nicole Ostler, cello

I love being part of a swim team and have been trying to convince my mom to let me join a year-round team. I recently discovered how much I love goats and manta rays. If I could do anything one day, I would do a big obstacle course with my bestie, then eat mac and cheese. This week we have had so many opportunities to work on our social skills. As I was getting to know my quartet on the first day, I realized how outgoing I can be! Most of the time, I am shy and not wanting to show my personality very much. But knowing that I was going to spend a lot of time with these guys, I really got to know them and made amazing friends!

Haydn: String Quartet Op 42

Jazmin Flores, violin

A fun fact about me is that I deeply love frogs! I discovered this week that I am someone who likes to be told things in a more direct manner of communication.

Evan Rao, violin

I enjoy collecting vinyl records in a variety of genres. This week I learned that there could be multiple interpretations of musical dynamics and tempo markings.

Joshua Clay, viola

One fun fact about me is that I have a lot of chickens and tortoises. This week I enjoyed working with the people in my quartet -most of who I actually already know!

Harlen “Goldie” Estrada, cello

Even though the cello is my instrument of choice, I also enjoy playing drums, singing, and learning different genres on the cello, like fiddle and folk music. A challenge I had this week was alternating between leading the piece and accompanying in the piece. I overcame this challenge by listening too my quartet members, communicating problems, and watching for cues.

Glazunov: Cello Quintet

Arianna Hernandez, violin

A fun fact about myself is that I have three cats! Their names are Saffron, Cece, and Zizou. Something new I learned this week was different techniques when struggling to get a piece together.

Mabel Ostler, violin

I really love to run! I participate in cross country and track at my school. Throughout this week, I have had to learn how to be ok not reaching perfection, and be confident in my abilities and preparation. I also learned that I am not the only quiet one, and sometimes I need to put myself out there more than I am comfortable with to be able to connect with those around me.

Catherine Padigos, viola

I am going to ASU to Major in Aerospace Engineering. This week I have learned to communicate more openly as well as work efficiently during a short amount of time within my group.

Jane Henriksen, cello

I am the youngest of four, and I have one dog. I have been playing cello for six years, and this is my first time in a quintet. I learned this week how to communicate better with the other members of my group and how to suggest ideas to help put the song together. This helped me be more relaxed while I was playing.

Max James, cello

A fun fact about me is that I like to wrestle and am going to be a senior state champion (I even beat Sebastian). This week I enjoyed making new friends and putting our piece together.

Old Joe Clark: Traditional Fiddle Tune

TCMI Orchestra

*****Don’t forget to apply to our 2023-2024 TCMI Program! We’re accepting applications through July 18.