Griffon String Quartet To Host Second Winter Strings Retreat

Midsummer’s Music’s resident ensemble the Griffon String Quartet (GSQ) will host a second annual winter retreat on Jan. 5 and 6, 2024, featuring Suzuki Strings of Madison (SSM).

SSM provides Madison-area children with musical education based on the teachings of Shinichi Suzuki, a Japanese pedagogue. Suzuki believed that through encouragement, a rich musical environment, and cooperation between teachers, parents, and students, every child could learn to play an instrument. 

SSM will perform for students at Gibraltar School in Fish Creek on Jan. 5. The performance will be followed by a workshop, which will include performances by GSQ musicians and SSM students, and an instrument petting zoo, which will allow students to experiment with violins, violas and cellos. 

Later that day, SSM students, GSW students from Door and Brown counties and community members will gather at Sturgeon Bay’s Hope United Church of Christ for a “play-in,” music games and a pizza party.

On the morning of Jan. 6, the retreat will continue with instructive performance classes for students, followed by a community concert at Hope Church at 1 pm featuring SSM and GSQ students. Both events are open to the public. 

The success of GSQ’s first winter retreat, organized for students studying violin, viola, and cello in January 2023, inspired the organization to host a second one.  Future winter retreats are expected to attract other student strings groups from across the country to northeast Wisconsin.

Those interested in attending these free events should call 920.854.7088. For information on string-instrument lessons with GSQ, visit midsummersmusic.com/strings-lessons-2/.