The Regina Chambers Music Festival kicked off on Sunday evening.
Saskatchewan born and world-renowned string musicians will be hosting performances at both Westminster United Church and Slate Fine Art Gallery until Sat. July 9.
Evenings are spent performing but by day, ten of the top musicians are teaching local youth about music.
Regina native Catherine Cosbey is one of three local Cosbey family members teaching at the summer day camp, “Regina Summer Strings.”
“There’s something about the voice of a string instrument that is so similar to the human voice… there’s an attractiveness there. I’ve always loved the sound of the instrument.” Cosbey said.
Ten-year-old Kyle Conteh has been playing cello since he was four. He said his mother wanted him to play the violin, but after watching a DVD about orchestras, he insisted on the larger string instrument.
He’s your typical ten-year-old boy that also plays football and video games, but he said he takes his cello very seriously.
“I like to do it. Right before a concert or something, I’ll always look over my music,” Conteh said.
The Summer String camp is jammed packed with musicians of all ages.
In a basement room at the Westminster United Church sat five teenagers with varying classical string instruments.
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They listened to Chambers Music Festival performer and Summer String camp professor Annie Fullard as she described the music of Shostakovich.
According to Fullard, Shostakovich was a composer while Joseph Stalin was in power. She described to the group how Shostakovich turned his war torn emotions into musical brilliance.
Sixteen-year-old Mayson Sontage was in that basement class, and when asked if he would ever swap his viola for a typical teenage drum-set, he giggled.
For Cosbey, it’s the bonds of music and friendship that make her love the teaching aspect of her career she said.
“Just seeing them form bonds with their peers and develop this love for the music it’s just heart warming,” Cosbey smiled.
Having the opportunity to learn from prominent professionals is rare, but for young Conteh, it’s all in a hard day’s work.
“I either practice and train, or I play video games.”
For a complete schedule of the Regina Chamber Music Festival visit http://www.reginachamberfest.ca/
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