Chamber Music Fest welcomes musician-in-residence for busy three days

— from Linda Slone for Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival —

Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival welcomes violinist Monique Mead back to Orcas Island beginning Monday, March 16, as Musician-in-Residence for a busy three days of music education, yoga, and a Community Concert. Local musicians and OICMF patrons are always happy to see Monique return to Orcas. She has performed in many Festival concerts, and for many years, Monique has brought her energetic teaching talents to Orcas Island music students.

Monique’s residency begins on Monday and Tuesday with music in the public schools for Pamela Wright’s strings classes and Darren Dix’s Band classes. In recent years, music students have enjoyed distance learning with Monique through interactive video, and it will be fun to have her return to their classes in person!

Following Tuesday’s school classes, Monique will give a free afternoon Strings Workshop for violin, viola, and cello, and classical bass players of all ages and abilities from 1:00 to 3:00. Her background as Director of Music Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as well as her many professional workshops and seminars on topics beyond bowing and fingering a stringed instrument bring a multifaceted approach to her masterclasses and workshops.

Monique’s son, pianist Tino Cárdenes, will join her in a Community Concert at Orcas Island Community Church Tuesday evening, March 17, at 7:00. Monique has wowed Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival audiences in many OICMF seasons. Several collaborations with Leonard Bernstein at music festivals in Tanglewood and Schleswig-Holstein in Germany influenced Monique’s decision to focus her career on nurturing audiences and musicians, and she now has an active teaching and performing career in the United States and Europe. She is one of the cofounders of the Center for Arts Innovation at Carnegie Mellon University, where she also teaches in the School of Music and at the CMU Preparatory School. Monique and Tino’s Community Concert will enrich and entertain audiences of all ages, and admission is by donation.

On Wednesday, March 18, at 9:00 am, join Monique and Tino with movement and dance instructor Tiffany Loney for a yoga class accompanied by beautiful live music at the Orcas Mandala yoga studio in Eastsound. This all-levels class is open to Orcas Mandala Class Card holders and is $20 for drop-in students. See the Orcas Mandala website for more information about this relaxing and inspiring class.

To register for the Tuesday afternoon Strings Workshop or for more information about Monique Mead’s community concert, contact OICMF at tracy@oicmf.org or (360) 376-6636.