About Us

Rehearsals

How to Join

Members

Performances

Contacts & booking

     

Background: The Blacksburg Community Strings (BCS), a community ensemble of violin, viola, cello and string bass players, was formed in October 1999, and had its debut public performances in December 1999. It is made up of middle and high school students, avocational community players, and active and retired professionals.

Goals: The goals of the Blacksburg Community Strings are:

  • To study and learn a wide variety of music written for string orchestra and smaller ensembles;
  • To provide local amateur string players with opportunities to play and perform in a non-competitive environment, without the requirement of having to travel long distances;
  • To share the members' talents and love of music by performing for the community;
  • To produce beautiful music, and have fun doing it!

How to Join: BCS welcomes all string players of all ages and abilities from Blacksburg and the surrounding region. All members are volunteers. There are no dues or fees. No auditions are required. Requirements: your love of music and your willingness to work hard!

Rehearsals: Rehearsals occur every Monday, 7:30 to 9:30 pm, Blacksburg Middle School (BMS), Community Room 1, unless otherwise noted. Enter from the outside entrance to the band room off the parking lot on the Prices Fork side of the building. When the middle school room is unavailable (such as during school closures due to inclement weather), rehearsals are usually at the Blacksburg Recreation Center, at the same time. A 7:30 rehsearsal means that call is at 7:15 to set up and tune so rehearsal can start right at 7:30. In general, please be there at least 15 min prior to rehearsal!!

Repertoire: Music studied includes European art music, arrangements of folk songs, dance tunes and holiday music, and original music by living composers such as Tracey Rush and BCS member John Howell. Among pieces that have been performed by the BCS are:

  • Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, First Movement - J.S. Bach, arr. Merle J. Isaac
  • Christmas Oratorio, J.S. Bach
  • Concerto for Flute and Strings, La tempesta di mare, RV 433, Op.10, No.1 - A. Vivaldi
  • Double Concerto in D Minor - J.S. Bach
  • Elegiac Melodies, Op. 34 - E. Grieg
  • Four Seasons, Selections - Antonio Vivaldi, arr. Lynne Latham
  • Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - J.S. Bach, arr. Stephen Wieloszynski
  • Negy Kis Tanc (Four Small Dances) - B. Bartok
  • Romanze in C, Op. 42 - J. Sibelius
  • Serenade: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - W.A. Mozart
  • Shenandoah - Arr. Dave Black
  • Sinfonia IV in C minor - F. Mendelssohn
  • Suite in Five Moods - John Raymond Howell
  • Up and Back a Double: Six English Country Dances for String Orchestra - arr. John Auton, ad. John Raymond Howell

Download the BCS music list - (Word)

Photos:

In the Press:

1/24/07