STRINGS AND ORCHESTRA
"It only takes a spark to get a fire going." That line from the 1960s-era folk musical by Ralph Carmichael is a perfect explanation of the phenomenal growth and success of the PC strings program.
In 1992-1993, PC really did not offer any instruction for strings players. By 1998, there were a few students studying applied strings, but only the barest hints of string ensemble.
Since 2000, PC has had some very talented professionals working with the strings program. Nancy Ditto, Greg Barnes and Paula Harshaw all contributed to the growth of the program in time, effort, and leadership - and grow the program did. By 2006, it was evident that PC strings were ready to more to the next level.
Enter Dr. Richard Thomas. Dr. Thomas is a professional cellist with a long resumé of performance as a soloist, orchestral player, and chamber musician. He had been on the faculty of the University of NC-Wilmington, but wanted to find a position where he had more daily contact with students and more personal impact on the whole program. At PC, he could conduct the orchestra, teach cello and doublebass, coach chamber music ensembles - in fact, he could do everything. He jumped at the opportunity.
In 2008-2009, PC has a solid core of string players and a remarkably gifted orchestra. Student players come from all over the campus - and they major in history, biology, English, economics, and a host of other fields. The department has a string quartet, a few other chamber ensembles, and some outstanding private applied instuctors (including Ms. Ditto for violin and viola) - and almost the entire orchestra is studying their instrument privately.
So, that "spark" has been nurtured into a roaring fire - it's full of PC students that are "finding their music." Come and join us.
