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CHAMBER MUSIC
Freya Samuels, Chair
Cellist Freya Samuels won her
first orchestra audition at the
age of 18 during her freshman
year at Boston’s New England
Conservatory of Music. After
graduating she studied with David
Soyer, cellist with the Guarneri
Quartet. Shortly after winning
the C.D. Jackson Master Prize at
Tanglewood, Mrs. Samuels moved
to Canada to play in the Atlantic
Symphony.
She moved back to Boston in
1979 to perform with the Boston
Pops Esplanade Orchestra, the
Grammy Award-winning New
England Ragtime Ensemble, the
Opera Company of Boston as well
as becoming a founding member
of ALEA III, a contemporary music
ensemble in residence at Boston
University. She was a teacher and
chamber music coach at two of
Boston’s leading music schools for
elementary through high school
students.
From 1986 until 2001 Mrs. Samuels
was a core member of the Toledo
Symphony. While in Toledo she
taught at area universities. In
2001 her husband, clarinetist Ron
Samuels, won a position with the
Pittsburgh Symphony.
She is currently Director of
Chamber Music at Duquesne
University’s City Music Center. She
often performs at the Benedum
Center with the Pittsburgh Opera
and Pittsburgh Ballet. She is
also a member of the Wheeling
Symphony.
Mrs. Samuels has concertized
internationally and has recorded
for several major record labels.
Some of her favorite professional
experiences have been performing
with popular music stars such as
Aretha Franklin, Rod Stewart, Joni
Mitchell and James Taylor.
Mission
The Chamber Music Program at
City Music Center offers students
the opportunity to participate in a
program of weekly coaching and
performance. Not only is participation
in chamber music an
immensely satisfying reward for
achieving a level of playing and
reading, but chamber music is
great fun!
Students are nurtured, coached
and cheered on by a group
of exciting and highly skilled
musicians who challenge students
with an example of music making
at the highest level. In addition,
students are taught the important
lesson of how to be a responsible
member of a group, to listen and
respond, and to not always have
the most important voice.
CHAMBER MUSIC COACHING*
Admission
Admission to the Chamber Music
Program is by audition for placement.
Requirements
Players must be able to read
music and take responsibility for
extra practice time.
Group Selection
The Department Chair assigns
students to groups accord ing to
playing level and schedule.
Attendance
Once a group is formed each member
is responsible to the group and
is expected to arrive
on time every week with music in
hand prepared to play. If a player
will be absent, the school must be
notified by the player. Unexcused
absences are not allowed.
*The fee for this elective course is
partially subsidized by the City Music
Center Endowment.
CITY MUSIC STRING ENSEMBLE
Available to players who have
reached level of Suzuki Book IV
and higher, the class will meet
each Saturday from 10:30–11:15.
Musicians will learn how to prepare
for orchestral performance, how to
follow a conductor, how to blend
sound within a section, uniform
bowing and intonation and how to
prepare for orchestra auditions.
ANNUAL SUMMER CHAMBER MUSIC ACADEMY
Each year, small chamber groups
made up of instrumentalists of all
ages spend a week in coaching sessions
and master classes. The week
begins with a performance by
the faculty and finishes with a
student recital. Auditions for
placement and repertory are
held in the Spring.
