Peterborough Examiner: “Award-winning violinist hopes to strike chord with music retreat in Peterborough this summer”

Victoria Yeh is hosting String Fest for string players looking to improve their skills.

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Award-winning violinist and music educator, Victoria Yeh, is hosting a four-day music retreat in Peterborough for creative string players.

According to a release, String Fest is one of a few summer retreats for bowed string players wanting to stay in Canada this summer. Last year’s inaugural event welcomed amateur, emerging and professional musicians aged 16 to 60+ from across the province.

Award-winning violinist and music educator, Victoria Yeh, is thrilled to announce the return of the four-day music retreat, String Fest in Peterborough. The retreat runs from July 9 to 12.
Clifford Skarstedt/Metroland

“I’m incredibly excited to host this retreat again,” said Yeh. “It brings me such immense joy to witness everyone’s progress and breakthroughs over just a few days. Retreats like this are what inspired much of my own musical journey, and this is my chance to give some of that energy back to the string community.”

This year, String Fest is expanding to offer on-site lodging and meal plans for out-of-town participants.

“I’ve attended and taught at music camps across North America over the past two decades, and a big challenge for me was finding teachers and learning spaces that catered to both advanced string technique and creative musical exploration,” said Yeh. “A lot of classically trained players miss out on developing a foundational understanding of harmony, groove and improvisation, even though these skills can make them better classical musicians.”

Yeh added the same goes for many fiddle players who master solid grooves and harmony but never really received much instruction in foundational technique that could free them up to take their music so much further.

Each day at String Fest is packed with private lessons, ensemble coaching, practice time with a professional accompanist, group master classes and after-hours jams covering a wide range of music and topics from bow technique to improv, rhythm, contemporary harmony and more.

With guest faculty Janina Kraus (accompanist), Curtis Drieger (fiddle/folk) and Mike Graham (jazz/blues) joining lead instructor Yeh, participants have the freedom to curate their own learning journeys to explore widely, or dive deeply on their musical goals.
Music Camp Advancer Pose

The workshop’s focus is not only on the art of making music, but also the art of performing. In fact, having opportunities to perform in front of others and learning how to perform is a skill that’s often overlooked, leaving aspiring musicians struggling with stage fright, say organizers.

To address this need, participants get various immersive opportunities from mini-performances, to a closing house concert, and even a gig alongside celebrated singer/songwriter Emily Burgess at the Black Horse Restaurant and Pub downtown Peterborough.

“Having multiple opportunities to perform in front of an audience was a major boon. By the end of the weekend, my performance anxiety was noticeably lower, which freed me to play more mindfully and meaningfully,” said returning participant Katia Keefer.

Whether you’re looking to refine your technique, explore improvisation, or simply make some great music with like-minded people, this retreat has something for everyone. Spaces are limited to ensure personalized attention. Registration is now open at victoriayeh.com/string-fest.