The Thalea String Quartet believes that exposing new audiences to the collaborative and creative power of chamber music is one of the most important facets of our work as a group. Thalea offers engaging interactive performances, workshops, and masterclasses that explore a diverse range of musical and non-musical subjects, ranging from the history of the string quartet repertoire, to the power of non-verbal communication, to American history. Below you’ll find some examples of our current K-12 educational offerings.

CREEPY CARROTS!

The Thalea String Quartet brings Aaron Reynolds's award-winning children's book "Creepy Carrots" to life through an entertaining and interactive performance that explores how composers tell stories through music. Developed as part of their 2021 Ann Divine Educator Award residency with the Fischoff Competition, the quartet has performed "Creepy Carrots" for hundreds of students and parents in South Bend and Elkhart County, IN.

This hour-long presentation hopes to inspire a lifetime love of reading and story-telling through the power of music, humor, and fun! This presentation is designed for students from K to fourth grade.

INSTANT COMPOSITION LAB

This hands-on workshop introduces students of all ages to the joys of music composition. Using collaborative graphic notation, improvisation, and sonic exploration, the Thalea String Quartet guides students through every stage of a brand new composition, culminating in a live performance of each piece, often in collaboration with student composers. This workshop has been previously been presented in partnership with Accent Pontiac (Bloomfield Hills, MI), ECoSistema (Goshen, IN), and Monmouth University (Monmouth, OR).

THE WORLD IS YOUR STAGE!

This interactive workshop encourages students to discover their “human superpower” through team-building activities, movement exercises, and improv games. Developed alongside the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, this one-hour session aims to celebrate and support the unique power of each individual student to change the world around them, both on and off stage.