Virtuoso Strings

Virtuoso Strings is an exciting new event designed specifically for advanced high school string players to learn from and perform alongside Towson University faculty Drs. Joseph Gotoff and Jeffrey Howard, as well as TU’s most accomplished college musicians. 

Virtuoso Strings

This intensive, day-long experience is intended for advanced high school students and culminates in a professional concert featuring music by Schubert, Montgomery and Richter/Vivaldi. This year, Virtuoso Strings will take place on Saturday, November 7, 2026.

The Experience

Selected high school students will spend a full day rehearsing challenging repertoire with university-level musicians, receiving mentorship from distinguished faculty, alumni, and current TU students. The day concludes with a professional concert performance in our beautiful Recital Hall.

This unique program offers advanced young musicians the opportunity to experience collegiate-level music-making while performing sophisticated repertoire in a professional venue alongside seasoned performers.

Program and Repertoire

Concert Program

  • Vivaldi/Richter — Spring of the Four Seasons, Jeffrey Howard, soloist
  • Schubert — Death and the Maiden String Quartet, arr. by Selby
  • Montgomery — Starburst

Schedule

  • 9:30 a.m. — Check-in and welcome

  • 10:00 a.m. - Noon — Morning rehearsal (15-minute break included)

  • Noon - 1 p.m. — Lunch break (lunch included with application fee)
  • 1:30 - 3 p.m. — Afternoon rehearsal

  • 3 - 3:30 p.m. — Break

  • 3:30 - 5 p.m. — Final rehearsal

  • 5 - 6:30 p.m. — Dinner and preparation for concert (included with application fee)

  • 7:00 p.m. — Concert performance in Recital Hall

Who Should Apply

We seek advanced high school string players (violin, viola, cello, double bass) who demonstrate:

  • strong technical proficiency and musical maturity
  • ability to read intermediate to advanced repertoire
  • commitment to collaborative music-making
  • enthusiasm for learning from professional musicians

Application

Students should be nominated by the private teacher or music director.

Other interested students should email Dr. Gotoff, , or Dr. Howard, , directly for more information.

Applying to the program is FREE! However, if you are selected, there is a $75 application fee for the event, which covers two meals (lunch and dinner) as well as other swag.