Minn SWest String Fest!
SAVE THE DATE: MAY 3rd, 2025

A day filled with masterclasses, orchestra, and more, for string players ages 13-18
culminating in a side-by-side concert w/ Faculty from the SPCM!

MAY 3rd, 2025 @ Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN

This event is FREE to all middle and high school string students from MN + Southeastern South Dakota (ages 13-18).

Includes lunch free of charge to all students on campus at the SMSU food court + an afternoon snack. Students are welcome to bring any other snacks/drinks.

This year we’re expanding our event to include both an intermediate and advanced orchestra, and a rousing finale featuring both orchestras and a full wind section!

2025 Festival Schedule

9am - 9:30am Arrival + Check-in at SWSU Fine Arts Lobby
9:30am - 10:15am Combined Warmup/Sectionals
10:25am - 10:35am Group Welcome + Introductions (Theatre)
10:45am - 11:45am First Rehearsal: Combined Festival Orchestra (Theatre)
11:55am - 12:35am Guest Clinic: Son de Cuerdas (Theatre)
12:40pm - 1:45pm Free Lunch on Campus @ Student Center
2pm - 3pm Lower Fest Orch: Rehearsal 1
Upper Festival Orch: Sectionals
3:10pm - 4:10pm Lower Fest Orch: Sectionals
Upper Festival Orch: Rehearsal 1
4:20pm - 5:15pm Upper + Lower Orchestras: Simultaneous Rehearsal
5:15pm - 5:35pm Snack Break!
5:40pm - 6:35pm FULL Festival Symphony Orchestra Dress Reh. with Winds
6:35 - 6:55 Change into T-Shirts / Break + Report back to Stage
7PM - 8PM Festival Concert + Student Dismissal

This promises to be great fun for all involved – priority registration ends March 15th! Sign up today!
Have questions? Reach out to amy@thespcm.org.

By default, students grade 6-8 will be placed in the Beginner Orchestra, and grades 9-12 will be placed in the Advanced Orchestra. If you would like to be apply to be moved up or down based on the repertoire, use to this form to let us know!

Festival Orchestra Parts

Click the link to download the a PDF packet of the parts for your particular orchestra and instrument. Note that leveled “Can Can Festival” parts are included in both the Beginner and Advanced packets. All students should also download the appropriate part for “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

Beginner Orchestra Parts:

Advanced Orchestra Parts:

Pirates of the Caribbean - Combined Orchestra

Daniel Rieppel

Conductor, Upper Festival Orchestra

Matthew Liston

Conductor, Lower Festival Orchestra

Son de Cuerdas

Guest Artists

This festival is made possible by a partnership between The Saint Paul Conservatory of Music (SPCM), The Southwest Minnesota Orchestra, & Southwest Minnesota State University.

This activity is also made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, and through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Son de Cuerdas’s festival engagement is support by the Arts Midwest GIG Fund, a program of Arts Midwest that is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from Arts Midwest.

ORCHESTRA DIRECTORS:

The easiest thing for all involved is to advise parents/guardians to sign up at the top of this page!

However, if you plan to bring a group or otherwise need to register a larger number of students quickly, we’ve got you! Please use the Stringfest Director Submission Form below. We’ll followup with any additional concerns!