Beacon String Program

04/09/2026

🎻 Registration for Beacon String Camp 2026 is Now Open! 🎻
Join us from June 8th to 12th for an incredible week of music, learning, and fun at Moab Charter School! Our camp runs from 8:30am to 2pm Monday through Friday and is open to beginners through advanced students of cello, viola, and violin. There will be a final performance celebration on Friday evening at 6:30pm. This year our teaching faculty will be Tamara Freida (volin), Erica Photiades (violin), Luis Vargas (viola), Steve White (cello), and Kate Clark, (piano).

🌟 What to Expect:
Opportunities to play instruments and daily listening with diverse styles
Crafts for all students and singing activities
Expert instruction tailored to your level
Small group and ensemble experiences

If you need help acquiring the right size instrument, please let us know! Students should bring their own lunch, and snacks will be provided.
🎶 Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to start an instrument, improve your skills, meet new friends, and have a blast! Register now to secure your spot!
Register here: www.moabbeacon.org

This camp is a donation based event. Donations graciously accepted to continue the growth of string programs in Grand County.

BEACON Afterschool Program Building Enrichment and Academic Connections through Outreach and Networking

02/12/2026

Winterlude 2026!

It’s time for string students to register for Winterlude classes with incredible violinist and Moab Music Festival Music Director, Tessa Lark, as well as returning pianist, Pascal Le Boeuf, and Nick Photinos on cello.

String students will play Fiddles on Fire and Dona Nobis Pacem. Classes run Monday February 23rd through Friday February 27th each day from 3-4:30pm at Star Hall.

A final performance at Star Hall on Friday February 27th will start at 7:00pm and feature student performers as well as the Acropolis Reed Quintet, and other Winterlude guests artists.

NEW THIS YEAR - this is NOT a free concert ($25 adults, $10 youth). However, workshop students will be given 2 tickets to gift to friends or family to come cheer them on. We do ask students to commit to the full week, or to let us know in advance if you have any existing conflicts.

Please register by Friday February 20th in the link below. Information about Winterlude guest artists can be found below as well. Please join us for some winter music making!

Register here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=zu4CXTkifkOo8UTnQRAcgLtFBCgTWJtMoa663peS_CxUMjZCNDhaMDgwUkhEQ0UxOVJFMEE5VlAyTSQlQCN0PWcu

11/07/2025

Coleman Smith of Yonder Mountain String Band has been working with our Grand County String Students this week as part of the Moab Folk Festival Music Education Outreach Program. Coleman will be leading a couple tunes with our students at the Bluegrass Jam and Bake Sale Saturday morning at 10:30am, and again in a performance at 2:35 in the Ballpark on the Local Stage.

The Bluegrass Jam and Bake Sale will run from 9-11am at the Sun Court both Saturday and Sunday. Come get some bake sale treats, support music education, and play some tunes!

The Coletrain Music Academy VW tour bus will also be at the Ballpark for instrument exploration both Saturday and Sunday. Bring the kids to explore the sounds of kid sized guitars, fiddles, mandolins and more!

Check out Yonder Mountain String Band at the Festival on Sunday at 3pm. Get ready for a weekend of great music!

05/11/2025

Time to register for Beacon String Camp 2025!

08/13/2024

Registration for all Beacon Afterschool Program classes starts tomorrow, Wednesday August 14th! Please register your new or experienced string student for one of these classes:

Tuesday- Middle School and High School Students 2:35-4pm

Wednesday-Beginners 3:30-5pm

Thursday-Intermediate/Advanced Players 3:30-5pm

We have some violins, violas, and cellos that are available for a rental/donation fee of $25 per quarter. Please contact me at [email protected] with any questions you may have about instrument sizing, rental, or class details. Thanks!

04/19/2024

🎻 Registration for Beacon String Camp 2024 is Now Open! 🎻

Join us from June 3rd to 7th for an incredible week of music, learning, and fun at Moab Charter School! Our camp runs from 8:30am to 2pm Monday through Friday and is open to beginners through advanced students of cello, viola, and violin. This year our teaching faculty will be Debra Holland (volin), Steve White (cello), Kristan Smith (viola), Erica Photiades (volin), and Tamara Freida (violin).

🌟 What to Expect:

Opportunities to play instruments and daily listening sessions
Singing and engaging crafts for all students
Expert instruction tailored to your level
Small group and ensemble experiences
If you need to rent an instrument, please let us know! Students should bring their own lunch, and snacks will be provided.

🎶 Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to improve your skills, meet new friends, and have a blast! Register now to secure your spot!

For more information and to sign up, visit www.moabbeacon.org

01/10/2024

Winterlude 2024 is upon us! Please use link below to register your string student, and find out more about the week's events.

This year's classes will be directed by W4RP, an energetic and experimental quartet that consists of piano, violin, cello, and percussion.

Dates: Monday, January 29th through Friday, February 2nd
Time: 3:30-5pm
Where: Star Hall
Performance: Friday, February 2nd at 7pm, free for all ages

Students will be working on Bio Rhythms by Richard Meyer and Caribbean Cruise by David Bobrowitz/ed. J. Cameron Law-Grand Mesa Strings. Music will be coming to you this week!

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=zu4CXTkifkOo8UTnQRAcgCIHghAkAnlLv0ZhnhUoFZ1URUo2RTIzWkhOM1lYTFY3SFE3SEgwMDdMQi4u

https://moabmusicfest.org/warp-trio/

Josh Henderson, violin; Ju-Young Lee, cello; Mikael Darmaine, piano; Rick Martinez, drums 

11/03/2023

This is a great opportunity for students to see live music in Moab this weekend! We hope to see you there!

08/20/2023

Registration is still open for all Beacon String Program classes through our website, follow link below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc9ly6A_VA_0_iDoyHsvYunq-QZwnJ0Tq91IXocCdkhO3CiMQ/viewform

For the HMK Beginner class no experience is needed to start learning violin, viola, and cello. This class will be Wednesdays from 3:30-5pm. Advanced group class will be Thursdays from 3:30-5pm.

We are bringing back the Beacon String Orchestra for Middle School and High School students! This class will be on Tuesdays, from 2:45-4pm, and starts Tuesday, August 22nd.

Students may be loaned a program instrument if available. If you need to rent an instrument Roper Music in Grand Junction is a great option. Info can be found at their website www.RoperMusic.com For general questions and more details about instrument rental if that pertains to you email me at [email protected]. Looking forward to playing music with you all again soon!

Beginners on Tuesdays will start their musical journey in learning to play the violin, viola, or cello and have fun making music together! The Advanced class will meet on Thursdays and will continue leveling up their skills, and work toward playing string ensemble music together. Students in both cl...

08/15/2023

Registration is still available for Beacon String Program classes! Classes begin the week of Monday, August 21st, 2023. No experience is needed to start as a beginner on violin, viola, or cello.
Students will learn to play their chosen instrument, read music, and continue to build confidence in musical skills by writing music, performing, playing games, and singing.

The beginner class will meet on Wednesdays, and Advanced players will meet on Thursdays, both classes run from 3:30pm-5:00pm at HMK.

This year we will also be having an additional Beacon String Orchestra for middle school and high school students. This class will meet on Tuesdays at the MLH Middle School music room from 2:45-4pm.

Students will be loaned a program instrument if available. Please email me at [email protected] for info on how to register, or if you have any other questions.