VIOLINIST CHRISTIAN HOWES ANNOUNCES 2008 STRINGS WORKSHOP and FESTIVAL
Internationally acclaimed artist offers “working week” of classes
and live concerts.

            Columbus, OH. (January 23, 2008) – Renowned violinist Christian Howes
announced today his Creative Strings Workshop for 2008. The Workshop, which is
expected to attract up to 100 students from across the globe, will take place June
30-July 6, 2008 at Otterbein University in Columbus, Ohio.

The Workshop will create a link between musical education and live performance, providing creative musicians ages 17 and up a high-intensity learning environment. Attendees will then put their skills to work at live shows played at more than a dozen venues throughout the greater Columbus area.

“Creative Stings Workshop will place attendees in more than 25 concerts in six nights, creating a festival atmosphere in the city, and putting attendees to task in terms of learning, rehearsing, and performing in real-life situations,” says Howes. “Attendees will study and perform music in a wide range of genres alternative to classical, celebrating the wide-ranging application of stringed instruments in improvised/creative music.”

Creative Strings Workshop pairs emerging and mid-level career performers with hand-picked masters for a series of instructional workshops held at Otterbein College (Westerville, Ohio). Throughout the week, students will experience intimate, in-depth clinics and one-on-one coaching in jazz, folk styles, rock, hip hop, and other styles from such notable performer-instructors as cellist Dana Leong, violinists Rob Thomas, Billy Contreras, Matt Glaser, pianist/composer Daniel Kelly, bassist Chris Berg, and Howes himself. The world-class faculty helps to mold the students' craft while engaging them in the excitement of public performances all over Greater Columbus.

Venues for the performances are widely diverse; from churches, clubs, restaurants, parks, theaters, to backyards and street fairs at popular Columbus hot spots. The live sets give students a glimpse into the life of a professional creative musician by allowing them to perfect their art with the pressure of playing with the pros.

"Interacting within the vibrant Columbus music scene creates a series of performances which are symbiotic with the Workshop," Howes explains. "Our goal is to give participants a uniquely enriching experience by enabling a realistic and supportive performance environment."

A Columbus native and current resident of New York City, Christian Howes is quickly becoming a leading voice in string education. He can be found in the halls of Berklee College of Music as an Associate Professor, as well as sharing his experience at music summits, touring as a clinician for Yamaha and D'Addarrio, and contributing to articles in publications like Strings and All About Jazz.

 Howes performs under his own name as well as with the likes of guitar-legend Les Paul, saxophonist Bill Evans, and many more. Says Howes, "Before moving to New York and developing an international career, I started of as a jazz violinist on the streets of Columbus, in the cafes and the clubs. Learning on the gig is the best way to make it as an independent, creative musician. I want to give other string players the opportunity to enjoy the fruits that a such a career can bring."

ABOUT CHRISTIAN HOWES

Violinist, educator and producer Christian Howes, 36, is a prominent band leader and sideman. Ranked several times in Downbeat’s critics polls under “Rising Star”, he has performed and/or recorded with Les Paul, Bill Evans, Sam Bush, Randy Brecker, James Carter, Jack DeJohnette, Billy Hart, Dave Weckl, Dafnis Prieto,  Bela Fleck, Victor Wooten, and David Murray,  to name a few. Howes, having produced 10 of his own recordings, is also a world-class teacher, appearing at clinics and master classes all over the world. He founded the annual Creative Strings Workshop in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio. 

For more information about Christian Howes and the Creative Strings Workshop, visit:

www.christianhowes.com

www.myspace.com/christianhowesviolin

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Steven Orkin

Orkin Marketing Consultants, LLC

440.498.3395 or 440.487.6536 (mobile)

steve@orkinmarketing.com
www.orkinmarketing.com

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