The Summer String Academy is looking forward to welcoming students from around the world. The Summer String Academy, which began in 1984, offers serious young string players between the ages of 12 and 18 an intensive and varied program under the direction of an outstanding faculty at one of the world’s most renowned schools of music.Featured are private lessons, chamber music, master classes, performance opportunities, practice time, and the 2025 Indiana University Summer Music Festival.Summer String Academy graduates are performing and teaching throughout the world.
2025 Academy faculty
Mimi Zweig is currently Professor of Violin at the Jacobs School of Music and Director of the Indiana University String Academy. Since 1972 she has developed pre-college string programs across the United States. She has given master classes and pedagogy workshops in the United States, Mexico, Canada, Israel, Japan, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile and Europe. She has produced Mimi Zweig StringPedagogy.com, an innovative web-based teaching tool, which is being accessed worldwide. In the spring of 2006, American Public Television released the Emmy-nominated documentary, Circling Around — The Violin Virtuosi, featuring String Academy students. Her students have won numerous competitions and teach and perform worldwide.
Brenda Brenner is Professor of Music Education in the IU Jacobs School of Music, Co-Director of the IU String Academy and the Jacobs School of Music Associate Dean. She recently completed her tenure as President of ASTA (American String Teachers Association). She specializes in the area of string music education, teaching applied violin and courses in violin and string pedagogy. Her String Academy students have been featured in concerts in major venues throughout the United States and Europe. Prior to her arrival at IU, Dr. Brenner was Assistant Professor of Music at Carleton College. Active as a performer, she received her Doctorate in Musical Arts in Violin Performance from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with Sylvia Rosenberg, Donald Weilerstein, and the Cleveland Quartet. A member of the award-winning Augustine Quartet, she was a finalist or prize winner in several competitions, including the Banff International Quartet Competition, Concert Artists Guild, Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, and Cleveland Competition, and has worked with the Cleveland, Toyko, Juilliard, American and Emerson Quartets.
ViolistAndrew Braddock’steaching and performing career has recently taken him to the Sejong Center in Seoul, South Korea, the National Concert Hall in Taipei, Taiwan, and the International Viola Congress in Rotterdam. A passionate educator, he has given masterclasses at Vanderbilt University, the Chinese Culture University in Taipei, Taiwan, Bowling Green State University, and many others. He teaches at Western Kentucky University (WKU) and is the co-director of the WKU String Academy. In the summers, he teaches at the Indiana University Summer String Academy and directs the WKU Summer String Institute, an intensive summer camp for students ages 4 to 18 based around chamber music and orchestral performance. His creative teaching led him to co-found Bridging Cultures with Music, a 501(c)(3) organization that supports various pedagogical and outreach programs in his community and abroad.
Research, writing, and intellectual discovery are central to his artistic mission. His writings have appeared in publications such asThe Stradand theJournal of the British Music Society. He is currently the editor of theAmerican Suzuki Journal,a quarterly publication of the Suzuki Association of the Americas. From 2017 to 2021, Dr. Braddock was the editor of theJournal of the American Viola Society, the most prominent peer-reviewed publication for viola scholarship. The journal presents musicological and music theory research relating to the viola, in addition to pedagogical insights and current reviews. Most recently, Dr. Braddock spearheaded an issue devoted to the 40th anniversary of George Rochberg’s viola sonata, examining it from various musicological, historical, and theoretical perspectives. He previously served as the journal’s New Music Editor and on the board of the American Viola Society. He is the principal violist of the Paducah Symphony Orchestra, and he regularly plays with the Nashville Symphony and the Nashville Opera. He holds degrees from Indiana University, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Kentucky. His principal teachers are Atar Arad, Kathryn Plummer, and John Graham. He plays a viola made by Giovanni Pistucci, ca. 1920.
Roeland Jagers is currently principal viola of the Noord Nederlands Orkest. He is also a passionate chamber musician and was a founding member of the Rubens Quartet, laureate of several international competitions. The quartet enjoyed an active international career for 16 seasons in Europe, the United States and Israel. Roeland performs regularly in concert halls such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Tonhalle Zürich, the Konzerthaus in Vienna and the Philharmonie in Berlin.
He also appears as a guest in international festivals such as Mecklenburg Vorpommern and Schleswig Holstein (Germany), Larzac (France), Kuhmo (Finland), El Paso Pro Musica, Sitka Music Festival and Indiana University Festival of the Arts (US). Roeland plays a Giovanni Pistucci viola, on loan to him from the Nationaal Muziekinstrumenten Fonds in Amsterdam.
Sarah Kapustin’s musical activities have taken her across North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia in performances as soloist, chamber and orchestral musician.
A devoted and passionate chamber musician, Sarah has appeared at various international festivals, most notably Kuhmo, Giverny, Sitka, El Paso ProMusica, Peter de Grote, Chamberfest Cleveland and Marlboro, where she has performed with such distinguished artists as Claude Frank, Joseph Silverstein, David Soyer, and Kim Kashkashian. Sarah plays recitals regularly with pianists Jeannette Koekkoek and Shuann Chai, and her recordings of the Beethoven sonata cycle (with Koekkoek) and solo works by Bartók, Bach and Fulmer, among others, have received international acclaim. Sarah was the 1st violinist of the renowned Rubens Quartet from 2008 until the group’s final season in 2016.
Sarah received a Master’s degree in violin performance at The Juilliard School with Robert Mann in 2005. She previously received a Bachelor of Music and an Artist Diploma from Indiana University as a pupil of Mauricio Fuks, and formerly studied with Mimi Zweig and James Przygocki.
Currently Sarah resides in Zwolle, the Netherlands, where she is active as a chamber musician, soloist and concertmaster. She also performs and tours regularly with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble Resonanz and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
Kevin Krentz, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, has established a multifaceted career as a performer, recording artist, inventor, teacher, researcher, entrepreneur, and arts leader. Despite starting his musical journey later than most, Krentz has achieved remarkable success across various domains of the music world.
In 2000, Krentz gained recognition as a winner at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition with his ensemble, In Flight 3, which featured clarinet, piano, and cello. He later formed the Finisterra Trio, which garnered international acclaim, winning the Silver Medal at the Zinetti International Chamber Music Competition in Verona, Italy, and the Greenlake National Chamber Music Competition, where they also received the Audience Prize. The Finisterra Trio’s collaborations with the renowned Florestan Trio and performances across the US, Italy, and the UK highlight their extensive impact. Notably, their recordings of Daron Hagen’s piano trios for the Naxos label were recognized by NPR as one of the top five albums of 2010, alongside an album of Shostakovich and Lalo Trios for the Season label. The trio was also Artist-in-Residence at the Phoenix Series in New York City and the Seasons Hall in Yakima, WA.
Since 2007, Krentz has served as the Artistic Director of the Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival. His innovative programming and direction have become renowned for blending beloved masterworks with thoughtfully selected modern pieces in a unique programming format.
In the recording studio, Krentz has been very active as a session player in Seattle. His work spans major films, commercials, and video games, including popular titles such as Halo and Destiny. Recently, he performed the cello solos for Honor of Kings, the world’s highest-grossing video game, developed by Tencent. Krentz also appears as the solo cellist on the film Bordertown, featuring Jennifer Lopez and Antonio Banderas.
Krentz’s inventive spirit and critical thinking led him to create Krentz String Works in 2013. His innovations, including the Krentz Modulator—a device used by major symphonies worldwide to eliminate wolf tones and enhance tone quality—reflect his commitment to advancing the art of cello performance. His other inventions include electromagnetics technology for instrument play-in, composite lightweight bass bars, and a silicon nitride ceramic endpin that improves the cello’s power and speed.
Learning the cello very late, Krentz had to learn the cello largely as an adult. He then brought his analytical mind to the process and developed evidence-based cello techniques through experiments. Finally,noticing that the vast majority of the finest players come from only a tiny number of successful teachers, he researched those teachers’ methods and has been able to guide his students to numerous awards and opportunities on a national scale.
Outside of music, Krentz enjoys fishing in Washington State’s diverse waters, singing barbershop harmonies, and cooking with his family. He is the proud father of Elena, Jesse, and Katherine.
A Seattle native,Haeyoon Shin Krentzhas made significant contributions to the Pacific Northwest’s musical landscape through her dynamic roles as a teacher and chamber musician. After completing her studies at Yale University, where she earned an Artist Diploma under the mentorship of Aldo Parisot, Krentz returned to the region to further enrich its musical community. She previously obtained her Performer’s Diploma at Indiana University, Bloomington, where she was honored with the Eva Heinitz Scholarship as the sole undergraduate student of Janos Starker. Additionally, she earned her Master’s degree from Hartt School of Music with Mihai Tetel. Her education also includes masterclasses with the Tokyo, Emerson, and St. Lawrence String Quartets.
Krentz’s achievements are underscored by top honors in competitions, including 1st prizes in the Marjorie Easley National Strings Competition and the Individualis International Competition. As an active chamber musician, Krentz has performed at festivals such as the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Methow Valley Chamber Music Festival, Vista Chamber Concerts, Great Mountains Chamber Music Festival, and Birdfoot Chamber Music Festival. She frequently appears as an Artist in Residence with the Russian Chamber Music Foundation and has been featured live on KING FM radio.
In her teaching career, Krentz maintains a vibrant cello studio, nurturing many award-winning students. Her versatility extends to recording sessions for major films, including the Oscar-nominated Wonder, as well as various video games, commercials, and CDs.
Violinist Ching-Yi Lin’s recent performances and masterclasses have taken her to the Barratt Due Institute of Music in Norway, the Shenyang and Xi’an Conservatories in China, Northwestern University, and the University of British Columbia. She’s also performed in New York on the Museum of Modern Art’s Summer Garden Series, at Sejong Center in South Korea, and in Taiwan at the National Concert Hall in Taipei. Her recent album on MSR Classics features sonatas for violin and piano by Charles Ives, William Bolcom, and John Corigliano. In reviewing the album, Gramophone noted the “panache and warmth” of Ms. Lin’s playing and described her interpretations as “a series of tender, lively, and challenging conversations.” A dedicated and creative teacher, Ching-Yi Lin is Associate Professor at Western Kentucky University and also serves on the faculty at the Indiana University Summer String Academy and the WKU Summer String Institute. She is also the concert master of Paducah Symphony.
Pasha Sabouri is one of the most sought after and respected American violin pedagogues of the new generation. He has performed in recitals and concerts in Holland, Sweden, Austria, Germany, UK, throughout the United States and Canada. A passionate educator and a published author whose acclaimed book “Upbeat” guides middle and high school students and their families on the road to professional musical education and career. His students are competing and featured in such competitions and media outlets as Menuhin Competition, Sphinx Competition, Dallas Symphony’s Lynn Harrell Competition, ENKOR Competition, and NPR’s From The Top, winning the coveted “Jack Kent Cooke” Award.
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, his primary focus is his highly successful private studio. Pasha Sabouri is on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Pre-College. He has also had the privilege to serve as Adjunct Professor at Concordia College as well as Artistic Director at the Concordia College Music Academy in Austin, Texas. Prior to this position, he was appointed Lecturer Violin Professor at Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana and has also been faculty at Encore Chamber Music Institute, Omaha Conservatory of Music Institute, the Brian Lewis Young Artist Program, and has adjudicated at Carnegie Hall NYO/2 program, Jack McGehee and UT Concerto Competitions.
Megan Yip currently teaches cello undergraduates at University of Michigan and serves on the faculty at Michigan Youth Performing Arts Pre-College Program. She previously taught undergraduates at Yale College and recently led a masterclass at Elly Bašić School of Music in Zagreb, Croatia. She is a guest artist with Versoi Ensemble, a collective of American and Finnish artists as agents of cultural diplomacy and was a member of Grammy-nominated ensemble, Yale Cellos. She continues to perform throughout the United States and internationally, with recent performances at Yellow Barn (Putney, VT), Prussia Cove (England), and Thy Chamber Music (Denmark). Ms. Yip recently returned after a year in Freiburg, Germany as a recipient of a Fulbright, and holds degrees from Yale School of Music and The Juilliard School. She is completing her Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Michigan.
2025 Master Classes
Atar Arad
Amir Eldan
William Harvey
Grigory Kalinovsky
Pacifica Quartet
James Przygocki
Sherry Sinift
2025 Collaborative Pianists
Chih-Yi Chen
Kyunghoon Kim
Futaba Niekawa
Melivia Raharjo
Schedule
2025 Schedule
Date
Event
June 21
Summer String Academy begins
July 18
Final Gala Concert
July 19
Last day of Summer String Academy
Weekly student concerts and Summer Festival Concerts will be scheduled.
2025 Fees and deadlines
Fees:
Tuition: $3200
$100 non-refundable audition fee due at registration (credited towards tuition)
Full tuition is not to be paid until applicants have received letter of acceptance
Housing (Optional, includes meals): $2700
Commuter meal plan (Optional, for participants not staying in dorm): $425
Deadlines:
Application and Audition Due: February 9, 2025
Notification of Acceptance: March 7, 2025
Acceptance Confirmation: March 14, 2025
Tuition Due: April 1, 2025
Audition requirements
Application form must be accompanied by a video containing two contrasting movements or pieces and a letter of recommendation from a teacher.
How to apply
Students are encouraged to apply early. Applicants who need an early decision due to an invitation from another program should contact Prof. Mimi Zweig, director atzweig@iu.edu. An early acceptance from the Summer String Academy is usually possible if admission is certain.
Application process:To apply, complete the online registration form and pay onlythe Non-Refundable Audition Fee - $100. Your audition will not be reviewed if the audition fee is not paid.Do not pay tuition until you have received your letter of acceptance.
Audition requirements:Upon paying the registration fee, you will then need to upload audition materials through the portal found on the SSA Blog. (If you have issues accessing the audition portal please emailmusicsp@iu.edu)
July 4 - 19, 2024 (2-week session) for Violinists and Cellists
June 21 - July 19, 2024 (4-week session) for Violinists
The Junior String Academy is geared towards the intermediate level of violin playing. There is no minimum age but students must be at the Bach A Minor Concerto level or above and be able to practice 2 to 3 hours/day. Junior String Academy students must be accompanied by a parent and live off campus. Practicing must be done at home. Students coming from out of Bloomington will be responsible for finding their own housing. Parents will be responsible for remaining with students and accompanying them to and from ALL rehearsals, lessons, master classes, and concerts.
Deadlines:
Application deadline: April 11, 2025 Notification of acceptance: April 21, 2025 Fees due: May 1, 2025
Fees:
Two Week Program – $1000
Four Week Program – $1,900
$100 non-refundable audition fee due at registration (credited towards tuition)