The Australian String Academy (ASA) is an arts education organisation which runs programs for string players from Australia and around the world. It was founded in 2004 by the violin professor Peter Zhang. The Honorary Artistic Director is Australian-born Charmian Gadd.
The ASA is not a full-time academy or music school in itself, but is an educational arts body which runs various programs during the year. Its main event, the international Summer School, was modelled after the much older Meadowmount School in New York State, founded by Ivan Galamian. It is a 2-week program for young violinists, violists, cellists, bassists, participating in solo and chamber music activities. The Academy's latest additions include a 'collaborative piano' program, in which pianists work with string players in chamber music groups as well as being accompanists, and a Dalcroze eurhythmics course.
The ASA aims at bringing new opportunities to young string players in Australia, and is also open to international students. The faculty has included many distinguished pedagogues and artists, including Paul Ellison, Robert Masters, Charles Avsharian, Owen Carman, Gerardo Ribeiro, Patricia McCarty, and Uzi Wiesel.
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