The Fox Valley Youth Strings

Fox Valley Youth Strings is designed to give the developing musician a chance to improve their playing skills while enjoying the benefits of playing with others in an orchestra setting. The students in this ensemble will rehearse weekly for 1 ½ hour as an orchestra. Students in this group should be able to play and read all the notes in 1st position and have an understanding of the basic rhythms. They should play in tune and understand the key signatures of D, G and C. Emphasis will be placed on sight-reading skills, ensemble playing and skills related to following a conductor.

Fox Valley Youth Strings rehearses on Sunday afternoons from 1:00 - 2:30 pm at Aurora Christian School, 2255 Sullivan Road in Aurora. For more information or to arrange for an audition, please call Jamie Palmer, Executive Director, at 630-879-8018.

Ms. Regina Kazda, instructor

Regina Kazda is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University and holds a Bachelors degree in Music Education. She has also received a Masters of Education from National Louis University. Ms. Kazda has taught strings in the public schools in Villa Park, Glenview, Wilmette, Elmhurst and Wheaton. She has worked extensively with grade school/middle school string students and ensembles.

Under the direction of Ms. Kazda, her orchestras have been selected to perform at the Illinois Music Educators All-State Convention. She has been a string coach and conductor for the Illinois Summer Youth Music Junior Orchestra Camps at the University of Illinois, guest conductor for the NCJC Music Festival at Northern Illinois University and has also guest conducted various IMEA District Junior Orchestra Festivals.

Ms. Kazda has also recently been invited to present a clinic on orchestra music at the Illinois Music Educators All-State Convention. She is an active violinist, adjudicator, guest clinician and private teacher, as well as a member of the Illinois Music Educators Association, the American String Teachers Association with the National School Orchestra Association and Sigma Alpha Iota.