Cellobration

Cellobration Hero Image

Cellobration 2023: September 15-16, 2023

The South Carolina Cello Choir Weekend has been an important annual tradition for Palmetto-state cellists since 1980. It offers a chance for cellists of all ages from near-beginners to professionals to celebrate their love of the cello by playing together. 

Affiliated with South Carolina’s Chapter of the American String Teacher’s Association (SC-ASTA), in its early years the Cello Choir alternated between the University of South Carolina and Furman University. More recently, it has been hosted at other institutions around the state. 

Guest clinicians will include Prof. Khari Joyner (Baldwin Wallace University) and Seth Russell (Principal Cello, Greenville Symphony Orchestra). 

Registration information is available via an Eventbrite link further down this page.

Sponsors

The Cellobration would not be possible without our generous sponsors: 

An important aspect of the weekend is that sponsoring instrument dealers will have cellos, bows, cases, music, and accessories on display and for sale. There may be no better opportunity to be able to try different cellos together in one place. Please support our sponsors and thank them for their patronage! 

Location

All events are on the campus of Furman University (3300 Poinsett Hwy, Greenville, SC 29613) in the Daniel Music Building and McAlister Auditorium. 

A campus map is available here: http://campusmap.furman.edu

Parking is free.

For those participants traveling from out of town, a list of hotels with Furman rates is located here: https://www.furman.edu/younts/local-accommodations/

Planned Schedule

Friday, September 15

3:00-7:00 p.m. – Check in (Daniel Music Building)
3:30-7:30 p.m. – Master Classes (Daniel Music Building)
8:00 p.m. – Guest Artist Recital (Daniel Recital Hall – Daniel Music Building)  

Saturday, September 16

8:30-9:00 a.m. – Check in and prepare for rehearsal (McAlister Auditorium)
9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. – Rehearsals and Clinics (McAlister Auditorium and Daniel Music Building)
5:30 p.m. – Cello Choir Closing Concert (McAlister Auditorium) [Free; No tickets required] 

Registration

Registration for the Cellobration 2023 takes place online via EventBrite: 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/south-carolina-cello-choir-weekend-registration-676004978087?aff=oddtdtcreator

Registration will be limited to 120 registered participants. The last day to register online will be Wednesday, September 13, though we anticipate filling up before that date. There may be a limited number of same-day registration slots available on a space-available basis. Please contact us ahead of time to see if that is possible.

For priority placement in master classes please register by Friday, September 1. See information about master classes below.

Fees

  • $50 Regular Registration for Participants (Friday and Saturday; includes one ticket to the Friday evening concert) 
  • $35 Saturday-Only Registration for Participants
  • Early-bird discount of $5 for registrations received by September 1, use the code [Early] in Eventbrite
  • FREE registration for teachers bringing students 
  • FREE Admission to the Closing Cello Choir Concert on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. 
  • FREE for non-participant family members to attend and observe master classes
  • Additional tickets to the 8 p.m. Friday evening concert are $20 for adults and $10 for students and will be held at will call under your name. 

Friday Master Classes

Our guest clinicians will be leading master classes on the afternoon of Friday, September 15. A master class is like a public lesson in which you perform a solo piece of your choosing for the teacher. You can sign up to perform on a class as part of registration. Those who register by September 1 will receive priority for placement on those classes. Additional players will be added after that date on a space-available basis. 

Master classes are included in registration. There is no additional cost to play on a master class.  

Cello Choir participants who are not performing in master classes are strongly encouraged to attend as observers.  

Accompanists are not required, but you may bring a pianist if you would like. If you are going to perform a work with accompaniment and would like help engaging a professional piano accompanist, then we will be happy to put you in contact with a pianist and help to arrange a short rehearsal. There would be a cost to that, paid directly to the pianist. 

Friday Faculty Recital

At 8 p.m. on the evening of Friday, September 15, our guest clinicians and host will present a cello recital in the Daniel Recital Hall of Furman’s Daniel Music Building. All event participants who have signed up for regular registration (Friday/Saturday) will receive one ticket to the concert. 

Additional tickets to the recital are $20 for adults and $10 for students. They can be purchased in advance with your registration and will be held at will call under your name. Additional tickets will be available for purchase at the door on a space-available basis.

Saturday Cello Choir Rehearsals and Closing Concert

The detailed schedule for Saturday, September 16 will be made available closer to the date but will include cello choir rehearsals and scale/technique clinics for students beginning at 9 a.m. Those events will culminate in a closing Cello Choir concert beginning at 5:30 p.m. in McAlister Auditorium. That concert will be FREE admission and open to the public. 

Meals

There will be breaks in the schedule on Friday for dinner and lunch on Saturday. There are on-campus choices (walking distance) and off-campus options (driving distance) and participants are also encouraged to consider bringing a bag lunch.

Contact

For questions about the event please contact Prof. Christopher Hutton at Cellobration@furman.edu.