Montclair State Strings

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Montclair State Strings The vibrant Cali Strings faculty includes distinguished performers across violin, viola, cello, and bass.

Students gain equal performance opportunities, collaborating with renowned artists-in-residence and guest ensembles.

🎉2026 Specatcular🎉Congratulations to all of the musicians who played this Kaleidoscope weekend. Not only were both night...
10/05/2026

🎉2026 Specatcular🎉

Congratulations to all of the musicians who played this Kaleidoscope weekend. Not only were both nights sold out, the community is still hyped by the spectacle of the weekend! As musicians, we are refining our craft through our own journey but Kaleidoscope reinforces that are hard work is showing.

The Montclair Symphony, under the direction of its newly appointed Principal Conductor, Maestro Ritenauer, blew the audiences away! The standing ovation was a sigh behold! Not only can we say on to th next adventure, we can also say MAMBO!

(Pictured are John J. Cali School of Music Montclair State Symphony Orchestra Montclair State University Strings Montclair State University Woodwind Department The brass studio at the Cali School of Music)

🎻Kaleidoscope 2026 Highlights🎻First and Foremost, CONGRATULATIONS to the Spades Quartet, Mezcla Quartet, Carlos Santamar...
10/05/2026

🎻Kaleidoscope 2026 Highlights🎻

First and Foremost, CONGRATULATIONS to the Spades Quartet, Mezcla Quartet, Carlos Santamaría, and Yuna Lee for the amazing performances they put on this annual Kaleidoscope weekend! Not only were they stars of the week, they recieved multiple standing ovations!

Again, CONGRATULATIONS to the performers in Kaleidoscope! Tune in for future string events happening this season!

John J. Cali School of Music Montclair State University

Anthony Holc | Violinist briana 🎶 HOV Nailah Harris Sarah Ng sophia John Sample Carlos Santamaria 이유나

✨RESIDENT STRING QUARTET✨Four legendary players are making headlines throughout the music community. This years string q...
10/02/2026

✨RESIDENT STRING QUARTET✨

Four legendary players are making headlines throughout the music community. This years string quartet-in-residence have performed for many different venues and have collaborated with many different ensembles like MSU’s very own Symphony Orchestra! Not only will they be featured in many more events to come, they will be a headline in this weeks Kaleidoscope concerts!! THIS IS ONE NOT TO MISS!

“The Mezcla Quartet brings together four musicians at different stages of their musical journeys, united by a love of chamber music. Formed in 2026, Mezcla is the graduate string quartet in residence at the John J. Cali School of Music. In the 2026–27 season, Mezcla will perform throughout the tri-state area,notably for their New York debut at Merkin Hall this fall in collaboration with the PUBLIQuartet. Mezcla embraces the playful side of chamber music and seeks out unexpected performance spaces, believing classical music is for everyone. The quartet’s name, Spanish for “mix,” reflects their diverse backgrounds, ages, hometowns, and musical training. When not playing chamber music, the members of Mezcla love sitting on the floor and yapping, playing Fortnite, and sharing hot pot.“

~Mezcla String Quartet

John J. Cali School of Music Montclair State Symphony Orchestra Montclair State University

✨Quartet Spotlight✨Introducing the Spades Quartet! These 4 legendary performers have made waves through the Cali School ...
09/29/2026

✨Quartet Spotlight✨

Introducing the Spades Quartet! These 4 legendary performers have made waves through the Cali School and into the local tri-state! Performing in multiple for venues, stages, and also being featured in Masterclasses hosted by the Kronos Quartet, members of the legendary Emerson quartet, just to name a few!

Not only accomplished, this quartet is performing on October 2-3 on this year’s Kaleidoscope concert hosted by John J. Cali School of Music and Montclair State University !

This is a performance you must attend as it will be a spectacle!

John J. Cali School of Music John J. Cali School of Music Montclair State Symphony Orchestra

🙌Student Spotlight🙌This man needs no introduction! 🔥Violin virtuoso Carlos Santamaria has performed with countless profe...
09/27/2026

🙌Student Spotlight🙌

This man needs no introduction! 🔥

Violin virtuoso Carlos Santamaria has performed with countless professional ensembles throughout the Tri-State Area and continues to captivate audiences as a sought-after performer and regular soloist. Come October 2nd and 3rd to hear him perform at this year’s Kaleidoscope concert!

“Born and raised in NYC. Carlos has graduated from Manhattan School of Music Pre College and Laguardia High School where he was the concertmaster of the Laguardia Philharmonic. In addition he has completed various recordings for different album types and has played professionally across the tri state area.”

~Carlos Santamaria

Carlos Santamaria John J. Cali School of Music Montclair State University Montclair State Symphony Orchestra

🙌 Student Spotlight🙌Taking Montclair State University by storm, violin extraordinaire Yuna Lee has been performing along...
09/21/2026

🙌 Student Spotlight🙌

Taking Montclair State University by storm, violin extraordinaire Yuna Lee has been performing alongside multiple ensemble including the Montclair State Symphony, MSU Chamber orchestra, and being featured as a soloist/collaborator for the MSU Choir.

Out of many ensembles Yuna will be playing at MSU annual Kaleidoscope extravaganza! It’s truly one not too miss!

“Yuna Lee is a violinist in her senior year at the University of Seoul and is currently studying at Montclair State University as an exchange student for the 2026 academic year. She previously studied at Sunhwa Arts Middle School and Sunhwa Arts High School in Seoul, South Korea.

She has received prizes in several competitions, including the Korea International Music Competition and the Yejeon International Music Competition, and has appeared as a soloist with the University of Seoul Orchestra.

In addition to performing, Lee is passionate about music education and community-based projects. She has worked with youth orchestras and inclusive ensembles that bring together musicians with and without disabilities.”

~Yuna Lee

이유나 John J. Cali School of Music Montclair State University Montclair State Symphony Orchestra

💥Kicking off one of our amazing Visiting Residency💥Jennifer Johnson joined us for an engaging session focused on Body Ma...
09/19/2026

💥Kicking off one of our amazing Visiting Residency💥

Jennifer Johnson joined us for an engaging session focused on Body Mapping and helping our instrumentalists better understand how the body moves, functions, and support healthy, efficient playing.

Through movement, awareness, Jennifer Johnson helped several of our musicians rethink their physical approach to their instruments and discover new ways to play with greater freedom and awareness.

We’re so grateful to Jennifer for sharing her knowledge and helping our musicians connect movement and music in a whole new way!

Jennifer Johnson John J. Cali School of Music Montclair State U Student Events Montclair State University

💥Kicking off one of our amazing Immersive Residencies!💥Jennifer Johnson joined us for an engaging session focused on Bod...
09/19/2026

💥Kicking off one of our amazing Immersive Residencies!💥

Jennifer Johnson joined us for an engaging session focused on Body Mapping and helping our instrumentalists better understand how the body moves, functions, and support healthy, efficient playing.

Through movement, awareness, Jennifer Johnson helped several of our musicians rethink their physical approach to their instruments and discover new ways to play with greater freedom and awareness.

We’re so grateful to Jennifer for sharing her knowledge and helping our musicians connect movement and music in a whole new way!

Jennifer Johnson John J. Cali School of Music Montclair State U Student Events Montclair State University

What happens when the entire string faculty gets together in Leshowitz on the last day of school? Why String and Chambe...
05/04/2026

What happens when the entire string faculty gets together in Leshowitz on the last day of school? Why String and Chamber juries of course! It was a very long and rewarding day listening to our wonderful students. Congratulations to ALL and happy summer. See you in the fall semester. - Kathryn Lockwood, Tomoko Fujita, Rachel Kitagawa Shapiro, Caeli Smith, Deborah Buck, Ilmar Gavilan, Michael Roth, Lou Kosma, Lizzie Burns, Christine Lamprea, Rosemary Nelis






🔥A Legend of Montclair - Annamaria Witek Recital🔥What a way to round out the Cali School of Music String departments yea...
04/29/2026

🔥A Legend of Montclair - Annamaria Witek Recital🔥

What a way to round out the Cali School of Music String departments year! Cellist Annamaria Witek is having her recital at the John J. Cali School of Music in Chapin Hall Room G55! THIS WEDNESDAY AT 8:00PM!!!!! A RECITAL YOU WONT WANT TO MISS!

“Annamaria Witek will be a sophomore at The John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University as a student of Tomoko Fujita this fall. Annamaria began playing cello in third grade in the music program of the South Orangetown Central School District. She studied with Madeleine Golz for seven years and has also studied with Karen Poleshuck, Sam Bae and Nicole Johnson. As winner of the 2024 NJSO Henry Lewis Concerto Competition, Annamaria made her concerto debut at New Jersey Performing Arts Center with the New Jersey Symphony in May, 2025. As the cellist of the Thurnauer Quartet at the Thurnauer School of Music, Annamaria was selected to compete in the 50th Fischoff Chamber Music Competition in 2023. Annamaria has been a prize-winner in the Prima Volta, ECI and New York Young Artists International Competition. She has performed at Weill Recital Hall and at Lincoln Center with the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra under Maestro Louis Langree during Mostly Mozart In Harmony.

Annamaria has attended music festivals including Vivace, Orford Musique and Philadelphia International Music Festival. She has performed in masterclasses for Darrett Adkins, Natasha Brofsky, Colin Carr, Hans Jorgen Jensen, Paul Katz, Nina Lee, Julia Lichten and Astrid Schween. In addition to her performance activities, Annamaria is active as a cello teacher. She has received scholarships from the Rockland County Music Educators Association, AFM Local 802, Morning Music Club and The Music Performance Trust Fund to support her musical studies.”

~Annamaria Witek



cello

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Montclair State University, 1 Normal Avenue
Montclair, NJ
07043

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(973) 655-7212

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