Greetings from ASA Director, Erica Ward
Thank you for your interest in the Alameda String Academy.
I first moved to the Bay Area for my undergraduate degree at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and after spending some time in Cleveland for grad school, I was delighted to be able to move back to Alameda in 2012 with my family and invest in the local community.
I founded ASA with my husband in 2013 with the vision of building a community of musicians in Alameda, with a special emphasis on chamber music - playing with others - which is the type of playing that brings me the most joy and I wanted to impart that love of music to my children and the to our students and the wider community.
Therefore, the mission of ASA is to prepare the next generation of musical citizens to be -- in addition to young artists of excellence -- peacemakers, by modeling thoughtful conversation, respect, camaraderie, personal discipline, mutual learning, and service to others. These are all values that can help to transform our communities and are inherent in music, especially in playing music with other people -- chamber music.
Our Resident Teaching Artists are distinguished and diverse international performers and teachers who call the Bay Area their home. You will hear them performing solo and chamber music throughout the year at our ASA Recital Series, as well as our Music For All program. I am humbled to be teaching and performing alongside these fine artists.
ASA reserves a significant portion of its profits each year for the Music For All program, which enables faculty and students to share the joy of music and the arts with other members in our community. I hope you will join with me in supporting the fine talents of our students as they explore and define the role that the arts will play in our society in the future.
Erica Ward
Director & Violin Faculty
Thank you for your interest in the Alameda String Academy.
I first moved to the Bay Area for my undergraduate degree at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and after spending some time in Cleveland for grad school, I was delighted to be able to move back to Alameda in 2012 with my family and invest in the local community.
I founded ASA with my husband in 2013 with the vision of building a community of musicians in Alameda, with a special emphasis on chamber music - playing with others - which is the type of playing that brings me the most joy and I wanted to impart that love of music to my children and the to our students and the wider community.
Therefore, the mission of ASA is to prepare the next generation of musical citizens to be -- in addition to young artists of excellence -- peacemakers, by modeling thoughtful conversation, respect, camaraderie, personal discipline, mutual learning, and service to others. These are all values that can help to transform our communities and are inherent in music, especially in playing music with other people -- chamber music.
Our Resident Teaching Artists are distinguished and diverse international performers and teachers who call the Bay Area their home. You will hear them performing solo and chamber music throughout the year at our ASA Recital Series, as well as our Music For All program. I am humbled to be teaching and performing alongside these fine artists.
ASA reserves a significant portion of its profits each year for the Music For All program, which enables faculty and students to share the joy of music and the arts with other members in our community. I hope you will join with me in supporting the fine talents of our students as they explore and define the role that the arts will play in our society in the future.
Erica Ward
Director & Violin Faculty
