South Georgia String Project

The South Georgia String Project, led by Director and Master Teacher Dr. Kristin Pfeifer Yu, is a joint venture of the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra and the Department of Music at Valdosta State University. The South Georgia String Project serves a dual purpose: first to provide an after-school music program where children can easily access low-cost string instrument instruction, and second to provide valuable, mentored teaching experience for music students at Valdosta State University.

We offer carefully structured techniques classes, private lessons, and four levels of group classes. Exemplary music students from the university, supervised by experienced teachers, assist in instruction at all levels. Our beginning students use a modified Suzuki Method and Paul Rolland approach, incorporating the Essential Elements for Strings method book. The Intermezzo Strings and Chamber Strings group classes offer opportunities for expanding technique and musicianship at the intermediate levels with a string orchestra class model. Our most advanced level, the Valdosta Symphony Youth Orchestra, is a full orchestra that includes musicians from the community as well as Valdosta State University music students.

The South Georgia String Project encourages the enjoyment of music and self-expression through the study of a musical instrument, and actively seeks to provide opportunities for student leadership, parental participation, and involvement with the greater community. We give several performances each year, including: two end-of-semester group concerts, solo recitals, outreach performances at local schools, libraries, senior centers, and the annual Tunes for Tots event with the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra.

Our Mission

• Providing school-age children and adults opportunities to learn to play string instruments
• Supporting music-making opportunities for string students and teachers in order to facilitate the growth of area public school string and orchestra programs
• Offering undergraduate and graduate music students vital teaching, administrative, and leadership positions in a supervised environment as they continue with their professional training