We often meet people who are busy writing pieces for themselves or their students. A few friends have allowed us to publish their compositions on this web site. We hope you enjoy trying them out – please let us know if you perform one in public. If you want to get in touch with the composers you will find their email addresses listed below. Many, many thanks to our contributing composers.

Any printouts taken exclusively from this website constitute authorized duplication and thus are exempt from all applicable laws.

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Albin Rose
Albin Rose, a native of Escanaba, Michigan, is a graduate of Michigan State University’s Music Education program. Currently he teaches middle school strings and drama in Royal Oak, Michigan. During his college years he also played viola, bass, guitar and percussion in a variety of classical, folk, and rock groups. His first piece for strings, “Artistic License to Kill,” was performed by the Quartet Five at their Senior year recital, and he’s been writing ever since.

This piece was written for the students at Keller Middle School (’01-’02) in an attempt to answer the string students’ age-old question, “Why don’t we ever play cool stuff like the band?” Knowing the popularity of such movie themes as those from the James Bond series (not to mention the Pink Panther), I decided to try to infuse the middle school string ensemble with some of the rhythms and chords that have “jazzed up” these popular performance pieces. — A.R.

Music: Download PDF with music and score
Contact Albin: rosea@royaloakschools.net

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Karl Pestka
Karl Pestka, 18, has been playing violin since the age of 5. He likes wearing glasses, playing chamber music, eating great vegetarian food, playing electric violin in his jazz-rock fusion band, and cycling. He is currently studying composition at the University of Michigan.

This quartet was written when I developed a tendon injury that prevented me from playing the violin. I was attending the Meadowmount School of Music at the time, and had to stay in my room during “forced practice time.” This movement became my outlet. The other movements are currently being written. — K.P.

Music: Download PDF with music and score
Contact Karl: k_pasa@fastmail.ca

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Elizabeth Ellenwood
Elisabeth Ellenwood is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. Since 1992 Mrs. Ellenwood has taught elementary-level orchestra and is currently teaching in the public schools in New Berlin, Wisconsin. Fiddle Fever is one of several pieces she has composed for elementary string orchestra. Mrs. Ellenwood is also an active performer, and has been a member of the Ohio Light Opera Company Orchestra (principal violist), the Heidelberg Opera Festival Orchestra (Germany) (principal), and the Greensboro (NC), Charleston (SC), and Williamsport (PA) symphonies. She currently performs with the Madison Symphony (WI) and Madison Opera.

About the piece: With double-stops and classic fiddling patterns for violins and violas, slap-pizzicato and left hand pizzicato for cellos and basses, and a spin through the tune for all, Fiddle Fever is a rollicking good time! — E.E.

Music: Download PDF with music and score
Contact Ellen: ellenwoe@nbps.k12.wi.us

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