News

On October 10th 2015, Dr. Phillip W. Serna was interviewed on  WWFM Classical‘s current-events program A Tempo with Rachel Katz discussing his outreach program ‘Viols in Our Schools.’ During the program, Dr. Serna also discussed New Comma Baroque, the Spirit of Gambo – a Chicago Consort of Viols, Adlai E. Stevenston High School’s Baroque Ensemble & Viol Consort, as well as endeavors to expand access to viols at Naperville North High School thanks to the VdGSA‘s consort loan program.

From WWFM Classical‘s A Tempo with Rachel Katz:

“October 10

Guests: Phillip W. Serna, Founder, Viols in our Schools; Jason Tramm, Artistic Director, Mid-Atlantic Opera.”

To download the interview, click here. For more information about A Tempo with Rachel Katz, visit http://www.wwfm.org/webcasts_katz.shtml. For Viols in Our Schools, please visit http://www.violsinourschools.org/.

The photo above was taken by photographer Alex Belisle.

On August 4, 2012, Viols in our Schools’ Dr. Phillip W. Serna was featured as part of Jeff Lunden’s piece “Gathering Of The Viols: The 50th Annual Viola Da Gamba Conclave” covering the 50th Conclave of the Viola da Gamba Society of America.

“Viola da gamba players are a special breed — a tiny subset in the already small world of early classical music. They rarely meet their own kind, but once a year they come together for a week in July at an annual jam session they call a conclave…”

To read the complete article or listen to Jeff Lunden’s piece, please click here. For more information about NPR, visit http://www.npr.org/. For the Viola da Gamba Society of America, visit http://www.vdgsa.org/.

On October 12, 2010, Dr. Phillip W. Serna was interviewed on Milwaukee 89.7 WUWM’s program Lake Effect discussing the viol, his outreach program ‘Viols in Our Schools,’ and his October 16th, 2010  concerto performance with Milwaukee’s Concord Chamber Orchestra.

From WUWM’s Lake Effect:

“Dr. Phillip Serna played the viola da gamba in our performance studio, and was engineered by WUWM’s Jon Strelecki. Dr. Serna is on the faculty of music at Valparaiso University in Indiana. He spoke with Bonnie North. Serna will be the gamba soloist during the opening concert of the Concord Chamber Orchestra’s 35th season this Saturday evening at St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wauwatosa.”

This segment appeared again later on November 10th 2010 as part of a musical favorite’s episode. For more information about WUWM, visit http://www.wuwm.com/. For more information on the Concord Chamber Orchestra, please visit http://www.concordorchestra.org/. For Viols in Our Schools, please visit http://www.violsinourschools.org/.

In June 2010, Early Music America awarded Dr. Phillip W. Serna  with the 2010 Outreach Award for his outreach program ‘Viols in Our Schools.’ Here’s what was posted on Early Music America’s webiste:

(SEATTLE, WA) Early Music America, the national service organization for the field of early music, announces the winners of its 2010 awards recognizing outstanding accomplishments in early music. These awards will be presented at the EMA Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony at the Berkeley Festival on June 11, 2010 at 4:30 p.m. in the Ballroom of the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., Berkeley, CA.

Phillip Serna is the recipient of the Early Music Outreach Award, which honors ensembles or individual artists for excellence in early music outreach and/or educational projects for children or adults. Phillip Serna is instructor of double bass and viola da gamba at Valparaiso University, and is on faculty at the Music Institute of Chicago’s Early Music Department. Since its inception in 2006, Phillip Serna’s Viols in Our Schools program has worked to make period-instrument performance for viols a vital part of school communities in locations ranging from Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan and Texas. With over 35 events and 80 hours of classroom time this season, these programs seek to educate, inform and inspire the next generation of early music enthusiasts, performers and scholars by presenting to students ranging from kindergarten through college age. Phillip has performed on double bass with many Midwest orchestras and on viols and vielle with early music ensembles including Ars Antigua, the Chicago Early Music Consort, the Newberry Consort and the Spirit of Gambo – a Chicago Consort of Viols. Phillip received his Doctor of Music degree from Northwestern University, where he studied viol with Mary Springfels. Phillip is currently president of the Viola da Gamba Society Third Coast, the Chicago chapter of the VdGSA.

To read the complete press release article, please click here. For more information about the Early Music America, visit http://www.earlymusic.org/. For Viols in Our Schools, please visit http://www.violsinourschools.org/.

On January 4th 2010, Dr. Phillip W. Serna was interviewed by Black Oak Presents about his outreach program ‘Viols in Our Schools.’ Originally printed in the Winter 2009 issue of Black Oak Presents, pg. 8-11, to read the article, please click here. For more information about Black Oak Media, visit http://www.blackoakmedia.org/. For Viols in Our Schools, please visit http://www.violsinourschools.org/.

In November 2009, Dr. Phillip W. Serna and his viol duo, Duo fantaisie en Echo, were featured in the Valparaiso University’s The Torch about their concert efforts and about his outreach program ‘Viols in Our Schools.’ To read the article, please click here. For more information about the Valparaiso University’s The Torch, visit http://www.valpo.edu/. For Duo fantaisie en Echo, visit http://www.duoenecho.org/. For Viols in Our Schools, please visit http://www.violsinourschools.org/.

On October 29, 2009, Dr. Phillip W. Serna was featured in the Naperville Sun about his outreach program ‘Viols in Our Schools’ and his collaborative perforamance at Naperville north High School. To read the article, please click here. For more information about the Naperville Sun, visit http://napervillesun.suntimes.com/. For Viols in Our Schools, please visit http://www.violsinourschools.org/.

In March 2009, Dr. Phillip W. Serna was featured in the International Musician about his outreach program ‘Viols in Our Schools.’ To read the article, please click here. For more information about the International Musician, visit http://www.internationalmusician.org/. For Viols in Our Schools, please visit http://www.violsinourschools.org/.

On January 27th 2009, Dr. Phillip W. Serna was featured in the Northwest Indiana Times about his outreach program ‘Viols in Our Schools.’ To read the article, please click here. For more information about the Northwest Indiana Times, visit http://www.nwitimes.com/. For Viols in Our Schools, please visit http://www.violsinourschools.org/.

On January 9th 2009, Dr. Phillip W. Serna was featured in Door County’s Peninsula Pulse about his outreach program ‘Viols in Our Schools.’ To read the article, please click here. For more information about the Peninsula Pulse, visit http://www.ppulse.com/. For Viols in Our Schools, please visit http://www.violsinourschools.org/.

On May 13th 2008, Dr. Phillip W. Serna was interviewed on Chicago 98.7 WFMT’s program Impromptu in WFMT’s Levin Performance Studio with members of the Chicago Early Music Consort discussing his outreach program ‘Viols in Our Schools.’

For more information about WFMT, visit http://www.wfmt.com/. For Viols in Our Schools, please visit http://www.violsinourschools.org/.

December 1st 2007, Dr. Phillip W. Serna ‘Early Strings Advocacy – Introducing Renaissance and Baroque String Repertoire on Period Instruments to Classrooms’ was published as part of The String Teacher’s Cookbook: Creative Recipes for a Successful Program.

From Meredith Music Publications:

“This valuable collection of quick-to-read yet deeply insightful strategies is like finding expert trade secrets all placed in one easy, quick-to-read source. Contributors to the book were even eager to get a look at each other’s ideas. With outstanding records of performance, workshop clinics, recordings, research, composition, leadership, and teaching, the 57 authors provide their favorite “recipes” that range from overviews of successful programs to specific topics that will inspire all levels and types of ensembles and performers.”

For more information on The String Teacher’s Cookbook, visit http://www.meredithmusic.com/the-string-teachers-cookbook.