2010 String Camp Staff - More updates pending.
Reid Smith - Camp Conductor
Mr. Reid Smith is currently director of orchestras for St. Charles Public Schools in St. Charles, Missouri. Joining St. Charles in 2007 Reid inherited a program from 4-12 grade with 254 students enrolled. Currently, there are nearly 500 string players enrolled in St. Charles schools orchestras. Previously he served as director of orchestras at Duluth High School in Duluth, Georgia. Originally from Saline, Michigan Reid was taught from fifth grade through high school by Bob Phillips. Reid holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the University of Michigan and completed student teaching with Jed Fritzemeier and Nathan Peters. Reid has served as the Vice President of the University of Michigan chapter of the American String Teachers Association and as the Georgia ASTA Bass Symposium liaison. He is a member of the American String Teachers Association, Missouri Music Educators’ Association, and the Music Educators’ National Conference.
From 1998-2005 Reid was involved with the Saline Fiddlers. Four of those years he served as the Assistant Artistic Director and the Interim Artistic Director, first under Bob Phillips, and then Ben Culver. As a member of the group Reid was a part of many of the 650 plus performances across the world. The Fiddlers shared the stage with many top artists including Natalie MacMaster, Mark O’Connor, Mountain Heart, Millish, Jeremy Kittel, Christian Howes, Jay Ungar composer of Ashokan Farewell, and Reba McEntire. While teaching in Georgia Reid worked with Mark O’Connor and his Appalachia Waltz Trio coordinating a concert and workshop for students. He was also faculty at the inaugural Georgia ASTA Fiddle Camp with Julie Lyonn Lieberman and hosted a workshop and concert in Missouri with Emmy-winning composer and rock violinist Mark Wood.
Reid has conducted numerous workshops in both classical and alternative styles across Michigan as well as workshops in Ohio, New Jersey, Georgia, and Missouri. Reid has taught at the Michigan ASTA Elementary Camp for the past six years and the middle school camp for three years. Reid is a classically trained cellist and counts his primary teachers as Anthony Elliott, Debra Fayroian, and Diane Winder. Currently Reid performs with the Town & Country and St. Charles Symphonies as well as gigs with a quartet in the St. Louis area. In 2006-2007 Reid’s orchestras were selected to perform at the GMEA conference in Savannah, Georgia, the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, and the National Orchestra Festival in Detroit, Michigan where they placed third in the nation in the string orchestra division. In 2007-2008 Reid was the conductor of the St. Louis All-Suburban 7th and 8th grade orchestra. In 2008 he was honored at the Missouri Academy of Science, Math, and Computing as an arts teacher that makes a difference, and in 2009 at the St. Charles High School “Evening with the Stars” as a teacher who has helped students achieve success.
Kyle Danek – Camp Director
Kyle Danek, born and raised in Marquette, a graduate of Northern Michigan University with a B.S. in Physiology, currently pursuing a M.S. in Biology at NMU and will be starting University of Michigan's School of Dentistry beginning this fall. Primary instrument is the Violin, and also plays Piano, Guitar, and the Trumpet. Past involvement in numerous Marquette area arts programs such as the Marquette Symphony Orchestra, the NMU Orchestra, the Marquette Choral Society, the NMU Music/Drama Department, the Vista theatre productions, and Lakeside Strings music camp.
Nathan Peters - Violin & Viola
Nathan received his Bachelor's degree in Violin Performance in 1992 and his Master's degree in Viola Performance in 1993 from the University of Michigan. His teachers were Paul Kantor and Yizhak Schotten. As a fellowship student, he performed at the Aspen Music Festival in 1993 and 1994. He has performed regularly in Symphony Orchestras and in Chamber Ensembles throughout Southeast Michigan.
Nathan currently teaches orchestra classes at Beach Middle School and Chelsea High School in Chelsea and teaches private violin and viola lessons to students in both Chelsea and Ann Arbor. He is currently in his 11th year of public school teaching and his 19th year of private teaching.
Will Argiroff
Will Argiroff is from Ann Arbor, Michigan, and grew up in Chelsea. He started playing guitar when he was eight and took lessons with Jason Dennie for seven years. He picked up the double bass when he was eleven and was a part of Chelsea’s orchestra program until he graduated in 2008, during which time he studied with Jed Fritzemeier. He also played bass guitar and was part of various groups through Chelsea High School, including the Chelsea House Orchestra. Will is currently a sophomore at the University of Michigan, is a student of Professor Diana Gannett, and is majoring in double bass performance. Aside from music, he enjoys running, playing baseball, watching Red Wings hockey, and fishing.