WELCOME TO the MINISTRINGS
The Ministrings orchestra was founded in 2002 by Tina Strinning,
professor of violin, viola, and pedagogy at the Conservatory of
Lausanne. In 2013 she was joined by violinist Baiju Bhatt, active in
the jazz and contemporary music scenes. The Ministrings are mentored by
the violinist Gilles Apap, with whom they have taken masterclasses, and
who has on occasion joined them on stage.
Touring in Istanbul, Paris, Budapest, Barcelona, and elsewhere, the
Ministrings blaze their trail with freshness and good cheer. The
children follow an original and demanding approach from as young as age
seven. With the support of the older ones, they learn to take
responsibility and play an active role with regard to their music, as
well as the stage performance. They perform in a totally autonomous
way, free of any music notation. Most of the pieces played are enriched
with a choreography developed as a group, resulting in a colorful,
joyous, and singular performance. The result is a magnificent lesson of
artistic and social values, and the personal development of each child
in an enthusiastic environment.
The investment of expression and movement, of improvisation and
creativity, as well as the numerous projects experienced together,
creates strong bonds of friendship and common musical interests among
the kids, resulting in the formation of various ensembles such as
Krysalid, the BAMS, Oct'Opus, and the Bazar Quartet, assuring a
continuity into the future.
The Ministrings have several times received the first prize with
special mention at the national final of the Swiss Youth Music
Competition. They perform with surprising ease from one concert or tour
to the next, in Switzerland, Europe, and further afield.
Since the founding of the group in 2002, several generations of
Ministrings have come and gone, emanating through their presence, and
their “traveling” music, an enthusiastic energy that leaves no one
behind!
