The mission of Cadenza Academy of San Antonio is to provide the highest level of music education possible for San Antonio’s student musicians.
This will include, but is not limited to: private lessons, group lessons, classes, master classes, recitals, competitions, chamber music, mentoring, development of critical thinking skills, outreach, and overall arts awareness.
A message from Executive Director, Matthew Zerweck:
“I’m a dedicated private violin instructor, and lead violin in Camerata San Antonio.
When I was growing up as a teenager in Philadelphia, I was fortunate enough to attend a weekly music program called “Temple University Music Prep.” At this program, I studied string quartets with the grand dame of the cello world, Metta Watts, and with Orlando Cole, a founding member of the historic Curtis String Quartet. I took private lessons from Philadelphia Orchestra members and budding soloists. I played in masterclasses from Ivan Galamian disciples and touring musicians. I participated in and won several area competitions. Through music, I was given the opportunity to travel around the world, to Puerto Rico, Russia, Italy, and the Czech Republic.
Most importantly, I felt that I was part of a community of high-level, serious, young musicians.
In Philadelphia, there were many opportunities for musical development. There were several youth orchestras, and several competing non-profit music schools for ages 4-18. The breadth of musical offerings enriched the entire spectrum of student string playing.
Classical music wasn’t just another activity. It was a way of life and a skill to be mastered. Without the support of my teachers and friends at Temple Prep, I never would have been accepted into the prestigious Eastman School of Music, or won a leadership role in the San Antonio Symphony right after college. My friends from this program are now respected concertmasters, soloists, recording artists. Some of them attended prestigious conservatories, and others used music as a launching pad to attend ivy league schools.
When I moved to San Antonio in 2008, it was clear to me that there were a handful of extremely bright, passionate, hard-working students in town. But these students tend to feel isolated and unchallenged. They have no sense of where they stand compared to other talented youth. I also noticed that most of the string students in San Antonio seek private lessons about 6 years too late on average, (6th grade-8th grade) to realistically compete with top students in Houston, Dallas, and Round Rock.
On my teaching blog, I’ve clearly demonstrated that San Antonio string students perform extremely poorly compared to students from other TX cities. As high-level private teaching is my passion, I see that the only reasonable next step is to cater programs to two main groups: Educational programs for extraordinary students, and high-level, fast-track programs for beginning/intermediate students.
Cadenza Academy of San Antonio (CASA) was started with the help and expertise of dedicated parents of young musicians. It is a registered non-profit corporation in TX, with 501c3 status.”
“I’m a dedicated private violin instructor, and lead violin in Camerata San Antonio.
When I was growing up as a teenager in Philadelphia, I was fortunate enough to attend a weekly music program called “Temple University Music Prep.” At this program, I studied string quartets with the grand dame of the cello world, Metta Watts, and with Orlando Cole, a founding member of the historic Curtis String Quartet. I took private lessons from Philadelphia Orchestra members and budding soloists. I played in masterclasses from Ivan Galamian disciples and touring musicians. I participated in and won several area competitions. Through music, I was given the opportunity to travel around the world, to Puerto Rico, Russia, Italy, and the Czech Republic.
Most importantly, I felt that I was part of a community of high-level, serious, young musicians.
In Philadelphia, there were many opportunities for musical development. There were several youth orchestras, and several competing non-profit music schools for ages 4-18. The breadth of musical offerings enriched the entire spectrum of student string playing.
Classical music wasn’t just another activity. It was a way of life and a skill to be mastered. Without the support of my teachers and friends at Temple Prep, I never would have been accepted into the prestigious Eastman School of Music, or won a leadership role in the San Antonio Symphony right after college. My friends from this program are now respected concertmasters, soloists, recording artists. Some of them attended prestigious conservatories, and others used music as a launching pad to attend ivy league schools.
When I moved to San Antonio in 2008, it was clear to me that there were a handful of extremely bright, passionate, hard-working students in town. But these students tend to feel isolated and unchallenged. They have no sense of where they stand compared to other talented youth. I also noticed that most of the string students in San Antonio seek private lessons about 6 years too late on average, (6th grade-8th grade) to realistically compete with top students in Houston, Dallas, and Round Rock.
On my teaching blog, I’ve clearly demonstrated that San Antonio string students perform extremely poorly compared to students from other TX cities. As high-level private teaching is my passion, I see that the only reasonable next step is to cater programs to two main groups: Educational programs for extraordinary students, and high-level, fast-track programs for beginning/intermediate students.
Cadenza Academy of San Antonio (CASA) was started with the help and expertise of dedicated parents of young musicians. It is a registered non-profit corporation in TX, with 501c3 status.”