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For the past 40 years, Betty Haag-Kuhnke, founder and director, has been traveling the globe to National and International acclaim with a group of young inspiring violinists known as the 'Magical Strings of Youth'.
The young violinists ranging from 4 to 17 years of age, have traveled to France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Australia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, China, and other remote areas where few Americans have ventured to go.
In 1976, on their first European tour, the children played to standing room only concerts in the Berlin Philharmonic Hall and concerts throughout Germany. The following year the young violinists were invited back to Germany to do a Christmas special with renowned German opera singer Anneliese Rothenberger.
The Magical Strings of Youth were honored by Boris Yeltsin and Governor Jim Thompson during the signing of the Sister States Proclamation between Illinois and the Republic of Russia. Subsequently, our Violin ensemble was extended the first invitation by President Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, in a pioneering effort to open the formerly closed Soviet Communist country to cultural exchange.
Since then, the performing group has returned to Europe opening the World Music festival in the Netherlands, the Stradivarius festival in Cremona, Italy and performing at the Vatican playing before 100,000 people in St. Peters Square for Pope Benedict XVI.
In the United States, the Magical Strings have performed twice in th East Room of the White House, appeared at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., the Lincoln Center in New York and played to sold out audiences at Carnegie Hall.
Locally, the children have performed with the Chicago Symphony, Grant Park Symphony, have appeared on AM Chicago, Oprah Winfrey Show, Bob Sirott Show, WFMT, Good Morning America, Phil Donahue Show, and 'Kids say the Darnest Things', with Bill Cosby.
In the Chicago area, the Magical Strings performed for the 'Holocaust Remembrance Day' at the invitation of Mayor Daley, performed on a special program with the Joffrey Ballet, and are regular entertainers at the Chicago Bulls games. In June of 2008, our students have been invited to Prague, to perform with Maestro Alan Heatherington and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra at Smetana & Dvorak Halls. Other venues including the Beethoven Festival, St. Nicholas Church and Lobkowicz Castle, among others. Concert Violinist Vadim Gluzman will join the Magical Strings of Youth in several performances.
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