THE VIVACE STRING TRIO gets their name from their "bright and lively" (the definition of "Vivace") performances. You will experience their joy of music with selections from Haydn and Bach to hot fiddle tunes arranged by award-winning musician SUE TOMLIN (viola and fiddle). SUE, VADIM VOLYNETS (double bass) and his wife, MARINA VOLYNETS (violin) perform with the Macon Symphony Orchestra and regularly perform for the Bibb County Public Schools. The Volynets also perform with the Columbus and Savannah Symphonies. All three musicians teach privately. Vadim and Marina, natives of Kiev, Ukraine, came to the United States to perform with their symphony. Once in Macon, they decided to say and have been n the U.S. since 1996.

The Vivace String Trio's Concerts in the Schools When THE VIVACE STRING TRIO (Vadim and Marina Volynets and Sue Tomlin) perform "The Bridal Chorus" from Wagner's oepra "Lohengrin," the young students' hands are enthusiastically raised almost in unison as we ask them where this next piece might be heard. "AT A WEDDING!" they all respond when we are finished. The first piece of the concert has the sound of "sssssss sssssss" whispered among the audience as they identify the music from the television show "The Simpsons." That rendition for violin, viola and bass really catches their attention for the 40 minutes to follow of varied music selections, discussions and some unusual string instruments. In the lecture/demonstration concert, we emphasize the importance of following teachers' directions ... if I didn't follow my teachers' directions when learning to play "Mary Had a Little Lamb" it might sound like this ... The kids cover their ears and make faces as a less than desirable rendition is presented for judgment. Special instruments shown and played during the concert include a fiddle made out of cigar box by an old Oklahoma farmer ... complete with unicorn carvings on the fiddle and bow; a turn of the century phono fiddle with horn attached ("Is this a brass or a string instrument?") and a 1/16 size violin that the youngsters always react to with an "Awwww." It is so tiny when compared to even the scroll of the upright bass. Questions and answers are exchanged frequently in the program with the participants wanting to know everything from how long we've been playing to whether or not the bass is heavy to carry around. The VIVACE STRING TRIO shares a variety of music emphasizing the countries of origin when performed. Vadim and Marina are from Ukraine, and that alone adds an element of interest as they share some of the language of their home country. We play everything from "Ode to Joy" by Beethoven to fiddle tunes to Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got that Swing" and even an original composition by Sue Tomlin. In our rehearsals leading up to our concerts in the schools, we choose our music carefully and plan what we will talk about that will engage the students. One aspect that Marina and the group emphasizes is that now is the time to begin pursuing something you like or love, or have an interest in, so to gain enjoyment and accomplishment of your desire. We have heard many positive comments about our time spent in the schools, and hope that we can continue sharing, exposing, engaging and delighting the young people in the world of string music.