SWB’s History from 2004 – 2019
In 2003, Pittsburgh Symphony violinist Roy Sonne created the idea for the Pittsburgh Fiddle and Jazz Camp, and Dr. Stephen Benham gave this idea a home at Duquesne University.
Dr. Stephen Benham served as administrative director for SWB’s first nine years and hosted the program at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.
Julie Lyonn Lieberman helped structure the summer program from its inception. She later created its current name, Strings Without Boundaries, became the new Artistic Director and added the world’s first Eclectic Styles Teacher Training in 2006. She has moved SWB a number of times to reach the maximum number of attendees and string teachers: Lawrence University in Appleton, WI (Dr. Kirk Moss, Administrative Director); Central Washington University in Ellensburgh, WA (Dr. Brett Smith,Administrative Director); Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, WA (Dr. Ramona Holmes, Administrative Director); Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA (Dr. Martin Norgaard, Administrative Director); Savannah School for the Arts in Savannah, GA (Emily Calhoun, Administrative Director); and University of Nebraska Omaha in Omaha, NE (Dr. Mary Perkinson, Administrative Director). In 2019, SWB moved to Hot Shops Arts Center in Omaha, NE.
Over the course of SWB’s twenty-four seasons, faculty has included: Katie Glassman; Tom Morley; Anne Nagosky; David Finch; Matt Turner; Randy Sabien; Julie Lyonn Lieberman; Darol Anger; Richard Greene; Bruce Molsky; Judy Hyman; Martin Norgaard; Andy Reiner; April Verch; Lisa Liu; Raimundo Nilton; Alissa Jackman; Katherine Irwin Thomas; Charles Yang; Bob Phillips; Jeremy Cohen; Paul Anastasio; Aaron Minsky; Christian Howes (sponsored by Yamaha); Kelli Trottier; Lyris Hung (D’Addario Bowed Product Manager); Brian Wicklund; Dr. Gregory Walker; Vicki Richards; Dr. Mary Perkinson; Anne Nagosky; Bridgid Bibbons; Mary Ann Willis; Scott Laird (sponsored by NS Design); Blaise Kielar (owner, Electric Violin Shop); Jan Farrar Royce; Robert Gardner; Steven Vance; Liz Davis Maxfield; Katie Davis Henderson, and many other top-notch educators and performers.
Faculty in last two pictures includes Martin Norgaard, Matt Turner & Julie in the middle photo, and Julie, Matt Turner, Martin Norgaard and Richard Greene (inventor of chop technique).