Camerata is an ensemble that performs in a mixed instrumental family environment consisting of strings, winds, brass, and percussion. This ensemble introduces aspects of performing larger-scale repertoire consisting of both educational works and also arrangements of larger standard classical works. For most students, this will be their first experience playing in a mixed instrumental setting. Students will be exposed to the different instrument families first hand and will be able to experience the excitement as well as be able to acclimate to the differences of playing in a mixed orchestra.
Camerata strings are generally playing 2 or 3 octave scales (up to 5th position), solos from Suzuki books 3 and 4, and are starting to establish vibrato. Camerata winds are generally comfortable in keys from 4 flats to 2 sharps, know the difference between concert and written pitch, and can play a two-octave chromatic scale. Camerata brass are also generally comfortable in keys from 4 flats to 2 sharps, know the difference between concert and written pitch, and are developing their two-octave chromatic scale.
• Camerata performs 2-3 concerts per season.
Violist Julia Bullard enjoys a diverse career as a performer, pedagogue, and Alexander Technique teacher. She is the violist of Trio 826, whose first album, Mosaic, was released on the Blue Griffin label in 2016. She has performed as a guest with ensembles including the Bogotá Chamber Orchestra, Aspen String Trio, the Maia Quartet, and the Arianna Quartet. A dedicated pedagogue, Dr. Bullard received the Iowa String Teachers Association’s Leopold LaFosse Studio Teacher of the Year award in 2011. She has presented master classes across the US and abroad, and has been artist-faculty at several summer music festivals including Cedar Valley Chamber Music, Wintergreen Music Festival and Academy, and Madeline Island Music Festival.
Dr. Bullard received Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Temple University in Philadelphia, and the DMA degree from the University of Georgia. Her principal teachers included violists Joseph dePasquale, Emanuel Vardi, Sidney Curtiss, and Mark Cedel, and violinist Levon Ambartsumian. From 2000-2022, she served as viola professor at the University of Northern Iowa, and 10 years was also the Associate Director for Graduate Studies of the UNI School of Music. In August 2022, Dr. Bullard joined the faculty of Kennesaw State University as Professor and Interim Director of the Bailey School of Music.