CULLMAN, Ala. – The young violinists of semi-professional Music City Strings donned their best period yuletide apparel and braved the chilly winds to deliver a live performance fit for a true Victorian Christmas celebration on Sunday afternoon at the Cullman Christkindlmarkt. Through a setlist curated with Christmas classics peppered with a bit of fiddle frenzy, the violinists evoked a spirit of Christmas past for all to enjoy in one of the last weeks of Christkindlmarkt.
Composer and founder Dana Meyer, a violinist whose storied resume speaks for itself, decided that after over 35 years of teaching and playing to bring something different to the table. Music City Strings was born out of a passion to “provide children the means to become confident, sensitive and beautiful artists,” according to Meyer. The group is truly a family affair, as Meyer’s husband Jeff acts as production leader and travels with the touring group.
Jeff Meyer said the group has played many stages over its 19-year career, touring and performing with the likes of Amy Grant and Vince Gill, and gracing stages across China, Canada and much of Europe.
“They’ve played all over the place. It’s amazing; their stage shows are just incredible!” he exclaimed.
For many who watch their performances, the wow factor comes not only from the beautiful harmonies drifting across the strings, but also from the young age of the musicians themselves, with Meyer noting that after the players graduate high school, their time with Music City Strings is up.
“I’d say half of the (current) group is in the eighth grade. The age range of this group is 12 to 17,” explained Dana Meyer, who said that over the nearly two decades the ensemble has been running, “We’ve seen a lot of kids come and go.”
She attributed the ensemble’s performance at Cullman Christkindlmarkt to another familiar musician: Kurt Heinecke, assistant artistic director of Music City Strings and often referred to as “the tuba guy” in Cullman. His deep, bellowing notes can be heard throughout many events hosted by Cullman Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism (CPRST). Heinecke put CPRST Executive Director Nathan Anderson in touch with Dana Meyer, who was excited to have her kiddos perform a medley of classical Christmas tunes to entertain the thousands of attendees through the weekend at Christkindlmarkt.
To learn more about Music City Strings, visit https://musiccitystrings.org.
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