- European Edition
- 2026
Creative Strings Workshop & Festival Lausanne: Four Days to Improvise, Jam, and Perform
Connect, jam, and learn with creative string players in a non-judgmental, supportive environment. Join group lessons and chamber-music coaching. Enjoy fabulous concerts and jams every day and night.
All levels welcome • Violin, viola, cello, and fiddle • Workshops, concerts, and nightly jams
Lausanne, Switzerland • Oct 29–Nov 1, 2026
Teen, adult, professional, & amateur bowed string players: Violinists, Violists, Fiddlers, Cellists, and Teachers: join us in Lausanne, Switzerland for group lessons, jams, chamber music coaching, and an international music festival centered around CREATIVE Improvising music in eclectic styles- including folk music, Jazz, Latin styles, and original music of all kinds.
Why You Don’t Want to Miss It
- Become creatively self-expressed and develop your original musical voice.
- Gain skills and comfort with harmony, song form, arrangement, and groove.
- Become fluent in contemporary styles to jam with musicians outside classical.
- Get gigs and career opportunities.
- Connect with like-minded musicians to make friends & generate opportunities
- Teachers: Teach skills relevant to your students’ interests.
- Gain comfort in improvisation and composition
The full 2026 evening concert schedule appears below.
watch and read from Participants
List of Workshops
Festival concerts and jam sessions begin October 29 at 7:00 p.m., with an optional participant orientation from 3:30–6:30 p.m. Workshops run October 30–November 1, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
- Improvisation, Arranging, and Composition
- Amplification, Looping, & Effects
- Free Improvisation and Non-Tonal exploration
- Blues-inspired idioms
- Groove and Accompaniment techniques
- Conducted Group Improvisation
- Failproof methodology to gain deeper understanding of Harmony, Arrangement, Looping, improvised chamber music, across many styles.
- Pedagogical applications and teacher training .
- Independent Music Business and Entrepreneurship Seminar
- Networking opportunities
- Judgment Free Zone emphasizing a safe pace which celebrates diverse learning styles, approaches, experiences, and people.
Thursday, October 29th
3:30 PM – 6:30 PM: Optional Orientation Session for workshop participants. This session includes jamming and social activities at no additional cost.
7:00 PM: The first Festival Concerts begin.
Friday, October 30th
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM: Workshops (with breaks).
Evening: Festival Concerts and jam session.
Saturday, October 31st
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM: Workshops (with breaks).
Evening: Festival Concerts and jam sessions.
Sunday, November 1st
10:00 AM – 4:30 PM: Workshops (with breaks).
Evening: Final Festival Concerts and jam session. The festival activities finish late this evening.
Additional Workshop Information
An optional lunch is available at the venue during workshop days for 12 CHF (cash) per person
Featuring
Christian Howes
Co-host and Teacher
American teacher, performer, and musical entrepreneur. He founded Creative Strings to expand music education to include improvisation, contemporary styles, jazz violin courses and related subjects through online curricula, music retreats, fiddle camps, and school residencies.
Baiju Bhatt
Co-host and Teacher
Swiss-Indian jazz violin virtuoso, acclaimed teacher, and leader of the award-winning jazz-rock quintet Red Sun. He currently lives between Switzerland and Paris, and teaches at the Lausanne Conservatory.
Stephan Braun
Guest Teacher, Cello
Stephan currently resides in Berlin, Germany where he teaches at the “Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler” and the “Jazzinstitute”. He has played and taught at many cello courses, cello institutes, and festivals including the New Directions Cello Festival, Cello Akademie Rutesheim, North Sea Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival, and Montreal Jazz Festival and recorded as leader on two CDS- The Raid (2008) and Façon (2012).
Guest Teachers for This Year
Yanna Pelser
Violist and composer Yanna Pelser unfolds her own intuitive sonic world by combining viola playing and singing. Firmly rooted in classical music, she now expands her horizon by playing with formations ranging from jazz and pop to free improvisation. On our stage she has performed with, among others, North Sea String Quartet and Tijn Wybenga’s Brainteaser Orchestra. She has also collaborated with the likes of Ambrose Akinmusire, Samora Pinderhughes and Asko|Schönberg.
Bruno Ducret
Nurtured by musician parents with international careers, cellist Bruno Ducret has followed the unusual path often seen in children raised in the performing arts. Never particularly devoted to the traditional conservatory route, and never confined to a single musical style or category, he has continually explored the instrument across experimental chanson, metal, contemporary creative music, jazz, traditional music, dance music, and more—while maintaining his own distinctive, vibrant sound and his signature virtuoso pizzicato approach.
Join Us in Lausanne, Switzerland
Venue: All events will be held in a beautiful venue dedicated to the performing arts which includes four beautiful rehearsal and performance spaces: Théâtre 2.21, Rue de l’Industrie 10, 1005 Lausanne.
The space is centrally located and easily accessible from the Lausanne train/metro. 30 mins by train from Geneva airport, Lausanne has all the modern conveniences of a small to medium-sized safe European city.
Accommodations: There are many hotels and air bnbs within walking distance. Email chris@christianhowes.com with questions.
We also have a special accommodation deal at Hotel Swiss Wine in Lausanne, located conveniently near the venue:
Single room: 140 CHF/night (includes breakfast)
Double room: 150 CHF/night (includes breakfast)
Hotel availability is limited. Please email chris@christianhowes.com as soon as possible to ask whether rooms remain available. All confirmed bookings are final and cannot be modified.
For confirmed participants and those considering joining, please let us know as soon as possible which nights you’d like to book.
Become a More Creative, Versatile, functional Musician
Improvisation, Arranging, and Composition
Gain strategies to play over progressions and grooves.
Discover how to make your own accompaniment parts.
Improvise in many styles.
Amplification, Looping, & Effects
Technology for teaching, practice, and performance.
"The Chop" and Extended techniques
Learn modern bowing techniques and more
Swing Phrasing
Learn to incorporate rhythmic structures and language.
Blues-Inspired Idioms
Harmonic and rhythmic tension and release in the context of Blues.
Free Improvisation and Non-Tonal Composition
Compose in small groups using “composition games.”
During this interactive session you will feel empowered to perform/record your own “Free” pieces.
Conducted Group Improvisation
Follow cue cards and a system of hand signals in large group improvisations.
Participants will also conduct the ensemble!
Catered to classical string players.
Modal Approaches to Improvisation
Learn how to apply a modal approach to your improvisation, arrangements, and compositions.
Internalizing Harmony on the Violin, Viola, and Cello
Gain the ability to:
- memorize harmonic relationships on the fingerboard
- voice-lead arpeggios, scales, & double/ triple stops.
- Internalize chord progressions
Music Business Mastermind Seminar
Attract more projects, gigs, or students.
Jam Session Video
Performance Videos
Playlist
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DISCOVERING NEW MUSICAL HORIZONS
I had a fantastic time….. I've been discovering new musical horizons, listening to great lessons on improvisation, having inspiring conversations and music with the participants, listening to excellent concerts. Simply feeling good and in the right place, judgement-free. Many thanks for making this happen and for being caring and supportive.
"I felt ACCEPTANCE"
This was a great event for me. Even as an amateur I felt acceptance all around. Playing in small teams was so creative and "democratic". The Q&A session with Baju and Stephan was VERY helpful with the interesting questions and your driven answers.
Register Today
Super Early Bird Full Workshop Participant Package– 299 CHF (compared to full price of 650 CHF)
Full Access to all Workshops and Concerts.
Special ends 1/03/2023
Super Early Bird Full Workshop Participant Package- DEPOSIT ONLY 150 CHF now, Remaining 200 CHF by February 15, 2022
Full Access to all Workshops and Concerts.
Special ends 1/15/2022
Early Bird Full Workshop Participant Package– 400 CHF
Full Access to all Workshops and Concerts.
Available only for a limited time and in limited quantities
Early Bird Full Workshop Participant Package– 525 CHF (compared to full price of 599 CHF)
Full Access to all Workshops and Concerts
Special ends 9/8/2023
Full Workshop Participant Package– 599 USD
Full Access to all Workshops and Concerts
Weekend Only Workshop Participant Package– 450 USD
Full Access to all Workshops and Concerts
Early Bird Full Workshop Participant Package– 395 USD if nonrefundable deposit of 150 is made by February 15th
Full Access to all Workshops and Concerts
Early Bird Weekend Only Workshop Participant Package– 375 USD if nonrefundable deposit of 150 is made by February 15th.
Full Access to all Workshops and Concerts during the weekend.
Weekend Only Workshop Participant Package– 450 CHF
Access to Saturday/Sunday Workshops and Friday/Saturday/Sunday Concerts only
Refund Policy: Workshop Packages are non-refundable except in the event that the event is cancelled due to COVID-19.
Have friends or family that don't play but love listening?
Workshop participants will receive free tickets to attend all concerts.
guest artists 2026:
Thursday, Oct 29
7:00 PM – Les Ministrings (large ensemble)
- Artistic Direction: Tina Strinning
8:15 PM – Howes / Bhatt / Braun (trio)
- Christian Howes – violin
- Baiju Bhatt – violin
- Stephan Braun – cello
9:30 PM – Jam Session
- Julien Ménagé – piano
- Blaise Hommage – double bass
- François Christe – drums
- with guest musicians and Creative Strings Workshop 2026 participants
Friday, Oct 30
7:30 PM – Yanna Pelser & Alexander Brouwer-Casarola : “Kri” (duo)
- Yanna Pelser – viola, voice
- Alexander Brouwer-Casarola – puppetry
8:45 PM – Christelle Iskander “Zingaro” (quartet)
- Christelle Iskander – violin
- Eric Allard-Jacquin – accordion
- Jérémie Bruyère – double bass
- Abraham Mansfarroll – percussion
10:00 PM – Jam Session
- Julien Ménagé – piano
- Blaise Hommage – double bass
- François Christe – drums
- with guest musicians and Creative Strings Workshop 2026 participants
Saturday, Oct 31
7:30 PM – Deep Strings (duo)
- Anne-Christine Schwarz – cello, voice
- Stephan Braun – cello, FX
8:45 PM – Bastien Ribot “Lo Triò”
- Bastien Ribot – violin
- Rémi Bouyssière – double bass
- Emile Melenchon – guitar
10:00 PM – Jam Session
- Julien Ménagé – piano
- Blaise Hommage – double bass
- François Christe – drums
- with guest musicians and Creative Strings Workshop 2026 participants
Sunday, Nov 1st
6:00 PM – Bruno Ducret (solo)
- Bruno Ducret– cello, voice
7:15 PM – Emilia Amper & Carlo Niederhauser “ORION” (duo)
- Emilia Amper – nyckelharpa, voice
- Carlo Niederhauser – cello, voice
8:30 PM – Jam Session
- Julien Ménagé – piano
- Blaise Hommage – double bass
- François Christe – drums
- with guest musicians and Creative Strings Workshop 2026 participants
past guest artists:
- Ricardo Herz & Vanille Goovaerts – Violin Duo
- Les Ministrings (Grand Ensemble) – Directed by Tina Strinning and Baiju Bhatt
- Falsetas – Marc Crofts (Violin), Yardani Torres Maiani (Violin), Antonio Perujo (Percussion and dance)
- Compagnie Muance – Fanny Balestro-Bergeron (Cello, performance art, electronics), Félix Bergeron (Percussion, electronics)
- Cécile Delzant (Solo Violin)
- Odayaka – Victor Darmon (Violin), Adam Naylor (Guitar), Cyril Billot (Bass)
- Howes/Bhatt/Braun Trio – Christian Howes (Violin), Baiju Bhatt (Violin), Stephan Braun (Cello)
- Alba Obert Quartet – Alba Obert (Violin), Julien Ménagé (Piano), Blaise Hommage (Bass), François Christe (Drums)
- Simon Heggendorn & Michael Zisman – Simon Heggendorn (Violin), Michael Zisman (Bandoneon)
- Eva Slongo Quartet – Eva Slongo (Violin/Voice), Julien Ménagé (Piano), Blaise Hommage (Bass), François Christe (Drums)
- Bruno Ducret (Cello)
- Nomadim 4tet – Marc Crofts (Violin), Louis Matute (Guitar), Cyril Billot (Bass), Marton Kiss (Drums)
- Lucie Göckel Quintet – Lucie Göckel (Cello/Voice), Edwin Correia (Guitar), Julien Ménagé (Piano), Blaise Hommage (Bass), François Christe (Drums)
- Robin Antunes Duo – Robin Antunes (Violin), Benjamin Garson (Guitar)
- Yanna Pelser Quartet – Yanna Pelser (Viola/Voice), Julien Ménagé (Piano), Blaise Hommage (Bass), François Christe (Drums)
- Axone – Michèle Pierre (Cello/Voice)
- 2-Birds Band – Tony Bird (Violin)
- Nightly Jam Sessions – Julien Ménagé (Piano), Blaise Hommage (Bass), François Christe (Drums), and 2023 Workshop Participants
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