- European Edition
- 2026
A party not to be missed where bowed string players unleash their full musical expression
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 styles and levels of advancement are welcome.
Oct 28 – 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
Evening concert schedule tba soon.
(Click here to see 2022 Edition)
watch and read from Participants
List of Workshops
The Festival Concerts begin on Oct 28, starting at 7 pm. Workshops will take place on Oct 29 – Oct 31, starting at 10:00 am. Participants may arrive early for additional orientation activities beginning Oct 28 at 3:30 pm (no additional cost).
- 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.
Wednesday, October 28th
3:30 PM – 6:30 PM: Optional Orientation Session for workshop participants. This session includes jamming, dinner, and social activities at no additional cost.
7:00 PM: The first Festival Concert begins.
Thursday, October 29th
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM: Workshops (with breaks).
Evening: Festival Concert.
Friday, October 30th
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM: Workshops (with breaks).
Evening: Festival Concert.
Saturday, October 31st
10:00 AM – 4:30 PM: Workshops (with breaks).
Evening: Festival Concert.
Sunday, November 1st
Evening: Final Festival Concert. The festival activities finish late this evening.
Additional Workshop Information
An optional lunch is available at the venue during workshop days for 12 CHF 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
Ricardo Herz
Celebrating 20 years of career with his 11th album Sonhando o Brasil, Ricardo Herz has transformed the voice of the Brazilian violin. His innovative technique evokes the breath of an accordion and the grit of the rabeca, bringing together choro, African-Brazilian rhythms, and jazz improvisation. A graduate of Berklee College of Music and the Didier Lockwood Center, Ricardo has performed internationally as a soloist and recorded with artists like Yamandú Costa, Dominguinhos, and Camerata Romeu. He is also a dedicated educator and recently launched the first online method for Brazilian popular violin.
Ricardo Herz & Vanille Goovaerts
Guest Artists – Violin Duo
French violinist Vanille Goovaerts and Brazilian violinist Ricardo Herz form a genre-defying duo that blends their original compositions with vibrant styles from Brazilian popular music—choro, forró, xote, frevo, chamamé, and more. Their performances are full of rhythm, dialogue, and emotion, celebrating the violin in unexpected ways.
As part of the workshop weekend, Ricardo and Vanille will lead a 3-hour immersive workshop on Saturday, followed by a duo concert on Sunday. Known for their dynamic stage presence and deep musical connection, their sessions promise to be both inspiring and energizing.
Vanille Goovaerts
An accomplished violinist and rabeca player, Vanille Goovaerts brings a French-European flair to Brazilian music, contributing her unique voice to this duo since 2019. Their partnership has captivated audiences across continents with a blend of technical mastery and joyful exploration.
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)
If you would like to take advantage of this offer, please confirm by the end of February 2026. Due to limited availability, all bookings must be final—modifications will not be possible.
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 2025 (previous edition):
Thursday, Oct 22
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 2025 participants
Friday, Oct 23
7:00 PM – Ignatius (trio)
- Maëlle Debrosses – viola, voice, composition
- Armelle Dousset – accordion, voice
- Eléonore Billy – nyckelharpa, voice
8:15 PM – Marc Crofts Klezmer Ensemble (quartet)
- Marc Crofts – violin, voice
- Atanas Marinov – clarinet
- Seraphim von Werra – accordion
- Piotr Wegrowski – double bass
9:15 PM – José Francisco Pérez (quartet)
- José Francisco Pérez – violin
- Julien Ménagé – piano
- Blaise Hommage – double bass
- François Christe – drums
10:30 PM – Jam Session
- Julien Ménagé – piano
- Blaise Hommage – double bass
- François Christe – drums
- with guest musicians and Creative Strings Workshop 2025 participants
Saturday, Oct 24
7:30 PM – The Escarteen Sisters (duo)
- Laia Escarteen – viola, voice
- Flavia Escarteen – cello, voice
8:45 PM – Bazar Blå (trio)
- Björn Meyer – bass guitar, bass mandola
- Johan Hedin – nyckelharpa
- Fredrik Gille – percussion
10:00 PM – Jam Session
- Julien Ménagé – piano
- Blaise Hommage – double bass
- François Christe – drums
- with guest musicians and Creative Strings Workshop 2025 participants
Sunday, Oct 25
6:00 PM – Ricardo Herz & Vanille Goovaerts (duo)
- Vanille Goovaerts – violin, rabeca, voice
- Ricardo Herz – violin, rabeca
7:15 PM – Johannes Dickbauer (quartet)
Johannes Dickbauer – violin
- Julien Ménagé – piano
- Blaise Hommage – double bass
- François Christe – drums
8:30 PM – Jam Session
- Julien Ménagé – piano
- Blaise Hommage – double bass
- François Christe – drums
- with guest musicians and Creative Strings Workshop 2025 participants
past guest artists:
- 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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