The Holmes Avenue Strings came to be during the COVID pandemic. Three gifted women musicians, all professionals, from various areas of the musical arts, came together to provide live instrumental music for their neighbors. The concerts took place outside the front of the house, and so the Porch Concert Series was born. The concerts proved to be very popular; a boon to the people listening to them, and a great outlet for making music for the performers. An eclectic mix of music was presented, representing the melting pot of styles each performer brought with them. Joan, an accomplished multi-instrument wizard, plays guitar, mandolin or bass as the selections call for it. Terry is a virtuoso violinist playing everything from Baroque masters to Americana folk music to the latest show tunes. Anita brings her skills as a pianist and arranger to round out the group. The pandemic taught us that we need to play music live, in a collaborative setting with other people, and that an audience is part of that coming together.

Joan Griffith (guitar/mandolin) never met a string instrument she didn’t like or couldn’t master. A classical guitar major graduate, she soon turned to playing jazz bass in the music rich environs of Kansas City. Upon moving to Minneapolis thirty six years ago, she quickly entered the jazz scene here. This year KBEM (the Twin Cities jazz station) named Joan a “Jazz Legend” in a ceremony at the History Center. She was also called upon to teach guitar lessons and jazz history classes at St. Kate’s and St. Thomas. Currently, Joan is the director of the Macalester College Jazz Band. Joan is a roster artist with COMPAS, the State Arts Board and Minnesota Public Radio. She has a long resume of theater pit work; the Children’s Theater, the Guthrie, Theater Mu, Park Square and Artistry among many others. Her first love in music was the Brazilian sound of Bossa Nova and Antonio Carlos Jobim. That love has greatly influenced her second love – composing. The Holmes Avenue Strings play many of Joan’s compositions.

Terry Elliott (violin) wears many musical hats. As a free lance musician she is able to provide the right style and feeling to whatever she is asked to play. Terry is a long time member of The Lyra Baroque Orchestra, performing Vivaldi and Bach and Bach's children on a period instrument. She often plays with the Bach Society and many of the local chamber orchestras, as well as the Lake Harriet Pops every summer. She has provided music for ethnic dance and folk ensembles and performed in fiddling competitions. Her masterful playing has been heard in theater pits across the Twin Cities area. The Guthrie, the Chanhassen Dinner Theaters, the Children’s Theater, the Ordway, Theater Latte Da and Artistry have all benefitted from her exceptional expertise in music theater.

Anita Ruth (piano, arranger) has been a musical director in professional theater for over 200 shows. In this capacity she played the piano for rehearsals, trained the singers and conducted the orchestra. She has worked at many Twin City theaters including twenty years at the Chanhassen Dinner Theaters, the Children’s Theater, Park Square, Theater Mu and seventeen years with Bloomington Civic Theater (now called Artistry). Anita worked with Project Success for fifteen years, bringing  music theater wisdom to hundreds of middle school students. She is on the COMPAS roster with PolkaSol, a group with Joan Griffith and the singer/songwriter Ann Reed. One of her greatest joys is partnering with T. Mychael Rambo on VocalEssence’s Witness teacher/artist roster.

Sample Programs: Customizable To Site’s Needs

Performances

 American Classics – From Ragtime to Broadway

The repertoire consists of Scott Joplin medley, Schindler’s List theme, John Philip Sousa, West Side Story medley, Fiddler On The Roof medley, Sound of Music medley, The King and I medley, Stardust, Deep Purple, Millionaire’s Hoedown, Hot Canary, Ashogan Farewell, Rodeo, Shenandoah, ‘Tis A Gift To Be Simple, Ellington medley, and other movie themes.

 European Classics – Melodies the Whole World Loves

The repertoire consists of Intermezzo, Liebslied, Liebsfreud, Rivalité, Vivaldi Concerto, Czardis, Hungarian Dance No. 5, Waltz of the Flowers, Blue Danube, Der Rosenkavalier, Meditation from Thais, Chopin Nocturne, Rondo A la Turk, Youkali, and Anitra’s Dance.

South American Classics – Brazilian Samba and Argentinian Tangos

The repertoire consists of Astor  Piazzolla, Felicidade, Wave, Manha do Carnaval, Noites Cariocas, Bebé, Girl from Ipanema, Sweet Happy Life, Gaucho, Sambanova No. 1, and Choro in Am.