Monique Mead is an accomplished violinist who shares her passion for classical music with children and adults around the world.

Mead, a regular performer in the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival, is returning to the island for her third year as a Musician-in-Residence in the IM: In Music program, which is coordinated by the festival. The 2009 spring season is sponsored by Mimi and Slim Sommerville.

From March 23 through 27, Mead will instruct the Orcas School string groups in grades second through 12.

“She will teach bowing techniques, performance confidence and presentation, listening skills, and dynamics,” OICMF director Victoria Parker said. “She encourages the use of proper terminology, especially with the younger kids. And she shows how much fun it is. Kids have a chance to see what is possible and they are given a belief in themselves that they can.”

Mead studied chamber music in Germany on a Fulbright Scholarship and has performed throughout the U.S. and Europe. She has been educating young audiences since 1996.

Mead will make a visit to the school choir on her last day, as well as other classes if there is time. Several of the girls in the choir were featured on Mead’s CD “Mother Goose Meets Father Bach,” a compilation of nursery rhymes set to classical music. The young vocalists on Orcas recorded their portion at the Funhouse.

“The students will gain another perspective from a great educator,” elementary music teacher Pam Wright said. “It is always great to have someone of Monique’s caliber to come in and work a little finesse into what we are already doing.”

She is also teaching two “Master Classes” at the Community Church, one of which will end with a performance.

On Tuesday, March 24, Mead will coach a group of musicians from Orcas, Shaw, and Lopez in preparation for a concert of the “Spring Movement” from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” with Mead performing a solo. The public in invited to observe both the class and the concert from 7 to 9 p.m.

On Wednesday, March 25, musicians of any age can sign up for a master class. The “young masters” start at 6:30 p.m. and adults begin at 7:30 p.m. To register, call Parker at 376-6636. Admission is free for children and by donation for adults during both nights.

“Monique awakes the artist in us and takes us beyond notes and bows to see ourselves as a symphony playing the world’s greatest music,” Orcas middle and high school music teacher Lizz Hanks said.

BOX: Bruce Harvie of Radio Free Olga has archived selections from the past 10 years of Orcas Chamber Music Festival performances. To hear them, visit www.radiofreeolga.com.