The Strathmann Academy of Music at Riverwind
Elize DeVries was hired by The Strathmann Academy of Music in the summer of her fifteenth year. Joseph Strathmann sends talent scouts throughout the United States to find extremely talented young musicians. They look for the youngsters whose neighbors say, “That kid plays better than any famous person I ever heard.” Each summer twelve to sixteen young talents are invited to spend the summer at Herr Strathmann’s estate “Riverwind” in upper New York County. Special instructors assist the youngsters hone their talent. Elize was hired to be a counselor for the students- involve them in tea each afternoon and a social time in the evening. She was also Girl Friday for Herr Strathmann. The summer of 1903 proved to be a special time for sixteen students and Elize as they lived at Riverwind and discovered more than their musical abilities.