Keeping History in Motion
Dr. Cade described himself as a physician, scientist, musician, and inventor. While most remember the scientist, the String Fellows program honors the musician.
Since 2009, the Cade Museum has partnered with the University of Florida School of Music to place instruments from Dr. Cade’s personal collection into the hands of UF music students. These are not replicas or modern instruments — many date to the 17th century, selected and cherished by Dr. Cade himself over a lifetime of playing.
How It Works
Students invited into the String Fellows program visit the museum to play several instruments from the historic collection. They select an instrument and bow that suits them, and keep that instrument for the year, allowing them to develop their skills. In return, String Fellows perform at select Cade Museum events — sharing their music with the community and connecting Dr. Cade’s legacy to a new generation of listeners.
The Collection
At the time of his passing in 2007, Dr. Cade had assembled dozens of violins, along with violas, cellos, and bows — some instruments dating back to the 1600s. Through a series of gifts from the Cade family, the museum now stewards a collection of 31 instruments and 20 bows.
This collection is both a permanent collection and an active educational resource. The Cade Museum is restoring and conserving instruments in need of care, ensuring they remain playable and available to inspire, educate, and engage students for years to come.
A Living Legacy
String Fellows is more than a loan program. It is a direct expression of what the Cade Museum believes: that creativity and curiosity belong together, that history is most powerful when it is active, and that the best way to honor a remarkable life is to let it inspire remarkable ones.
Support String Fellows
Your gift helps restore and preserve instruments from Dr. Cade’s collection and keeps the program accessible to UF music students. Every dollar invested in the String Fellows program is a dollar invested in the next generation of musicians.
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