Chamber Music Camp

Will not be held in 2012.

The Festival Chamber Music Camp in 2010 and 2011 brought some of the finest adolescent string players in the Northwest to a week of lessons, coaching, performances, and fun in the Methow Valley. The main objective of camp was to learn the art of playing in a quartet.

The 2011 camp brought 12 talented young musicians to our festival. For some, it was their first trip to the Methow Valley. They stayed together in a charming B&B-style residential unit in the town of Winthrop, within walking distance of rehearsal facilities and local amenities. These students are winners of many awards and honors both locally and even nationally.

Over the course of 10 days the students spread their music throughout the valley, starting with outdoor practice and ensemble rehearsals. Many evenings the students could be seen about town playing to the delight of audiences in local restaurants and public spaces. Their public performances included a mix of solo and ensemble work. Our Festival is unique in its integration of chamber music camp activities with the fabric of social life in our area.

The Chamber Music Camp class of 2011 prepares for a concert.

Professional instruction

All teaching activities, including masterclasses, private lessons, and ensemble coaching sessions, are led by seasoned, professional Festival artists. The 2011 season chamber music camp coaches were Simon James, Kevin Krentz, Mara Gearman, Yuri Namkung and Jing Wang.

Rarely do students have the opportunity to meet, learn from, and socialize with professionals of the caliber represented at our festival.

Free time

No summer camp would be complete without a little free time. When they aren't learning, or performing, or practicing, the students enjoy a variety of outdoor activites.

Performances

Camp provides ample opportunities for students to perform, including many delightful outdoor venues such as the Methow Valley Inn and the Mazama Store.

The Chamber Music Camp musicians are of such advanced ability that they are encouraged to present not only in dedicated camp performances, but also as part of a working chamber orchestra, playing alongside the professional artists during one of the main festival concerts at Signal Hill Ranch. In the 2011 season, playing alonside the main festival artists on July 26, they performed the Bach Brandenburg Concertos #3 and #4.

 

Afterglow

In addition to their official performance duties, the students play a key role in setting the musical mood for our Festival Afterglow parties, held on the concert grounds immediately after each main concert. Onstage, the students play, sing, and entertain concertgoers late into the evening.

We hope the glow stays with these young people as they progress in their musical careers.