Instrumental | About the Program
June 23 - August 14, 2012

Each summer we enroll 80 of the most promising young instrumentalists from here and abroad to join us for an exciting summer of music making. Our students are typically 18 to 28 and enrolled in (or recently graduated from) undergraduate or graduate studies. On occasion, we do admit a high school student who is advanced enough and ready to undertake seven weeks of intensive study.

We consider orchestral, private lessons and chamber music each to be vital components of the instrumental program and our schedule illustrates this. The orchestra rehearses daily for the majority of the seven weeks and performs its concerts in Chautauqua’s 5,000-seat Amphitheater. Each instrumentalist receives six private lessons with a member of the faculty and is scheduled for a minimum of 12 hours of reserved practice time each week. There are 2 distinct phases of chamber music for every student to participate in. Most students are engaged by an integrated three-phase mock audition component comprising of: psychology, performance and debriefing providing priceless insight into the professional road ahead. String players should note that for much of the seven weeks there is usually a luthier on hand to assist with repairs as necessary.

"Chautauqua is the best possible musical environment to live in"

Charlie Mann | University of Michigan