The Fellowship String Quartet Program provides intensive study and performance of string chamber music repertoire. Each summer, 16 students are accepted for the five-week Fellowship String Quartet Program and study alongside the 32 students accepted into the three-week Chamber Music for Strings program. Weeks 4-5 of the program are exclusively for the Fellowship students, during which they engage in a specialized curriculum, including studying with the American String Quartet in week four and collaborating with violinist Jonathan Swartz, violist Sabina Thatcher, pianists Wendy Chen, and cellist Andrés Diaz in week five.
Program Details
Dates
Sunday, June 23 – Sunday, July 28, 2024 (inclusive of travel)
Application Deadline
February 15, 2024
Requirements
- Violin, viola, and cello players ages 18-24 or currently enrolled at a college, university, or conservatory
- Pre-formed string quartets are encouraged to apply
Tuition and Fees
- Application fee: $100 (individual) / $150 (pre-formed quartet)
- Early bird application fee through December 1: $75 (individual) / $100 (pre-formed quartet)
- Tuition, Room, and Board: All participants receive full scholarship to attend, which includes tuition, room and board, thanks to the generosity of Madeline Island Chamber Music donors
- Residential fee: $800, due at the time of acceptance
- Students are responsible for the cost of transportation to the program
Program Outline
- 60-minute chamber music coaching each day
- Two hours of scheduled chamber music rehearsals each day
- 60-minute solo repertoire lesson each week
- 30-minute chamber music repertoire lesson each week
- Weekly public performances (quartets perform 1-2 movements each week)
- Ensemble master classes with ensemble-in-residence
- Community engagement presentations and performances
- Faculty presentations about quartet rehearsal techniques, 21st century artistic life, and pathways to success
- Side-by-side rehearsal and performance of quintets with Artist Faculty in Week 5
Application Materials
Video auditions are required for all applicants and must be uploaded directly to the Acceptd application prior to the submission deadline.
A letter of recommendation from your current private teacher or chamber music coach.
Audition Requirements: Individuals
- 5-8 minutes of solo repertoire consisting of two works contrasting in style and tempo (representative excerpts of longer movements are accepted)
- Repertoire may include, but is not limited to, unaccompanied Bach, a virtuoso piece, a standard concerto, or sonata
- Audition recordings may be with or without accompaniment
Audition Requirements: Pre-Formed String Quartets
- Two complete movements of works contrasting in style and tempo
- One work must be from the classical period (Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven are recommended)
- Quartet members wanting individual consideration for admission, if the quartet is not be able to attend as a group, must also submit the audition requirements for individuals listed above
Financial Aid
All participants receive full merit scholarship, covering tuition, room, and board, thanks to the generosity of Madeline Island Chamber Music donors.
Individuals wanting consideration for the Chamber Music for Strings program (if not awarded a Fellowship) may request to be considered for need-based financial aid. Financial aid for the Chamber Music for Strings program is granted to students according to their demonstrated financial need. On average, our scholarships generously cover 50% of tuition, room, and board expenses. To be eligible for financial aid, applicants must complete supplementary questions within the Acceptd application and submit relevant tax documents (if applicable).
Sample Daily Schedule
Includes 2 hours of scheduled individual practice, 3 hours of scheduled chamber music rehearsal, and 1 hour of chamber music coaching
8:00 AM
Breakfast
8:50 AM – 12:10 PM
Rehearsals, coachings, private lessons, or individual practice
12:15 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch
1:20 PM – 4:40 PM
Rehearsals, coachings, private lessons, or individual practice
4:40 PM – 6:00 PM
Free time
6:00 PM – 6:45 PM
Dinner
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Faculty presentations, master classes, and performances