About the Chamber Music Program
The Chamber Music Program is an excellent opportunity for young players to enhance their musical abilities, improve their performance confidence, and develop interpersonal skills within small group settings. Now in its 26th season, the Program welcomes players of all levels. The Program makes every effort to place individual players into ensembles with whom they may feel most comfortable; pre-formed groups are also encouraged to apply.

Recitals
The season finale in Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall on Monday, April 30, 2008, the glittering champagne recital at The National Arts Club, and a performance in Leonard Nimoy Thalia Hall at Symphony Space provide multiple opportunities for each ensemble to present its music.

Festival Evening
The second annual "Festival Evening," date TBD, will feature performances by all the ensembles and a reception afterward.

Coaching
Instruction levels are incorporated within a two-tiered program, intermediate and advanced. Ensembles comprised of strings, winds, brass, guitar, harp, and piano meet weekly from October through April for individualized sessions from a staff of outstanding professional musicians. This season, the coaches include members of the Shanghai, Lark, Meridian, and Mitchell String Quartets, Quintet of the Americas, Speculum Musicae, and Da Capo, among others. Coaching Fee: $325

Eliran Avni, piano
Anna Maria Baeza, clarinet
Laura Gilbert, flute
Suzanne Gilchrest, flute
Matthew Goeke, cello
Cordelia Hagmann, violin
Katia Kravits, piano
Jonathan Keren, violin
Sheryl Lee, piano
Adam Meyer, viola
Soo-Kyung Park, flute
Adiel Schmit, cello
Sebu D. Sirinian, violin
Ella Toovy, cello
Suzanne Wagor, viola
Alexander Yudkovsky, violin


Masterclass Series
The Chamber Music Program consistently boasts an extraordinary series of masterclasses by world-renowned chamber musicians. This season, the masterclass coaches include:

Linda Chesis, flute, Manhattan School of Music
Claude Frank, concert pianist
Pamela Frank, violin, faculty of the Curtis Institute
Kazuhide Isomura, viola, The Tokyo Quartet
Kathe Jarka, cello
Gilbert Kalish, concert pianist
Ani Kavafian, violin/viola,
  Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Alan Kay, Clarinet, Orpheus Program Coordinator
David Krakauer, clarinet, faculties of Mannes College of Music and Manhattan School of Music
Charle Neidich, clarinet, faculty of the Jilliard School
Daniel Phillips, violin, The Orion Quartet
Members of the Shanghai Quartet
Fred Sherry, cello, Chamber Music Society of
  Lincoln Center
Carol Wincenc, flute, The New York Woodwind Quintet,   faculty of The Juilliard School
Peter Wiley, cello, the Guarneri String Quartet
Carmit Zori, violin

Chamber Music Workshops
Students enjoy special evenings of sight-reading with coaches, workshops, informal performances, and social time.

For more information please see the Members page.

World Première
An honors ensemble will give the world première of a piano trio by Michael Dupstrom, who has been commissioned by the Chamber Music Program as part of the First Music series of new works by young American composers. The work will have it's première in Weill Recital Hall on April 30, 2008.

Mentorship Program
Daniel Phillips, violinist of the renowned Orion Quartet will work closely with a selected group, performing with them at the season finale. Mr. Phillips enjoys a versatile career as an established chamber musician, solo artist and teacher. He has performed as soloist with many of the country's leading symphonies, including Pittsburgh, Houston, New Jersey, Phoenix, San Antonio and Yakima.

Performances for Special Audiences
Mechelle Chestnut, Music Therapist
and Program Advisor
A series of concerts at hospitals and adult residences allows students to gain performance experience while providing a valuable service to those in need. In the 2007-08 season, venues will include Beth Israel Hospital, Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center, Sloan Kettering Hospital and the New York Presbyterian Hosptial.

Director's Award for Commitment and Achievement
Each year, the Director recognizes individuals at the season's final concert for dedication to the Program and for musical advancement.

To request an auditions brochure, click here.

Lisa Tipton, Director
Lisa Tipton, violinist and co-founder of the award-winning Meridian String Quartet, has toured internationally and held residencies at Queens College, Bard College, and Turtle Bay Music School. She has won distinctions from the Evian International Competition, Artists International, and Chamber Music America. As a devoted interpreter of new music, she established the “Made in America” series at Weill Recital Hall and performed on the "Interpretations" series at Merkin Concert Hall. She performs regularly with Solisti New York and the American Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Tipton earned a B.A. from Cornell University and an M.A. from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. Her recording of Ives' sonatas was released in 2006 on Capstone Records.

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