APPALACHIAN CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
History, Nature, Culture
Educational Programming
Summer 2025
An inspiring, unforgettable week that will cultivate your love of making music with others
These programs are designed to discover the joy of making music with others and push the boundaries of string playing skills and expression. Participants will have one-on-one chamber music coachings with international festival artists, side-by-side performances and opportunities to perform and work on their technical skills on the instrument.
Strings Chamber Music Camp
Details
Ages 12 - 18 | All levels
Younger students welcome to apply.
For violin, viola, cello, and bass
Tuition: $225 / student, (need-based scholarships available)
Applications Due June 1, seats are limited due to space so apply today!
Schedule
August 4-8, 2025
Monday - Friday: 10am - 3pm
Bring packed lunch, concert with pizza party on Friday.
Location
Old Stone School
37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro, VA 20132
About 20 minutes from Harpers Ferry, Charles Town, and Leesburg!
Additional Guest Artists
Masterclass Artists
Sam Suggs, bass
About
Each day, students will spend time with the all-camp chamber ensemble and their small assigned chamber music groups. Guest musicians will stop by throughout the week for learning sessions, and new this year, students may sign up to participate in a 20 minute master class with one of our festival musicians. Masterclass participants will be assigned based on participation, students must provide a copy of the manuscript for the piece they will present.
The week will conclude with an invited concert featuring the different groups who prepared music throughout the week.
Students will receive their small group assignments and music to begin rehearsing in early July ahead of the first day of camp. Small preformed groups are also welcome. Attend together and bring a piece you have been rehearsing and receive coaching, or select a new piece to explore!
Adult Intensive Chamber Music Workshop
Details
Open for all strings players, limited space for winds and brass
All levels welcome
Tuition: $175 / (need-based scholarships available)
Applications due by July 1
Schedule
Saturday and Sunday, August 2-3, 2025
10 am - 5 pm each day, Lunch provided
About
Have a group? If you have a pre-formed group, sign up to participate together!
Need a group? Sign up as an individual, we'll match you with partners based on applications received.
Each day, musicians will spend time with their ensemble receiving coaching from our professional ACMF musicians. Activities may also include individual one-on-one work with a coach, group work to develop and refine skills needed by small ensemble musicians, and more!
The weekend will conclude with an invited concert for family and friends.
Past Sponsors
Interested in becoming a sponsor for educational programming in 2025?
Contact us at info {at} appalachianchamber.org!
Our 2024 Educational Programming was made possible, in part, through the support of Associated Chamber Music Players (www.acmp.net). The mission of ACMP is to stimulate and expand the playing of chamber music for pleasure among musicians worldwide, of all backgrounds, ages and skill levels, by connecting people and supporting chamber music activities for individuals, groups and institutions.
Join ACMP - Membership is FREE!
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The 2024 Strings Chamber Music Camp was also sponsored in part by Bank of Clarke and NOVEC. Thank you for your support!
What's included in our chamber music programs?
Our chamber music courses are a multi-day, intensive chamber music experience. No previous chamber music experience necessary. We welcome applications of all levels and abilities. Discover the joy that is playing music with others! We will send out materials and music before the camp and seminar so that you can be prepared for the week.
Get Inspired
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one-on-one chamber music coachings with international festival artists
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additional help, support and coaching with inspiring professionals
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side-by-side string ensemble playing with festival artists
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work with special guest musicians and perform new works and arrangements
Perform
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informal performance opportunities: side-by-side ensemble performance with professionals
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performance opportunity at end of course for family and friends of participants
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access to open rehearsals ACMF artists for the festival during the week
Grow
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discover the joy of making music with others
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inspiring interactive group activities that explore non-classical genres, how to sight-read, improvisation and more
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push the boundaries of your string playing skills and expression
Listen
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Family Members welcome to attend informal performance
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Access to observe open rehearsals of ACMF artists on the day
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participants and their families are specially invited to attend ACMF events
Past Programming
SPRING 2024
New course offering through Lifelong Learning at Shepherd University
CHAMBER MUSIC WITH THE APPALACHIAN CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
with Instructor and ACMF Board Member, David Rampy!
Lecture style seminar designed for general audiences
6 weeks - online or in person
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Symphonies of Beethoven, Operas of Mozart and Verdi, Oratorios of Handle. Most of us are familiar with these large types of music. But what about Chamber Music? What is it, do I like it, would I know it if I heard it? Join me and musicians from the Appalachian Chamber Music Festival in listening to and exploring the world of chamber music: Small rooms-big music. We will follow chamber music from the beginnings in the sonata trios of Corelli, Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi to the development of the classical string quartets of Haydn and Mozart, the romantic music of Beethoven and Schubert to the newer sounds of Bartok, Shostakovich, Smetana, Philip Glass and others. We will have lectures and demonstrations by Katie Tertell, the founding artistic director of ACMF, as well as some Festival musicians from around the country who will be joining us on Zoom. Join us for six exciting sessions for some of the world's greatest chamber music - you might like it!
For more about Lifelong Learning at Shepherd University »