program Description
Chamber Music Institute is for intermediate and advanced musicians who are interested in playing in small ensembles.
Designed for instrumentalists in grades 6–12 and vocalists in grades 6–8, the Chamber Music Institute is an audition-based program for strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, guitar, and voice.
Participation in the Chamber Music Institute will provide advanced musicians with the chance to play in smaller ensembles such as duos, trios, quartets, and quintets. There will also be opportunities for instrument-specific ensembles for younger students, such as flute choir, double bass ensemble, cello choir, and more. Advanced middle school singers will have the opportunity to perform in a small vocal chamber ensemble.
In recent seasons, CMI students have studied and performed a diverse range of pieces by composers including Franz Joseph Haydn, W.A. Mozart, Benjamin Britten, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Darius Milhaud, William Grant Still, Florence Price, George Walker, and Caroline Shaw.
Students will be matched according to age and ability. There will be weekly coachings with professional musicians and educators throughout the season, as well as two masterclasses and a recital.
Playing in a chamber ensemble requires great responsibility in learning individual parts and preparing for rehearsal. Private lessons are strongly encouraged, though students without a private teacher may be accepted on a case by case basis. Students do not need to be Elemental Music alumni in order to participate.
Please email Program Director Emily Call for more information about this program.
SCHEDULE & TUITION
Chamber Music Institute meets on Saturday mornings at Elemental Music (1906 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica). Other rehearsal schedules may possible pending group and coach availability.
Tuition for the 2024/25 season is approximately $450/trimester, for a total of $1,350 for the season. Participation is a year-long commitment (24 rehearsals, 2 masterclasses, 1 recital).
Early Bird Discount for those who enroll by June 1: $50
Non-refundable deposit of $250 is due upon enrollment.
Tuition reduction is available on a sliding scale. Our Tuition Reduction Form is short & sweet. Please submit your form ASAP so we can help determine a family-friendly tuition rate for you and start making music! Payment plans are also available.
Auditions
Interested in joining the Chamber Music Institute?
Instrumentalists (grades 6–12) must play:
one scale of their choosing
two contrasting solos for the audition, demonstrating technical facility and lyrical expression
sight reading may be required
In an a cappella audition, vocalists (grades 6–8) must:
sing up and down a major scale and arpeggio
sing an octave
sing the first verse of America (My Country ’Tis of Thee)
sing/echo tonal memory patterns.
Students may reserve an audition spot for our 2024/25 season now, though auditions for this program will not be held until September 2024. Please fill out the form below to get on our list. Program Director Emily Call will contact you with more information in August.
2023/24 Master Class Guests
Jennifer Kloetzel, cello
University of California, Santa Barbara
Lina Bahn, violin
USC Thornton School of Music
2022/23 Master Class Guests
Wendy Richman, viola
International Contemporary Ensemble | UCLA, CSUN
Seth Parker Woods, cello
Wild Up | USC Thornton School of Music
2021/22 Master Class Guests
Giovanna Moraga Clayton, cello
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
Kevin Kumar, violin
Salastina
If you would like to speak with our Translation Liaison to answer questions and provide information in Spanish, please email Juanita Devis. You can also visit our Spanish website for more information!
Si usted desea hablar con nuestra Traductora Intermediaria para que responda sus preguntas y reciba la información en español, por favor envíe un correo electrónico a Juanita Devis. ¡También puede visitar nuestra página de internet en español para más información!