July 14–August 9, 2025
Gilbert Kalish, Co-Director
Kristin Lee, Co-Director
Arnaud Sussmann, Co-Director
DEADLINE: January 10 (applications now closed)
APPLICATION FEE: $70 before January 1; $125 from January 2–10
This three-and-a-half-week program offers approximately eleven outstanding conservatory-level musicians a multitude of opportunities to develop their technical and interpretive skills under the tutelage of world-class chamber music coaches and educators. Students have a rigorous schedule consisting of rehearsals, coachings, and master classes, culminating in multiple performances on Music@Menlo’s main stages. International Program students are chosen by application and audition to work daily with the festival’s renowned artist-faculty in an intensive exploration of the chamber music repertoire and to participate in a variety of seminars focusing on the issues and questions facing today’s young musicians. Students are given free admission to all festival concerts and lectures and are encouraged to attend as many of these events as possible.
2025 Schedule
The daily schedule includes coachings with visiting artists, dress rehearsals, and other activities. Nearly every evening of the festival, two performances take place. At 5:00 p.m., International Program artists perform in a Prelude Performance, which is followed by a 7:00 p.m. main-stage performance featuring the artist-faculty. Concert start times vary between weekdays and weekends. Each International Program artist can expect to perform approximately five pieces of repertoire over nine performances with new repertoire introduced into the schedule every few days.
Below is the typical weekday schedule, although times may vary depending on concert schedules:
| 8:00 a.m. | Carpool from host homes to festival campus |
| 8:45–9:00 a.m. | Roll Call and Announcements |
| 9:00–9:15 a.m. | Warm-up |
| 9:15–10:45 a.m. | Session I — Ensemble Rehearsal or Coaching |
| 11:00 a.m.–Noon | Master Class or Café Conversation |
| 12:00–12:50 p.m. | Lunch |
| 12:50–2:00 p.m. | Session II — Ensemble Rehearsal or Coaching |
| 2:10–3:10 p.m. | Session III — Dress Rehearsal or Coaching |
| 3:15–4:00 p.m. | Group Activity (on select days) |
| 5:00 p.m. | Prelude Performance |
| 6:00 p.m. | Dinner on your own |
| 7:00 p.m. | Encounter lecture or concert |
| 9:30 p.m. | Post-concert development event (on select days) |
| Application Fee: |
$70 if submitted by January 1 $125 if submitted after January 1 |
| Tuition: | Full tuition fellowship is provided through the Ann S. Bowers Young Artist Fund, including housing with host families. Participants are responsible for their own travel costs to/from the Bay Area. |
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