The YAF Chamber Music Collective
"The essence of chamber music is intelligent conversation."
- Felix Mendelssohn
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The Chamber Music Collective at YAF aims to become the premier pre-college chamber music program for dedicated classical instrumentalists in strings, piano, and woodwinds, ages 8-18. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. Apply by January 4, 2025 for consideration for our March 2025 Student Chamber Music Concert.
The Bay Area's Premier Youth Chamber Music Program for Ages 8 - 18
Chamber Music is a small conductor-less ensemble of two to eight musicians each playing individual parts, whose collaborative nature emphasizes the balance of being both individual soloists and ensemble players.
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A student's learning trajectory scales with the environments they spend the most time in. The Chamber Music Collective at YAF organizes students to ensure they spend the most quality time with other dedicated and driven individuals, under direct and individualized guidance from accomplished teaching artists. They mentor students in aspects of music performance otherwise unattainable in private lessons or orchestral playing alone. As a result, students gain a deep understanding of music, underscored by widespread performance recognition, and develop close life-long relationships with one another as the next generation of rising artists.
Why Study Chamber Music at YAF?
As both soloist and ensemble player, a successful chamber musician develops the delicate skill of balancing simultaneous leading with following. Through YAF's Chamber Music program, students learn invaluable lessons of listening and playing in an environment that showcases their individual abilities to play challenging parts while supporting their fellow musicians on stage.
Mentorship
Students gain opportunities to work directly with some of the world's most accomplished musicians through YAF's esteemed faculty and guest artists. Groups meet weekly to the learn tools, techniques, and etiquette cultivated by generation after generation of professionals. Over time students build relationships with mentors to supplement their private musical studies and academic connections to form lasting networks of tomorrow.
Performance-oriented Goals
Groups are formed by audition results to match similar-level students, who meet once a week for 10-week quarters throughout the academic year. Each quarter they focus on a work from the standard repertoire to prepare for public concerts and competitions. For especially well-prepared groups, YAF procures high profile venues with professional audio and video recording services made freely available for students' use in their personal portfolios.
Local Impact and Beyond
YAF regularly schedules student showcase recitals at local community spaces and performing arts venues alike, boosting classical music in the local neighborhoods of the San Francisco Bay Area. Exceptional groups gain access to YAF-sponsored performance tours to iconic venues at national levels at more artistically established cities including Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and New York City.
Program Details
1. Apply & Audition
Auditions give us a sense of your current level of playing so we can match you to an appropriate group based on age, skill level, ensemble preference, schedule, and geographic location. Groups are assigned to one or more of our faculty in the nearby area to meet once a week at times that works for everyone. That means no more rush hour traffic!
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Auditions occur on a rolling basis throughout the year to provide multiple opportunities for advancement and to accommodate student schedules. Apply by January 4, 2025 for consideration for our March 2025 concert!
2. Coach & Rehearse
Each group is formed to undergo up to three 10-week session of weekly rehearsals in either Fall (September - December), Winter (January - March), and Spring (April - June). Each rehearsal lasts 90 minutes, led by the group's assigned faculty member to learn the tools and techniques at a professional level of ensemble playing. While students are expected to practice their individual parts on their own, they are not required to meet outside of their assigned coaching sessions. Students are rotated into new groups each term to gain exposure to a wide variety of repertoire, meet other dedicated students, and gain insights from another top-talent mentor.
3. Perform
At the end of each 10-week session, YAF schedules a concert for each group to perform for their local communities, at increasingly high profile venues for more advanced students. YAF may also procure professional audio and video recording services for students to build their performance portfolios for use outside of YAF, such as for auditions, competitions, or just to share with friends and family who are unable to attend the live performances.