2024
Olympic Chamber Music Fellowship

Port Townsend, Washington (near Seattle)

APPLICATION DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 16, 2024

As featured in Strings Magazine, violinists, violists, cellists, and pianists age 18 or older are encouraged to apply. Established ensembles made up of these instruments are also considered. Up to five participants will be selected.

The Olympic Music Festival reserves the right to accept fewer applicants in order to maintain the highly professional standard expected at regular festival performances.

Collaborate with World-Class Performers

Fellows collaborate with world-class artists while gaining invaluable career experience. Private mentoring sessions and group discussions further reinforce the skills necessary to embark on a professional career in music.

Refine Your Teaching Skills

Fellows will have the unique opportunity of presenting a public masterclass for gifted local high school musicians while receiving guidance from mentors in preparation to teach in public and constructive feedback following the event.

Free to Participants

The Olympic Chamber Music Fellowship is a full scholarship program. Local travel from the airport to the festival, housing, and meal stipend are included.

Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements to Seattle, Washington.

Arrival & Departure Dates

Participants must arrive at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) by 12:00PM on Monday, August 5, 2024. All local travel is provided by the Olympic Music Festival. The program concludes following the 2:00PM concert on Sunday, August 18, 2024. Participants may depart on a red-eye flight after 9:00PM or the next day on Monday, August 19.

Critical Experience for a Career in Chamber Music

The Olympic Chamber Music Fellowship program provides exceptionally talented rising artists an opportunity to refine their chamber music skills within the grueling environment that professionals face regularly. Fellows will prepare chamber works alongside mentoring artists, while receiving guidance in the form of private mentoring sessions and group discussions. Following a highly-selective audition process, participants will be invited to the Olympic Peninsula for a two-week residency.

Olympic Chamber Music Fellows are held to the same standard as any other resident artist. They are expected to arrive with individual parts prepared and score study completed. Given the limited amount of time available before weekend performance and in between weekly rehearsal cycles, only musicians of the highest professional and artistic abilities will be seriously considered.

Port Townsend & Fort Worden State Park

The Olympic Music Festival takes place at Fort Worden Historical State Park in the victorian waterfront town of Port Townsend, WA, approximately 55 miles from downtown Seattle. Participants are housed at a bed & breakfast inn 10 minutes away from the main performing venue.

Once a critical military outpost during World War II, Fort Worden is now a popular destination in the Pacific Northwest with hiking trails, beaches, and other amenities. Performances take place at the 275 seat Wheeler Theater. Fellows and mentoring artists typically dine together at the conclusion of rehearsal days.

Port Townsend is a busy summer tourist spot with many art festivals, unique small businesses, and diverse range of restaurants. With just under 10,000 residents, the city has also become well-known for a number of renowned bow makers including Charles Espey, Ole Kanestrom, Cody Kowalski, and the late Paul Siefried.

REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS

• A movement from a substantial work by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, or Schubert. Selections by Bach may be unaccompanied but any sonatas or concertos must include piano or orchestral accompaniment. Ensembles may submit a movement from a major work by any of these composers.

• A work of the applicant’s choice. This can be a movement of a major concerto, sonata (violin, viola, or cello sonatas must include piano), or a substantial chamber music work. Applicants are highly encouraged to include a performance of a chamber music work with their application. Pianists: concertos may only be submitted if they are performed with orchestra.

• Optional: Applicants may include a third performance that showcases their unique artistic voice or instrumental command. This may be a contemporary work or additional chamber music work.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

• E-mail a completed application form to: fellowship@olympicmusicfestival.org

• Include links to performances videos uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo only. Double check that your privacy settings are set to public or unlisted!

• Submit contact information for two distinguished musicians who can speak to your abilities and talents as an exceptional artist.

• Submit your application fee ($60 for individuals | $100 for ensembles) by using the links on this page.

For all questions about the Olympic Chamber Music Fellowship, please e-mail:

fellowship@olympicmusicfestival.org

CLICK BELOW TO PAY APPLICATION FEES

Applicants will be notified of their status by March 1, 2024

2015

JENNIFER LIU violin
The Juilliard School

DJ CHEEK viola
New England Conservatory

ERIN KIRBY viola
Hochschule für Musik und
Darstellende Künste Frankfurt am Main

ALEXANDER HERSH cello
New England Conservatory

RIEKO TSUCHIDA piano
Peabody Conservatory

2016

HANNAH TARLEY violin
The Juilliard School

MEREDITH KUFCHAK viola
San Francisco Conservatory of Music

YI QUN XU cello
The Juilliard School

RIEKO TSUCHIDA piano
Peabody Conservatory

2018

EUNAE KOH violin
Manhattan School of Music

SUNG JIN LEE viola
The Juilliard School

THE MERZ TRIO:

BRIGID COLERIDGE violin
City University of New York Graduate Center

JULIA YANG cello
Ensemble Connect

LEE DIONNE piano
Yale School of Music

2022

GREGORY LEWIS violin
Yale School of Music

ANGELA WEE violin
The Juilliard School

BETHANY HARGREAVES viola
Yale School of Music

AUDREY CHEN cello
City University of New York Graduate Center

AMALIA RINEHART piano
Stony Brook University