Our Program

Young Chamber Musicians, founded and directed by violist Susan Bates, offers advanced chamber music instruction and exciting performance opportunities to string players and pianists ages 14-19.  Through its collaboration with Music at Kohl Mansion and Mercy High School, Burlingame, YCM has fostered learning through listening and performing since 2008.

“I’m sure you agree that the best musical education an instrumentalist can get is through chamber music, so the work you are doing so well I consider to be essential to your student’s growth and understanding of their art. ”

- Cellist, David Finckel

Program Overview

“Learning through listening and performing”

Weekly Coaching

Weekly coaching takes place on the campus of Mercy High School Burlingame at Kohl Mansion, a 1914 Tudor-style building designed for music. The coaching season includes 30 weeks (August–May) and is divided into two 15-week semesters with the usual holidays plus a 3-week winter break and 5 additional holiday weeks in the spring semester.

Masterclasses

Every ensemble performs in one public masterclass or outreach event each semester. Masterclass artists are renowned Bay Area chamber music artists and seasonal ensembles from the Music at Kohl Mansion presenting series.

Performances

Every ensemble performs two movements from chamber works of contrasting style on a formal public concert at the end of each semester. In addition, extra performance opportunities are created as outreach to the community.

Concert Attendance

In collaboration with Music at Kohl Mansion, YCM students receive free tickets and reserved seats to monthly 7:00 p.m. Sunday professional chamber music performances. Attendance at one Music at Kohl professional performance each semester is required.

Additional Benefits

  • Video and materials for Rehearsal Technique and other topics related to music history, and score–reading.

  • “Music in College”, an on-going series of online seminars that unite YCM alumni with current students and parents to discuss and answer questions about topics such as “How to apply to music school” and “How to study music in college while carrying another major”.

  • Seminars for pianists and Reading sessions for large string ensemble

Mendelssohn: Piano Trio in D Minor played by the Peiskos Piano Trio

“A young musician with chamber music experience is likely to be a confident player - acquainted with the repertoire of differing style periods, eager to engage with fellow musicians, and interested in a variety of musical ideas. Particularly, for those who are technically mature at a young age, exposure to chamber music offers a portal to the understanding of music, culture, and interpersonal communication. The Young Chamber Musicians program is designed to serve these goals to develop the musical maturity of its students.”

— Susan Bates, Director

Apply for the 2024-2025 season!

Applications open March 1 - April 15, 2024

No fee to apply to Young Chamber Musicians

Application requirements

A completed application form that includes…

  • Video recordings of two movements of contrasting style/period from current solo repertoire

  • List of previous chamber music experiences (2 years minimum required)

  • List of previous chamber music works performed and/or studied (Chamber music experience is defined as participation in a small ensemble without a conductor; for example, a string trio, quartet, quintet or piano trio, quartet, quintet)

Applicants may be advanced to a video audition round that includes preparing, recording, and submitting two short chamber music excerpts over a ten-day time period.