Chautauqua Institution

Each summer we enroll 81 of the most promising young instrumentalists from here and abroad to join us for an exciting summer of music making. Our students are typically 18 to 28 and enrolled in (or recently graduated from) undergraduate or graduate studies.

The School of Music at Chautauqua considers orchestral work, private study, and chamber music each to be vital components of the program. The orchestra rehearses daily for the majority of the summer and performs its concerts in Chautauqua’s 4,400-seat outdoor Amphitheater. Other facets of orchestral study include sectionals, repertoire classes and mock auditions all run by our professional faculty. Topics covered include the psychology of auditioning, performance issues/anxiety, and instant feedback providing priceless insight into the professional road ahead.

The chamber music program runs throughout the festival. Students receive regular coaching from our distinguished faculty and have multiple performance opportunities. Percussionists participate in a two-week chamber music residency with Michael Burritt, concluding with a percussion ensemble concert. Many of the ensembles mix with the opera conservatory, piano and even theater and dance programs to provide a wide and diverse offering of performing experiences.

Private study rounds out the curriculum with each student receiving six private lessons with a member of Chautauqua’s world-renowned faculty. Master classes from both resident and guest faculty are part of the program as well. Climate-controlled practice cabins provide an ideal environment for the personal work that goes into a summer of artistic growth.

2026 School of Music Faculty and Staff

2026 Instrumental Faculty

Jaren Atherholt, Oboe

Alicja Basinska, Collaborative Pianist

Aaron Berofsky, Violin and Chair of Strings

Bill Bernatis, Horn

Curtis Burris, Bass

Michael Burritt, Percussion

Stas Chernychev, Clarinet

Cristina Cutts, Tuba

Pedro Frenandez, Chair of Percussion

Shannon Hesse, Collaborative Pianist

Ilya Kaler, Violin

Roger Kaza, Horn

Daniel Kerdelewicz, Horn

Akiko Konishi, Collaborative Pianist

Brian Kushmaul, Percussion

Owen Lee, Bass

Eric Lindblom, Bass Trombone

Madeline Olson, Harp

Nurit Pacht, Violin

Vlad Petrachevus, Trombone

Lynne Ramsey, Viola

Mark Robbins, Horn

Jeff Robinson, Bassoon

Richard Sherman, Flute and Chair of Winds

Matt Strauss, Percussion

Almita Vamos, Violin

Kathryn Votapek, Chair of Chamber Music

Felix Wang, Cello

Micah Wilkinson, Trumpet and Chair of Brass

School of Music Administration

Sarah Malinoski, Director, Chautauqua Schools of Performing and Visual Arts

Samantha Minardi-Lopez, Manager of Student Services

Matthew Montelione, Administrative Assistant

Zaria Graves, Principal Librarian MSFO

Mariana Mathewson Bernstein, Connections Coordinator

Robert Bussell, Piano Technician

Igor Gersh, Resident Luthier

Scholarships

Thank you for investing in our students, our programs, and the future of the arts.

Alexander W. & Edna L. Bouchal Memorial Scholarship

A. Chace Anderson Fine and Performing Arts Scholarship

Ann and Isidor Saslav Violin Scholarship in Honor of Mischa Mischakoff

Anne S. Burden Music Scholarship

Anonymous Flute Scholarship In Honor of Jenny Ball Gillette

Av and Janet Posner Music Scholarship

Barton Family Scholarship

Beverly and Bruce Conner Scholarship Fund

Charles John Petre Memorial Fund Trombone Award

Chautauqua Women's Club MSFO Scholarship

Chautauqua Women's Club String Scholarship

Craig J. Luchsinger Memorial Scholarship for Violin

CWC Anonymous Music Scholarship

Cyril T.M. Hough Memorial Scholarship Fund

Daphne Whitman MSFO Scholarship

David Effron Conducting Fellowship

Dr. Cheryl Gorelick Woodwind Scholarship In Memory of Robin Radin, JD

Dr. Stephen Fudell Memorial Scholarship Endowment

Elaine and Erroll Davis Scholarship for MSFO

Elke Kieserling Hoppe Scholarship

Everett and Sarah Holden McLaren Scholarship

General Scholarship Fund

George E. and Susan Moran Murphy Scholarship

Glenn G. Vance Music Scholarship Fund

Gwin Family Fund for MSFO

Hebrew Congregation Music Award

Henry Rauch Memorial Scholarship

Hilda Jo Anne Milham Scholarship

Jack I. and Barbara J. Morris Memorial Cello Scholarship

Konneker Scholarship

Kurt Miller and Karen Williams Miller Scholarship In Memory of Marcia and Richard Miller

Mary Chenoweth Wright Scholarship Endowment

Mary Elizabeth Peffer Music Scholarship

Mary McQueen Ross Scholarship

Milks Family Scholarship for Brass Music

Moore Scholarship Fund for Music

Mr. and Mrs. Sanford Nobel Scholarship

MSFO Scholarship in memory of Allen and Elizabeth Wood

Nancy Leininger Scholarship

NFMC-New York Federation Award

NFMC-Ohio Federation Award

Nina T. Wensley Scholarship

Pennsylvania Scholarship Fund

Rebecca McCrea Kamen Cello Scholarship

Robert P. Hiller Scholarship Fund

Ruth Higby Haver and Della and David Higby Music Scholarship

Samuel R. McClure II Brass Scholarship

Shreveport Friends' Music Scholarship

The Arlene Hajinlian Music Scholarship

The Augusta L. Ebert Molyneaux Scholarship

The Bettsy and Ellis Cowling Scholarship for Music

The Bina Edkin Eckerd Memorial Fund for the Fine and Performing Arts

The Carnahan-Jackson Scholarship Fund

The Catherine Prussing Rodgers Scholarship

The Chautauqua/Jamestown Fund for Education, Religion, and the Performing Arts

The Chuck Berginc Scholarship

The Danny Kayne Music Scholarship Fund

The Douglas A. Raynow Memorial Scholarship

The Edwin L. Bullock Scholarship

The Elmer G. Molyneaux Scholarship

The Ernest W. and Jeannette McClure Polley Scholarship

The Falk Scholarship Fund

The Fayette S. Olmstead Foundation and Pittsburgh National Bank Charitable Trust Fund

The Gellman Scholarship Fund

The Janet Chapman and Nancy Colalillo Scholarship

The Kaylor Family Scholarship

The LaPenna-Koch Scholarship

The Lillian B. Bullock Scholarship

The Loynd Family Fund

The Marilyn G. Levinson and Nathan Gottschalk First Chair Award for MSFO Endowment

The Marsha J. Alico Memorial Music Scholarship

The Mary Louise Molyneaux Scholarship

The Max and Edythe Kahn Scholarship Fund

The Michael and Jane Eisner Scholarship Fund

The Michael L. Barnett Scholarship Fund

The Nancy and Norman Karp Scholarship Fund

The Ralph J. Miller and Florence L. Miller Memorial Scholarship in Music

The Reed Family Scholarship

The Richard & Eleanor Aron Music Scholarship

The Robert and Andrea Cali Scholarship

The Rotary Club of Jamestown Community Service Fund (RCJCSF) Scholarships

The Teresa M. Joyce. Ph.D., Scholarship

The William Cole/King Scholarship

Thomas E. Kaufman Memorial Music Scholarship

Tustin Memorial Fund

Wiebenga Family Fund

William and Jane Pfefferkorn Scholarship for Music

Lowell and Frances Hyam Brentano Fund

Barakat Scholarship

The Chautauqua Amateur Musicians Program (C.A.M.P.) Scholarship

Glendorn Foundation Scholarship Fund

The Lucille J. McClure Memorial Music Scholarship Fund

William Bates Scholarship – In Honor of LaDonna Bates

Peggy and Andy Anderson Family Scholarship Fund

Ward T. Bower Memorial Scholarship

Chautauqua Women's Club Scholarship

Robert and Joan Spirtas Scholarship

Joseph H. and Florence A. Roblee Scholarship

The Fayette S. Olmsted Foundation Scholarship

Louis and Deborah Clementi Scholarship In Memory of Frank and Joan Ciccarelli

The Suzanne Gaider Sroka Scholarship

William and Pauline Higie School of Music Scholarship

The Sack Family Scholarship

Diamond Jubilee Class of 1948 Scholarship

Wilbur D. Forney Memorial Scholarship Fund

Mary Cummings Paine Eudy Scholarship

The John B. Yoder Music Scholarship

James Scamman Memorial Scholarship

Clarkson Family Scholarship

George and Marianne Strother Scholarship Fund

Dietrich Family Endowment for Music at Chautauqua

The Henrietta W. Schlager Scholarship

The Dr. William T. and Virginia W. Smyth Fund

Elmer S. and H. Lorraine Sachse Scholarship Fund

Frederick Percival Boynton Scholarship

The Lucinda Ely Johnson Scholarship

Beverly and Marvin Fiegelman Scholarship Fund for the Performing Arts

The Daley Family Fund

The Arthur and Arlene Holden Scholarship for Chautauqua

Harris Scholarship for Performing Arts

The Josette and Ronald Rolley Scholarship

Ruth M. Skinner Hutchins Scholarship Fund

G. Thomas & Kathleen Harrick Music Scholarship

The Alfred E. Goldman Scholarship

The Harriet B. and Ralph T. Geller Memorial Scholarship

Joseph Clarke Scholarship Fund

The Madge Ryan Stirniman Scholarship

The Theodore R. Colborn Scholarship

The Penrose Scholarship Fund

The William F. Northrop Memorial Music Scholarship

Barbara and Albert Turbessi Memorial Scholarship

Dessie B. Tichenor Scholarship Fund

Constance M. Barton

Evie and Stacey Berger

The Chautauqua Amateur Musicians Program (C.A.M.P) Scholarship

Elaine and Erroll Davis Scholarship for MSFO

David Effron Conducting Fellowship

Jeffrey and Norma Glazer

The Arlene Hajinlian Music Scholarship

Hebrew Congregation Music Award

James Heegeman

The Hultquist Foundation

The Teresa M. Joyce. Ph. D., Scholarship

Rebecca McCrea Kamen Cello Scholarship

Ernie Mahaffey

Sal and Kay Marranca

Hilda Jo Anne Milham Scholarship

MSFO Scholarship in memory of Allen and Elizabeth Wood

Music School Festival Orchestra Chairs

Music School Festival Orchestra Scholarship

The William F. Northrop Memorial Music Scholarship

The Penrose Scholarship Fund

Robert and Mary Pickens Scholarship

Av and Janet Posner

The Rotary Club of Jamestown Community Service Fund (RCJCSF) Scholarship

Stephen Still and Terrie Tucker

Robert and Joan Spirtas Scholarship

Dan and Ann Sullivan

Elaine Wolfe and Barry Silverman

Jeffrey and Claudia Wood

We are grateful for the generous support of the MSFO from the following donors and organizations, scholarship funds, and permanent endowment funds held by the Chautauqua Foundation, ensuring the continuation of classical music training at Chautauqua

Program Notes on An American Story

An American Story

Music by Damien Geter. Text by Kwame Alexander.