Application Process

Who should apply to the festival?

Anyone that is pursuing serious study of the violin, viola, cello or piano, and is between the ages of 14 and 30. Two-thirds of all applicants are of college age and are studying music on a full time basis at either an undergraduate or graduate level.

How do I apply?

Follow the link on our website to an online application. You will need to first create an account in order to fill out the application. Please remember this information because you will need it throughout the application process.

Are scholarships available?

We provide some scholarship assistance to qualified students who cannot afford the full cost of tuition. Scholarship awards are determined by the Artistic Director, who takes into consideration the requirements of the program and the financial need of prospective students. As the Festival’s funds are limited, students are encouraged to investigate sources of financial assistance which may be available in their own community.

Your overall application to the Festival must be complete in order to be considered for a scholarship. See Applying to the Festival for details. The deadline for scholarship applications is March 15, 2013.

If I am not a U.S. citizen, how can I use the FAFSA4caster?

Since the FAFSA4caster is just an online estimator tool, you can use it even if you are not a U.S. citizen. It does not create an actual application for U.S. government-sponsored financial aid. (The FAFSA is the real application, and it would require a Social Security number.)

At the beginning of the FAFSA4caster is the question "Are you a U.S. citizen?" to which you should select "No, but I am an eligible noncitizen" so that you can continue using the form to estimate your situation. The form will go on to ask other questions, which you should answer to the best of your ability, giving US dollar equivalents when it asks about income. For any item asking for state of legal residence, you should select "Foreign country" from the list.

 In this way, you will end up with an EFC (Expected Family Contribution) that you can put on our scholarship application form.

What information do I need for the application?

We need to know your basic contact information as well as basic contact information for your parents. We will also ask about other festivals you have participated in and your repertoire of music. As part of the application we will need a letter of recommendation from your current teacher, unless you are a current students of a GMCMF faculty member. Everyone regardless of whether they have participated with us before will need to submit a recording of approximately 15 to 20 minutes in length, which may include any repertoire you regard as representative of your playing. Do not include scales or arpeggios on the recording. Accompaniment is not necessary for this recording. 

When will I find out if I have been accepted?

By April 1 you will be notified by email whether you have been accepted into the Festival and who your teacher(s) will be. If you applied for scholarship, that notification will come to you in a later email.

Can my quartet or trio apply the Green Mountain as a group?

Pre-formed chamber groups are welcome at Green Mountain. Each member must send an individual application, which includes at least one solo piece. Naturally, you should also send a sample of the group playing together. Please be sure to contact the Artistic Director to alert him to group's personnel and your intention to work together at the Festival.

Travel and Festival Registration

How should I plan my travel to the festival?

Please make plans to arrive on Sunday, June 23, and complete the Travel Plans form by June 20. GMCMF staff will pick up all students arriving at the Burlington airport (BTV), Amtrak station (Essex Junction, VT), or Burlington bus station, no matter what time they arrive. We will issue reminders to students who have not yet notified us of their travel plans, so if you do not hear from us, you can be sure we already have your plans. We will send information on driving and parking for those arriving by car, and we will schedule van pickups for those arriving by plane, bus, or train.

What plans should I make for departure at the end of the festival?

Saturday, July 20 is the day of departure for all, and the festival vacates all buildings by noon. The day begins with checkout in the dorm lobby, and van trips to the airport beginning at 4 a.m. Prior to leaving; students notify a Resident Assistant that they are ready for a quick room inspection. Any room damage will be charged to the students after UVM maintenance assesses the damage. Failure to turn in a room key and key card will result in a $55 charge.

Where and when will I register once I arrive on campus?

Ideally, students should plan to arrive at University of Vermont (UVM) between noon and 5 p.m. on Sunday June 23. Registration is conducted from noon until 6 p.m. in the lobby of Wing/Davis/Wilks dorm complex. A member of the resident staff will individually register students arriving later. The first meal available to students is dinner from 5 to 6 p.m. (parents are not able to be accommodated in the dining hall, but there are many local restaurants). An opening meeting will be held at 7 p.m. for all students and faculty who have arrived. Parents are welcome to attend. The opening meeting is not essential, so don’t worry if you must arrive later due to flight schedules. At around 9 p.m., a resident assistant (RA) will hold a brief meeting on each dorm floor (students only).

At the Festival

What should I bring?

Bedding (for extra-long twin mattress) and pillow—no linen service provided

Towels

Clothing for all types of weather (it may be hot or cold or rainy)

Rain jacket and umbrella

Performance clothing

Bathing suit, sunscreen, sunglasses

Athletic shoes/clothing (for weekend activities)

Toiletries and tote

Medications (please list on your Medical Treatment Authorization form)

Laundry items (bag, detergent)

Fan (the resident staff will make shopping trips available in the first few days for students to purchase fans and other needs)

Alarm clock

Music stand, pencils, metronome, tuners, strings

Recording device (if you wish to record lessons or chamber rehearsals)

Cash or debit card for miscellaneous spending

Where will I be living during the festival? Will I have a roommate?

All students will be housed in the Wing/Davis/Wilks dorm complex on the University of Vermont 's Redstone Campus.The Wing/Davis/Wilks dorms are updated and in excellent condition, with nice common areas on the ground floor. There is no air conditioning, but these dorms have screened windows in the hallways, which helps with summer ventilation.  A fan is very good to have, even a small one.

Students will be grouped by age and gender in several halls, with resident assistants placed throughout and close to the under-18 students. Shared bathroom facilities are available on each floor.

Most students will be housed one to a room, although the rooms are set up with two or more sets of furniture (bunk beds, desks, chairs, closets). Some younger students may be placed two to a room, in which case a common room nearby (e.g. lounge) will be designated as an additional practice location.

May parents visit during the festival? May relatives or friends visit?

Parents are welcome to visit campus and attend concerts (Emerging Artists concerts are free; tickets for Faculty Artist Series concerts are $25, and free for students with valid ID). Parents who wish to visit a festival student must check in with the Student Life Director. If parents plan to take their child off-campus, please be sure the student signs out according to our normal rule.

Any other visitors are free to visit campus, but will only be allowed into the dorms if approved by Student Life Director (if student is under 18, parents must also have given specific permission in advance). Likewise, parents must give specific permission in advance if other visitors wish to take an under-18 student off-campus.

No visitors, including parents and siblings, are allowed to stay overnight in the dorm, according to UVM rules.

How do students get information they need while at the festival?

Our resident staff maintains an office in the lobby of the Wing/Davis/Wilks dorm complex; all students and families will be given contact phone numbers they may use.

Updated bulletin boards are maintained in two locations: in the dorm lobby, and in the lobby of the UVM Music Building. Faculty teaching schedules and locations, a sign-out list for those leaving campus, blank forms needed to request a pianist or an opportunity to perform, information about shopping or recreational trips, and general information needed by students will be available on the dorm bulletin board. Faculty teaching schedules are duplicated on the Music Building bulletin board.

What should I bring to wear for concerts?

There are no specific requirements for what should be worn by student performers, beyond an expectation that all dress nicely, if not formally. A colorful dress or a white blouse with black pants or skirt for women, a white shirt, tie and jacket, or a black shirt and pants for men are typical. We suggest that every student bring an all-black outfit and one black below/white on top outfit, as chamber ensembles may decide to coordinate their dress.

For concert attendance, especially Faculty Artist Series concerts, which many of our sponsors and donors attend, please dress neatly.

Can I have a refrigerator and/or microwave in my dorm room?

Students may bring a small refrigerator and/or microwave. Also, the UVM Bookstore will rent a refrigerator for $65, or a refrigerator and microwave for $80 (microwaves are not rented separately). The bookstore will also provide delivery and pickup, Monday through Friday only. Prepaid orders will be delivered to dorm rooms on Monday, June 25. Contact Katie Hazen (Catherine.Hazen@uvm.edu or 802-656-3751) to arrange.

How can I do laundry while at the Festival?

Laundry facilities are available on each floor of the dormitory.  Use of machines is free, activated by your UVM swipe card. You will need to provide detergent.

Can I access the Internet?

Wireless Internet is available throughout the dorm. If you don’t have a computer, you may be able to use a computer in the office for brief periods.

Is there anything I may not have in my room?

Alcohol, illegal drugs, and drug paraphernalia are not permitted in UVM dorms at any time, even if you are 21 years of age or older. GMCMF policy is immediate dismissal, without refund, for possessing or drinking alcoholic beverages on campus or while participating in GMCMF-sponsored off-campus trips (even if student is 21 years of age or above), selling or furnishing alcohol to a minor, or using illicit drugs at any time. UVM policies also prohibit candles, incense, and flammable items and high-wattage electrical devices.

Who takes care of my room?

You do! Housekeeping is provided only for common areas and the hall bathrooms. Recycling and trash disposal is well provided for in each hall. We expect any damage or maintenance issues to be reported promptly to GMCMF resident staff. UVM has been very happy with the care and respect shown by students to their maintenance staff and the building, and we would like to keep that positive reputation.

Are there athletic facilities available?

If students wish to use facilities at UVM’s Patrick-Forbush-Gutterson Athletic Complex (very near), they may do so at the cost of $8 per day, $25 for a 5-visit punch pass, or $85 for a 20-visit punch pass. Festival students often organize informal running groups, soccer and Frisbee games.

Is smoking allowed on campus?

Smoking is not allowed inside of any building, or within 20 feet of any residence hall. Students smoking outside must clean up all litter.

What if I need medical care?

We ask for information on the Medical Treatment Authorization form about medical history and any medications currently taken, so that we can provide information to medical personnel in case of emergency. Students will manage their own medication unless the student and/or parent would like to request the resident staff to be involved. An excellent clinic is nearby, which takes walk-in patients and charges moderately; we will drive students who need to be seen by a doctor. For emergencies, anyone present should call 911 as well as notifying the Student Life Director.

What kind of security does the dorm have?

Each student is issued a room key and a key card. The outside doors to the dorm complex are locked after 6 p.m. and require a key card that each student will have to access the dorm. Each individual dorm is locked at all times and requires a keycard. Each dorm room has a dead bolt and an automatic closer. If a student accidentally locks him/herself out, there is a service desk they may contact, and a UVM staff person will confirm their identity and come unlock the room.

How safe is the campus and town?

The UVM campus is a reasonably safe place, as is the neighborhood between the campus and downtown Burlington. We ask all students to walk in pairs or groups, especially off-campus. If leaving campus, students of all ages must sign out on a list in the dorm lobby with their destination and time of leaving/returning. There is a Campus Police force that patrols 24 hours a day.

Should parents give their under-18 student permission to leave campus?

Downtown Burlington is 1.4 miles away (a 25-minute walk, all on sidewalks) and very appealing, with a beautiful pedestrian marketplace frequented by both local residents and tourists. Several blocks further is the waterfront area on Lake Champlain, with lovely public parks, boardwalk, eating establishments, etc. We have found that students really appreciate having the freedom to visit these areas, and are responsible about traveling in groups and signing out and back in at the dorm. If you have concerns for your child, though, you may wait to decide about giving this permission. This permission can be emailed later to the Student Life Director.

Can I borrow reading matter from the library?

Our students are not eligible to borrow books from UVM’s library or the local public library. GMCMF provides a small chamber music borrowing library. For reading, there are several excellent bookstores in town, and the local public library has an ongoing book sale.

How much spending money will I need?

Students vary widely in how much money they spend while at the festival. Since 3 meals a day are provided, as well as local transportation, students can manage with little, even though others spend more. There are vending machines in the common area of the dorm for snacks and drinks. A few of the (optional) trips we take have a small fee; most are free.  All concerts are free to the students.

Where can I get cash?

There are two ATMs in the Davis Student Center on campus, and several full-service banks in downtown Burlington.

How will I get mail while at the festival?

GMCMF staff will deliver mail to students’ rooms each afternoon Monday through Saturday. If the student receives a package, it will be kept in the festival office (in the dorm) and a notice will be delivered to the student’s room.

Please use the following address—and only this address—for receiving mail and/or packages:

[Your name]

Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival

Box 18

85 South Prospect St.

Burlington, VT 05405-0160

This is a physical address on the UVM campus and is not a post office box. Some students and/or parents have attempted to speed shipping by giving the street address of the dormitories, which they found online. However, this address is not familiar to the delivery services, and packages often take longer to reach the student, or are even returned to the sender without our knowing.

If you wish to send yourself a package to reduce your luggage, please arrange for it to arrive no earlier than Wednesday, June 19.

How can I send outgoing mail?

There is a full-service post office in the Davis Student Center, several minutes’ walk from the dorm or dining hall. In addition, there is an office near the dining hall which sells stamps and takes outgoing mail.  

What if my instrument needs repair?

The Burlington Violin Shop (802-862-0349) provides sales and quality on-site repairs, and is a sponsor of the festival. Their staff is very responsive to our students’ needs. The shop is within walking distance and rides can be arranged if necessary.

How will students know when they can perform? Will parents be able to see their son or daughter perform near the end of the festival?

Emerging Artistconcertstake place on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 pm in the UVM Recital Hall, with additional concerts (including some afternoon performances) held during the final week to accommodate the many students and chamber ensembles who are prepared to play. The final Emerging Artist Series concert takes place on Thursday evening, July 18. We have so many outstanding players that it is impossible to showcase all of them in any one concert.

Student performances are scheduled throughout the festival by submitting an online request form to the Artistic Director. If a specific date is desired, the student should—early in the festival-—speak with his/her teacher or coach and other members of the ensemble involved about requesting that date. There is at most a few days notice to the performers prior to the concert.

How does the festival end? Is there a final concert?

The last concert of the Festival takes place on Friday evening, July 19 at 7:30 pm in the UVM Recital Hall. This is the final concert of our Artist Faculty Series. (See the full program for this series here.) Tickets for this concert, as for all Artist Faculty concerts, are on sale at the door beginning at 7:00 p.m. or may be purchased online (look for a link soon on this website). GMCMF participants are required to attend, and do not need tickets.

There are no musical activities scheduled on Saturday, July 20. Students are asked to make arrangements to leave the UVM campus by noon if at all possible, or by early afternoon that day at the latest.

How do I request to play in a concert?

You must fill out a concert request form. After completing the form be sure to click submit. Follow the directions on the form.

Are recordings of performances available?

The festival has discontinued making customized recordings of student concerts, instead we make whatever recordings we have available on a non-public webpage, the link to this page will be made available. Students are encouraged to bring recording devices into the recital hall.