Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival Announces New Barnebl Fellowship for Emerging Young String Quartets
Generous Donation Launches Performance Opportunity for Professional Career Development
Colchester, Vermont – January 15, 2026 – The Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival (GMCMF) is pleased to announce the establishment of the Barnebl String Quartet Fellowship, made possible by a generous donation from Linda Barnebl in memory of her late husband David Barnebl.
This new fellowship will provide an emerging professional string quartet with the opportunity to serve as Green Mountain Fellows in the summer of 2026 and will include several paid performance opportunities for this group during the 2026-2027 season. This remarkable package will include seven professional concerts throughout the US, with all performance fees, travel, and lodging expenses covered. The seventh concert of the set will take place at the beginning of the 2027 Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival.
The fellowship represents a significant investment in the next generation of chamber musicians and is a first for the festival. Recipients will perform on chamber music programs at venues across the region, gaining invaluable exposure and professional experience during the academic year following their summer festival participation. This program is designed to open doors to professional performing careers.
"We are thrilled to be able to sponsor this incredible opportunity for a rising string quartet, thanks to the remarkable generosity of Linda Barnebl and her long-standing commitment to provide support for young musicians on the cusp of their professional careers," says Elizabeth Chang, Green Mountain's Artistic Director. "We hope this will prove to be a much-needed launching pad for the next generation of chamber musicians in the US. The Barnebl Fellows will join our regular cohort of 2026 Fellows as part of the outstanding team of artist teachers at GMCMF."
Linda Barnebl's gift honors the memory of her late husband David through supporting young artists at a pivotal moment in their professional development.
Fellowship Eligibility and Application
The fellowship program is open to seasoned chamber musicians who demonstrate professional-level technical accomplishment and a broad knowledge of the string chamber repertoire. Ideal candidates should be comfortable in mentoring roles and serve as artistic role models, with exceptional collaborative skills and thoughtful musicianship.
In 2026 GMCMF will offer 4 fellowship slots for a pre-formed early-career quartet, as well as 4 slots for individuals who will be placed in a string quartet for the duration of the festival.
Requirements for all fellows:
- Minimum of a Bachelor's degree
- Attendance at all four weeks of GMCMF's summer festival
- For pre-formed string quartets: separate applications from all members plus quartet performance video
- Finalists for the fellowship will be interviewed by Zoom
The Barnebl String Quartet Fellowship offers several paid concerts during the 2026-2027 season. For further information about the fellowship, please contact info@gmcmf.org before applying.
The fellowship application deadline has been extended to March 1, 2026. Apply online at gmcmf.org.
Please note that Senior & Junior Program applications close February 1, 2026.
About Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival
The Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, located in Colchester, Vermont, provides intensive chamber music training and performance opportunities for musicians at various stages of their development. The festival's commitment to artistic excellence and mentorship creates a nurturing environment where emerging professionals can refine their craft alongside established artists. For more information about the Barnebl Fellowship or GMCMF, visit gmcmf.org.