String Quartet Intensive
June 29 - July 27, 2025
The String Quartet Intensive offers a highly selective option for pre-formed string quartets. This option is exclusively for pre-formed groups who have been working together and have been coached for at least a year. Members should be between the ages of 14 and 30. Groups should have a performance history and videos to submit. Tuition for the String Quartet Intensive is $5460 per person, which includes room and board.
Students will adhere to a different schedule from regular festival participants; they will rehearse and have coachings in the morning and practice in the afternoon. Students in the String Quartet Intensive will receive daily coachings Monday through Friday, for a total of 20 coachings. SQI students will not be scheduled for private lessons but may request lessons for an additional fee. Performance opportunities in public and private venues as well as master class opportunities will be available to SQI groups. Individuals in the SQI are eligible for scholarship but must apply for scholarship individually.
Application and Audition Requirements for String Quartet Intensive
- Open to pre-formed string quartets who have been playing together for at least year
- SQI applicants must apply for the 'Regular Program'; each member of the quartet must submit an application and pay the application fee
- Once each member of the quartet has applied, you must email 'admissions@gmcmf.org' to notify staff of your intent to apply to SQI.
- You will then be asked to submit a chamber music recording of the group from within the last year totaling 15-20 minutes and including two contrasting works.
Each applicant of a group applying for the String Quartet Intensive will be asked to submit solo recordings on their individual application which must meet the following criteria:
- Audition recordings must present two contrasting works representative of your solo playing totaling at least 12 minutes.
- An example of two contrasting works could be a fast movement of a concerto or a showpiece and a movement of solo Bach
- If two slow movements are submitted, applicant might be asked for an additional recording.
- recordings with accompaniment are acceptable, although accompaniment is not required
- audition recordings must only be solo playing; please do not submit recordings with a chamber group for audition videos for the four-week program
- Audition recordings must be uploaded to YouTube and be viewable through June 2025. YouTube links must be set to ‘unlisted’, not ‘public’ or ‘private’
- You may submit one recording containing both works or two separate recordings. Performances must be unedited.
- Please ensure your whole instrument is visible in the recording frame.
- Record in a quiet space with no background noise present. If you're at home, make sure you're away from extraneous noise, such as appliances (refrigerators and air conditioners), or outside noise such as traffic and construction.
- Ensure your microphone is not too close to your instrument when playing. An external microphone is not required for these recordings, but may be useful in capturing the highest quality of sound.
- Please listen to and watch your recordings all the way through before submitting to ensure acceptable audio and video quality. If you have questions, please email admissions@gmcmf.org.
- If you have to choose between high quality audio and high quality video, choose high quality audio.
- If you are recording from your phone, please ensure it is close enough to capture decent audio.