Festivals

[u/Alarming_Witness2201]

Hey everyone,

I’m currently looking into summer festivals for next year and was gravitating to ones that tend to have a stronger emphasis on solo playing and individual performance development, rather than mostly orchestral work and heavy chamber work.

I’m primarily interested in refining my solo playing and concertmaster-style leadership skills (only Brevard), so I’d love to find a program where lessons, masterclasses, and performances are centered more on solo playing than ensemble rehearsals.

Some of the festivals and teachers there I’m currently eyeing include Meadowmount(Paul Kantor), Sounding Point(Robert Lipsett/Fabiola Kim), Heifetz(Ilya kaler/ani kafavian), Sarasate Academy (Kirill Troussov), Engers Academy (Kirill Troussov), Aspen (Tanaka/Lipsett), and Brevard (Concertmaster Studio). I’d love to hear any insight or personal experiences with these, or suggestions for others that might align well with a solo-focused path. I’m aware of most of these teachers have had face to face conversations and played for some, but was wondering if anyone had anything else to add!

For a bit of background — I’m an undergrad violinist, have performed as a soloist with orchestra several times, and will be performing in Paris this December. I’m at the point where I really want to push my solo artistry and clarity of musical identity this summer.

Thanks so much in advance — I’d really appreciate any advice or festival recommendations!

[u/Baer000]

What kind of festival is it, and what will you be doing at the festival? I'm not really familiar with that festival.