Kaufman Music Center's SummerFest is an intensive week of masterclasses, lessons, workshops, chamber ensembles and performance opportunities led by world-renowned guest artists and faculty for advanced pianists, violinists and cellists age 14 – 22.

During one intensive week of high-level music-making, students will have an unrivaled learning experience with renowned guest artists Richard Aaron, Margaret BatjerFabio Bidini, Amir Eldan, Richard Goode, Ilya KalerGrigory Kalinovsky, Masao Kawasaki, Chloé Kiffer, Clara Kim, Alexander Korsantia, Tomer Lev, Zvi Plesser, Orli Shaham and Peter Wiley, and chamber faculty members Alex Croxton, Natela Mchedlishvili and Yari Bond. Each participant performs in one masterclass and receives two lessons, or performs in two masterclasses and receives one lesson, with three different celebrated guest faculty.

SummerFest is a six-day program that takes place at Kaufman Music Center, located in the heart of New York City on Manhattan's Upper West Side. The days are typically 9:30 am - 5:30 pm and are filled with coachings, lessons, masterclasses and performances.

Festival Director: Igal Kesselman

 PROGRAM OVERVIEW

  • Perform in one masterclass and receive two lessons, or perform in two masterclasses and receive one lesson, with three celebrated guest faculty
  • Have the opportunity to participate in chamber ensembles coached by festival faculty members, culminating in a final performance in Merkin Hall, one of NYC's most renowned concert halls
  • Perform a solo work in one of the student recitals in Merkin Hall
  • Take part in hands-on workshops
  • Attend masterclasses and student recitals

Age Range: 14 – 22
Tuition: $1050 | Application fee: $75
Application deadline: April 1, 2025


Summerfest faculty



IGAL KESSELMAN, piano

Festival Director, Kaufman Music Center

Bio


Guest FACULTY



RICHARD AARON, cello 

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Bio



Margaret Batjer

The Colburn School

Bio



FABIO BIDINI, piano

Colburn Conservatory of Music

Bio



AMIR ELDAN, cello

University of Michigan

Bio



RICHARD GOODE, piano

Mannes School of Music, The New School
Peabody Institute, Johns Hopkins University

Bio



ILYA KALER, violin

Cleveland Institute of Music

Bio



GRIGORY KALINOVSKY, violin

Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University

Bio



MASAO KAWASAKI, violin

The Juilliard School

Bio



CHLOÉ KIFFER, violin

Manhattan School of Music

Bio



CLARA MINHYE KIM, cello

The Juilliard School

Bio



alexander korsantia, piano

New England Conservatory

Bio



Tomer Lev, piano

The Buchmann-Mehta School of Music

Bio


 
zvi plesser, cello

The Juilliard School

Bio



ORLi SHAHAM, PIANO

The Juilliard School

Bio


Peter wiley, cello

Curtis Institute of Music
Bard College Conservatory of Music


Bio
 


CHAMBER MUSIC COACHES


Yari Bond, cello

Kaufman Music Center
Columbia University


Bio


ALEX CROXTON, cello

Kaufman Music Center
The New School Mannes

Bio


NATELA MCHEDLISHVILI, piano

Kaufman Music Center
Manhattan School of Music

Bio


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