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 Batjer, Fabio Bidini, Amir Eldan, Richard Goode, Ilya Kaler, Grigory 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
Guest FACULTY

RICHARD AARON, cello
San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Margaret Batjer
The Colburn School

FABIO BIDINI, piano
Colburn Conservatory of Music

AMIR ELDAN, cello
University of Michigan

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

ILYA KALER, violin
Cleveland Institute of Music
Bio

GRIGORY KALINOVSKY, violin
Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University

MASAO KAWASAKI, violin
The Juilliard School

CHLOÉ KIFFER, violin
Manhattan School of Music

CLARA MINHYE KIM, cello
The Juilliard School

alexander korsantia, piano
New England Conservatory
Bio

Tomer Lev, piano
The Buchmann-Mehta School of Music

zvi plesser, cello
The Juilliard School

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
NATELA MCHEDLISHVILI, piano
Kaufman Music Center
Manhattan School of Music