Course Description
Beth Vandervennet, Interim Program Director
Sarah Wood, Program Director (returning late fall 2026)
Chamber music is one of the most rewarding and demanding forms of music making. Playing in a small ensemble sharpens your listening, deepens your musicianship, and connects you with other adult musicians who share your passion. Whether you are returning to an instrument after years away or have been playing steadily, the experience of making music together — working toward a common interpretation, responding to one another in real time — is transformative and unforgettable.
Over the course of the session, each group meets for eight 90-minute coachings. We close with a celebration — an informal recital to share our music with friends and family.
- Fall Session: September 13 to November 22, 2026 | Concert: Sunday, November 22
- Winter Session: January 4 to February 28, 2027 | Concert: Sunday, February 28
- Spring Session: April 5 to June 6, 2027 | Concert: Sunday, June 6
- Also offered as a summer intensive, see Adult Chamber Music Workshop.
String, wind, and piano players are encouraged to participate. Open to those who have completed at least one year of college or have been out of high school for 1+ years. Recital performance is mandatory for participation. Compatible participants are placed in chamber groups according to instrumentation, playing level, musical interests, and schedule availability. Pre-formed groups are welcome to apply. *Participants who will be traveling for more than ten total days within a session are asked to sign up for a different session.
Special Offering: Mendelssohn Octet
We are pleased to offer a dedicated group for Mendelssohn’s String Octet in E-flat major, Op. 20 — one of the great masterworks of the chamber repertoire. This group is open to violinists, violists, and cellists. For this first session, we will focus on the first movement. The group will meet at 7pm on a day of the week mutually arranged by the players. Subject to sufficient enrollment. You can indicate your preference to audition for this group on the registration form.
A special note on increased tuition: This tuition adjustment supports meaningful increases in coach compensation, allowing us to continue delivering the high-quality coaching that ACM has built its reputation on.
Tuition fee covers the cost of participation in a single chamber group. Participants may register multiple times for the same session if they wish to participate in multiple groups.
Ready to enroll?
To register for this program, please complete our online enrollment form by July 18th for the fall session. You’ll be directed to SessionUp (formerly TeacherZone), our enrollment platform. New to Crowden? You’ll be prompted to create an account from the registration page. Returning students who previously used TeacherZone can click Forgot Password and enter their existing username or email to set a new password. If you need any assistance, our team is available to help at communityed@crowden.org. Crowden will contact registrants to schedule an audition.
Missed the registration deadline? Late placements are considered by the program director if space permits. Please email communityed@crowden.org to inquire.