A key part of the Festival is our Cremona Foundation Apprenticeship Program, a two-week, full-scholarship summer residential program for emerging professional musicians. It is an intensive exploration of chamber music from the Classical and Romantic era on period instruments, with an emphasis on performance.
Apprentices collaborate with and are coached by some of the world’s leading experts in early music.
Join us for our 10th season next summer: July 14 – 28, 2024
OUR FACULTY MEMBERS:
COACHES IN CHAMBER MUSIC AND HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE PRACTICE
Elizabeth Blumenstock, violin & viola
Marc Destrubé, violin
Rachell Ellen Wong, violin*
Andrew Gonzalez, viola*
Tanya Tomkins, cello
Eric Zivian, fortepiano
* former Apprentice Musicians
WE ACCEPT 5 APPRENTICES:
2 violinists
1 violist
1 cellist
1 keyboardist
THE PROGRAM INCLUDES:
- Rehearsing and performing alongside faculty artists in a Festival concert
- Performing in two Apprentice Ensembles, with extensive coaching from faculty artists
- Private lessons with faculty artists
REQUIREMENTS:
You must be an advanced music student (undergraduate level and above) or young professional musician. You must be at least 18 years old, and while there is no upper age limit we envision the Apprentices to be from 18-30 years old. You do not need to have previous experience on period instruments – although such experience is welcome – but you must be willing to put gut strings on your instrument and tune them to A = 430, or play on the fortepianos to be provided.
All Apprentice applicants will be required to show proof of full Covid-19 vaccination.
Application Fee: $25 USD via PayPal.
TUITION:
The Cremona Foundation Apprenticeship Program is tuition-free thanks to our generous sponsors. Housing, transportation within Sonoma, and some meals are also provided. While each Apprentice is responsible for their travel to and from Sonoma, one to two need-based travel scholarships may be available each year. Please indicate need on your application. Your request will not be a factor in our final decision.
Apprentices may be asked to take on a few hours of volunteer work during and/or in advance of the Festival.
2023
April Sun, fortepiano
Ava Gehlen-Williams, violin
Jasmine Pai, cello
Juliette Greer, violin
Maren Rothfritz, viola
2022
Carmen Lavada Johnson-Pájaro, violin
Ravenna Lipchik, violin
Seth Van Embden, viola
Hana Cohon, cello
Axel Trolese, fortepiano
2020 – 2021
Vivian Mayers, violin
Kako Miura, violin
Ramón Carrero-Martínez, viola
Drake Driscoll, cello
Suren Barry, fortepiano
2019
Keats Dieffenbach, violin
Jason Issokson, violin
Joshua Gomberoff, viola
Geirþrúður Guðmundsdóttir, cello
David Belkovski, fortepiano
2018
Susannah Foster, violin
Sarah Bleile, violin
Lauren Nelson, viola
Madeleine Bouïssou, cello
Christian De Luca, fortepiano
2017
Rachell Ellen Wong, violin
Maria Romero, violin
Andrew Gonzalez, viola
Ana Kim, cello
Jennifer Lee, piano
2016
Jessica Park, violin
Isabelle Seula Lee, violin
Toma Iliev, violin and viola
Eugenio Solinas, cello
Ji Young Kim, fortepiano
2015
Augusta McKay Lodge, violin
Chris Whitley, violin
Kim Mai Nguyen, viola
Laura Gaynon, cello
Yuehan Wang, fortepiano