Winterhaven Chamber Music Retreat

About the Workshop

Winterhaven is an intensive chamber music retreat for adults that takes place at the luxurious facilities of Avaloch Farm Music Institute, in Boscawen, NH.  With spacious private rooms for all participants, large rehearsal studios each with a grand piano, and a serene, peaceful landscape, Avaloch provides an idyllic setting for music-making and relaxing.  Winterhaven’s faculty play alongside participants and create an encouraging, supportive environment in which to explore and enjoy making music together.

The retreat is open to adult chamber players of intermediate to advanced level on violin, viola, cello, and piano; pre-formed groups are welcome.  Winterhaven focuses on in-depth chamber music study, with intensive coaching and private lessons from faculty who are all active chamber music professionals. Each participant will play in two chamber ensembles.  One ensemble will be composed entirely of workshop participants, while the other ensemble will include one faculty member who plays as part of the group.  Participants will receive their assigned chamber movements prior to arriving at the workshop, and ensembles will remain together for the full week. In addition to daily chamber music coachings, each participant will receive two private lessons during the retreat.  Participants may choose to bring a solo work to their lessons, or they may choose to use these lessons to work more in detail on their chamber music parts.

Winterhaven fosters a supportive community for all, where participants and faculty work together formally and informally.   Gourmet meals are serve family-style in the Great Hall, encouraging conversation, sharing, and friendship.  Days include ensemble coachings and lessons, as well as unstructured rehearsal and practice time.  Evenings include sight-reading parties with faculty, informal ensemble performances by participants, an optional performance masterclass, an open rehearsal by the faculty ensemble, and a faculty chamber music recital.