ABOUT THE FESTIVAL : Education

The Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival offers many enriching and engaging education and outreach activities for children and adults. With these high quality programs the Festival increases the community's access to chamber music, lets children hear and learn from live performances, and expands performing opportunities for talented young musicians. For more information, call Kristen Tidwell at 505-983-2075, ext.108

Music in Our Schools
Throughout the school year, the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival presents live music that students would otherwise have little or no opportunity to hear. Music in our Schools showcases a variety of chamber ensembles in four fun and informative performances at selected Santa Fe public elementary schools. As a supplement to the students’ general music education, this program introduces young listeners to all the types of music that Festival artists perform, including traditional classical chamber music, contemporary music, jazz, and world music. Music teachers at participating schools receive lesson plans and instructional CDs to help them prepare their students for each concert visit.

Currently Music in Our Schools serves eight Santa Fe public schools: E.J. Martinez, Kearney, Piñon, El Dorado, Salazar, Ramirez Thomas, Wood Gormley, and Gonzales. During the 2007–2008 school year, the Festival reached approximately 3,500 students through the Music in Our Schools program.

Strings in Our Schools
The Festival’s Strings in Our Schools program provides hands-on violin instruction to students at Ramirez Thomas and Sweeney Elementary Schools. More than 60 youngsters are given use of violins for the academic year, receive weekly one-hour lessons, and present a year-end concert at their respective schools. This unique curriculum lets students experience the joy of music-making, builds their confidence and self-esteem, gives them a sense of responsibility and self-discipline, and enhances their academic achievements.

Youth Concerts
The unique magic of chamber music comes to vibrant life for children and their families at the Festival’s interactive, entertaining Youth Concerts, presented free of charge each summer. These concerts never fail to engage young audiences, building their knowledge and inspiring them with a new curiosity about the world of music. Performed by Festival artists, Youth Concerts present a variety of music, from classical to world music, drawn directly from the Festival’s current repertoire. Please check the chart below for Youth Concert dates and times; or call for more information.

2008 Youth Concert Schedule

Open Rehearsals & Master Classes
Held in informal settings the immensely popular daytime Open Rehearsals, free and open to the public, provide a unique behind-the-scenes look at the dynamics of Festival artists preparing for performances. The weekly Open Rehearsal schedule is posted at St. Francis Auditorium and at the Lensic Performing Arts Center. The schedule is available here or by calling 505-983-2075.

During the 2008 season, Orion String Quartet violinist Daniel Phillips will conduct a Master Class with the Escher String Quartet. This class, free and open to the public to observe, allows musicians and non-musicians alike to enjoy the talents of Festival artists as they share their mastery, insights, and passion for music with the Festival’s rising young stars.

2008 Master Class Schedule

Indian Market Concert
The Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival salutes the city’s annual Indian market with a free concert for the community. The 2008 Indian Market Concert takes place Friday, August 22, 7–8 PM at St. Francis Auditorium.

Other Education Programs
In addition to Music in Our Schools, Strings in Our Schools, and Youth Concerts, the Festival offers a program for young professional musicians and educational opportunities for adults. Through the Distinguished Young Artists Program, artists in the early stages of their careers can study and perform with the world’s acclaimed artists during the Festival season. For more information on the Festival Education and Outreach programs, please contact Kristen Tidwell at 505-983-2075, ext. 108 or at kristen@sfcmf.org.