CIMF Chamber & Orchestra Performance Program (COPP)
August 4-10, 2025
9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
White Hall & Ives Concert Hall on the midtown campus of
Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, CT
Early application deadline – Monday, March 24, 2025 *
Early auditions – Sunday, March 30, 2025
2:00-6:00 PM at First Congregational Church
(103 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT)
Early admission decisions announced – Friday, April 4, 2025
Final application deadline – Monday, April 21, 2025
Final auditions – Sunday, April 27, 2025
12:30-6:30 PM at Jesse Lee Church
(207 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT)
Final admission decisions announced – Friday, May 2, 2025
* CIMF is offering rolling admission this year. Applicants who audition on the earlier date of March 30 (or by video sent by March 30) will receive their admissions decisions by April 4. We encourage applicants to apply and audition early.
Deadline to confirm participation in CIMF Summer 2025 – May 15, 2025
Tuition due for all participants – May 26, 2025
Tuition: $800
Applications received after April 21, 2025 will be waitlisted. Waitlist applicants will be contacted after May 15 with regard to status.
Click HERE to learn more about application and audition information
Click HERE to apply online
WCYO Alumni – Orchestra ONLY application click HERE
Program Description
Open to participants ages 21 who play orchestral instruments and saxophone and who have at least two years experience on their instruments, the Chamber & Orchestra Performance Program offers youth musicians the opportunity to develop solo, chamber, and orchestral skills through a varied and dynamic array of activities that involve working with artist-faculty, special guest artists, composers, and clinicians. In addition to the world-class CIMF artist-faculty, guest artists in the past have included “From the Top Host” and pianist Peter Dugan, GRAMMY-winning bassist Ranaan Meyer, violinist Charles Yang, and composer Kevin Puts in addition to other award-winning musicians including cellist Julian Schwarz, violinist Giora Schmidt, pianist Marika Bournaki and composers Justin Dello Joio, Nina C. Young, Jared Miller, and Kati Agócs. Throughout the week, participants work with all of our faculty and artists in chamber music groups, orchestra, master classes, private lessons, and specialized sessions.
General Information
– This is a day program that runs 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM Monday, August 4th through Sunday, August 10th, with artist-faculty concerts on Tuesday, August 5th and Saturday, August 9th, a CIMF Orchestra concert on Thursday, August 7th and a participant chamber ensemble concert on Sunday, August 10th in the afternoon.
– Each participant will rehearse in at least one chamber music group led by an artist-faculty member. Each group will perform in concert on Sunday, August 10th.
– All participants will play in the CIMF Orchestra led by Eric Mahl. Seating will be determined by applicants’ auditions and/or their participation in WCYO if applicable.
– Some participants will be invited to perform with the CIMF Chamber Orchestra, a smaller orchestra, also led by Eric Mahl. This group will perform one or two pieces at the same concert as the CIMF Orchestra. Placement in this group will be determined by Paul Frucht and Eric Mahl based on CIMF Auditions and the specific orchestral needs required to perform the selected repertoire.
– Participants will receive tickets to all CIMF artist concerts throughout the summer 2025 festival.
– Participants will attend master classes led by the artist-faculty and guest artists focusing on both solo and chamber works. Participants will also attend specialized activities such as improvisation, Alexander Technique, and audition preparation.
COPP Week II Concert Schedule
Tuesday, August 5 at 7:00 PM: CIMF Artist Concert at MoCA CT in Westport, CT
Thursday, August 7 at 7:00 PM: CIMF Orchestras and Composers at TBD
Saturday, August 9 at 6:30 PM: CIMF Artist Concert at Ives Concert Hall, Danbury, CT
Sunday, August 10 at 12 PM & 3 PM: COPP Chamber Ensembles Concerts at Ives Concert Hall
The Strings Experience
String players (violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp) at COPP will:
– Perform in at least one chamber group composed of other CIMF participants and at least one CIMF Artist-Faculty member who will lead the group through rehearsals culminating in a final concert performance on Sunday, August 10.
– Perform in the CIMF Orchestra led by Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra Music Director Eric Mahl culminating in a concert performance on Thursday, August 7. See below under “additional” opportunities for more information about the concerto competition and the CIMF Participant Chamber Orchestra. All string participants have the opportunity to earn leadership positions within their section as all seating decisions are based on participants’ auditions and are made jointly by Eric Mahl and Paul Frucht. String principals take on important roles at CIMF acting not only as section leaders during rehearsal, but as leaders among the participants throughout the festival. Repertoire includes a concert opener, concerto movement, and a major symphonic work. String players may participate in sectionals led by CIMF Artist-Faculty and in orchestral training workshops led by Eric Mahl as well as CIMF Artist-Faculty who hold orchestral positions including MET Opera Orchestra violinists Julia Choi and Jeremías Sergiani-Velazquez, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra associate principal violist Jacob Shack, Buffalo Philharmonic bassist Jon Borden, and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Associate Conductor Jacob Joyce.
– Perform in and attend masterclasses and studio classes. Throughout the week, string players attend masterclasses and studio classes led by strings faculty, occasionally divided by instrument or upper and lower strings during which participants have the opportunity to perform their solo repertoire and receive feedback.
– Attend CIMF Artist Concerts. A critical part of the educational experience at CIMF is seeing the artist-faculty perform and put into practice the skills they are working on with participants all week. Concerts are a blend of contemporary American music (in the spirit of Ives) and staples of the classical music repertoire.
– Attend technique classes focusing on general performance skills such as rhythm and intonation.
– Receive one 45 minute private lesson with a CIMF Artist-Faculty member.
Click on each image below to hear Artist-Faculty and Participants talk about the CIMF strings experience!
1) Julia Choi, CIMF Artist-Faculty, Violin – 2) Hannah, CIMF Participant, Violin – 3) Leah Ferguson, CIMF Artist-Faculty, Viola – 4) Ava, CIMF Participant, Viola – 5) Ariana Nelson, CIMF Artist-Faculty, Cello – 6) SofiaLee Lugo, CIMF Participant, Cello
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The Wind & Brass Experience
Wind and brass players at COPP will:
– Perform in at least one chamber group composed of other CIMF participants and at least one CIMF Artist-Faculty member who will lead the group through rehearsals culminating in a final concert performance on Sunday, August 10. Wind students are generally placed in wind quintets (or similar) and brass students in brass quintets (or similar) which are led by flutist Katie Althen or hornist Priscilla Rinehart. However, advanced students may be placed in mixed chamber ensembles with strings.
– Perform in the CIMF Orchestra led by Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra Music Director Eric Mahl culminating in a concert performance on Thursday, August 7. See below under “additional” opportunities for more information about the concerto competition and the CIMF Participant Chamber Orchestra. All wind and brass participants have the opportunity to earn leadership positions within their section as all seating decisions are based on participants’ auditions and are made jointly by Eric Mahl and Paul Frucht. Occasionally, wind and brass players may rotate positions depending on repertoire. The wind and brass participants are a community within a community at CIMF and together create a warm and supportive environment with principal players being leaders both inside and outside the orchestra. Repertoire includes a concert opener, concerto movement, and a major symphonic work. Wind players will participate in sectionals which are led by flutist Katie Althen, hornist Priscilla Rinehart, clarinetist Graeme Steele Johnson, bassoonist Remy Taghavi, or Eric Mahl.
– Attend CIMF Artist Concerts. A critical part of the educational experience at CIMF is seeing the artist-faculty perform and put into practice the skills they are working on with participants all week. Concerts are a blend of contemporary American music (in the spirit of Ives) and staples of the classical music repertoire.
– Attend technique classes focusing on general performance skills such as rhythm and intonation.
– Receive one 45 minute private lesson with a CIMF Artist-Faculty member.
Click on each image below to hear Artist-Faculty and Participants talk about the CIMF strings experience!
1) Katie Althen-Velázquez, CIMF Artist-Faculty, Flute – 2) Maya, CIMF Participant, Flute
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The Percussion Experience
Percussionists at COPP will:
– Perform in percussion ensemble composed of other CIMF percussion participants and CIMF Artist-Faculty percussionist Russell Fisher who will lead the ensemble through rehearsals culminating in a final concert performance on Sunday, August 10. In some instances advanced participants may be additionally placed in a mixed chamber group involving string and/or wind and brass participants and artist-faculty as well.
– Perform in the CIMF Orchestra led by Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra Music Director Eric Mahl culminating in a concert performance on Thursday, August 7. See below under “additional” opportunities for more information about the concerto competition and the CIMF Participant Chamber Orchestra. Participants may earn a principal position (timpani or percussion) depending on their audition. Principal positions are determined by audition and all seating decisions and part assignments are made by Eric Mahl, Paul Frucht, and/or Russell Fisher. Repertoire includes a concert opener, concerto movement, and a major symphonic work. Percussionists will work in sectionals with Russell Fisher who will guide each participant throughout their orchestra parts.
– Percussionists will also meet in percussion technique and repertoire class during which time they are invited to perform solo repertoire and receive feedback. Led by Russell Fisher, these classes will also discuss technique for orchestral instruments including crash cymbals, bass drum, triangle, tambourine, etc. in addition to mallet percussion, timpani, and snare drum.
– Attend CIMF Artist Concerts. A critical part of the educational experience at CIMF is seeing the artist-faculty perform and put into practice the skills they are working on with participants all week. Concerts are a blend of contemporary American music (in the spirit of Ives) and staples of the classical music repertoire.
– Attend technique classes focusing on general performance skills such as rhythm and intonation.
– Receive one 45 minute private lesson with Russell Fisher.
For information on the CIMF Composition Program, please visit the composition program page
here.
Additional Opportunities During COPP
CIMF Participant Chamber Orchestra: Determined by audition, participants may be invited to perform in the CIMF Participant Chamber Orchestra, a smaller orchestra distinct from the CIMF Orchestra. This ensemble will perform one or two works at the same concert as the CIMF Orchestra, on Thursday, August 7th. This group is invitation only and placement is determined by conductor Eric Mahl and CIMF Artistic Director Paul Frucht based on participants’ auditions as well as the specific orchestral forces required to perform the selected repertoire (string count and wind/brass/harp/percussion instrumentation). This ensemble meets at 4:15 PM on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday after the day concludes at CIMF with a dress rehearsal on Thursday before the concert.
CIMF Concerto Competition: All COPP participants are invited to participate in the CIMF Concerto Competition, the winner of which performs with the CIMF Orchestra led by Eric Mahl on Thursday, August 7th. Please see more details on the Concerto Competition page here.
REQUIRED FORMS
All accepted participants are required to sign a Commitment, Waiver & Consent form and a Code of Conduct form. These forms will be sent via DocuSign for signature by a parent or guardian. Click HERE to access hard copies of forms.
TUITION IS DUE BY MONDAY, MAY 26, 2025
Tuition is payable by credit card/PayPal using the “Add to Cart” button at the bottom of this page or via check payable to WCYO and mailed to WCYO, P.O. Box 964, Ridgefield, CT. 06877. If financial assistance is needed, please complete the WCYO Financial Assistance Application and return with the commitment packet to maintain your placement. NOTE: Please white out or black out social security numbers on IRS 1040 before submitting.
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