About Summertrios
Summertrios, in its 20th year, is a vibrant musical experience offering amateur musicians the opportunity to play chamber music together in a friendly, encouraging, supportive atmosphere. We welcome amateurs of all playing levels and all abilities and we place you in groups of compatible peers. In addition, you’ll be scheduled for several hours playing with professionals.
Uniquely, Summertrios is piano-centered and we have had as many as 50 pianists of all levels attend the four different programs in one season.
The first week, Regular Week One, is for piano at all levels and strings at the novice, intermediate or advanced level. Advanced string players work intensively on one string quartet. All of these groups include a faculty member. The Novice String Program also includes Sight Reading Classes.
The second week, Regular Week Two, is for pianists of all levels; intermediate and advanced strings; intermediate and advanced woodwinds. If you, as a pianist, enjoy working with strings and/or woodwinds, this is the week for you. Summertrios has even been known to accommodate harp, guitar and trumpet players when they provide us with a list of potential repertoire to be played.
At Summertrios, the focus is on you. We work with each person to create a personalized schedule. You choose your own repertoire, generally a single movement drawn from 2 works. Pianists choose their own repertoire.
Our inspiring, patient, imaginative and insightful faculty invite you to make a leap forward in your musical journey. In such a comfortable environment, one can safely take the chances that help one learn. You may be surprised at the progress you make in just one week.
History of Summertrios
When Summertrios was formed in 1990, most chamber music camps across the nation specialized in string quartets and its incredible literature. Summertrios’ initial aim was to provide a week- long program which would give pianists the same opportunity to play chamber music. This goal continues to be a central purpose of the organization.
From the beginnig we attracted numerous pianists eager to take of this new-found opportunity. By 2008, we had expanded to four week-long programs and we were able to accommodate 50 pianists of all levels in attendance at the four different programs. All were open to anyone –there were no admission criteria.
Since pianists obviously need string players, Summertrios has always had an active string quartet program. This actually also provided string players with an opportunity to become more acquainted with the extensive and equally incredible repertoire for piano and strings.
Originally the string quartet program was divided into advanced and intermediate tracks. All string players also worked on the piano chamber music literature and all were scheduled for some sessions with a professional pianist. As far as we know, this may be the only program which mixes amateurs with professionals on a regular basis. But by 1994,we recognized the need for a Novice String Program. There were many reasons: some pianists wanted to learn string instruments; some participants brought spouses who were enticed by this new program to learn a string instrument; some of our intermediate string players weren’t so intermediate! and finally, some in the advanced program were tempted to try out other instruments.
This Novice String Program has become very popular since most camps in the country do not want to accommodate this level of player. We believe this program is unique in its very careful, well thought out organization and in its way of giving many a means to start climbing towards the intermediate level. In fact, there has been a high graduation rate into the intermediate program. In 2008, sight reading classes were initiated to help this burgeoning group and these were a huge success.
Soon after 1994, we began to open the program to woodwind players. There has been growing enthusiasm for playing in mixed string, woodwind, piano ensembles.These players also are scheduled for sessions with a professional pianist.
The week-long Premium Program was introduced next. As the only amateur in an ensemble of all professionals, you will experience an extremely intense and exhilarating week. There are no admission criteria. Everyone is welcome. This is also unique since such opportunities to play with professionals are reserved for other professionals or pre-professional students.
In the 2000 season Summertrios added the Concerto Program which gives any amateur, without having to win a competition, the opportunity to play any instrument solo in a concerto with a professional orchestra. The orchestra is chosen from highly regarded professionals in the Philadelphia area and the conductor is Yuval Waldman, of worldwide reputation.To the best of our knowledge, this program also is unique. The orchestra members are extremely friendly and supportive and seem to derive much pleasure from helping amateurs.
In 2006, this program was opened to composers who wish to have a premiere performance and demo disc of an orchestral or chamber music composition and to conductors who wish to have a chance to conduct a professional orchestra.
As we go into our twentieth year, we are always open to innovation. Who knows what will be next!