program Description
Elemental Music’s Chamber Music Institute is Santa Monica’s audition-based chamber music program for advanced instrumentalists (grades 6–12) and vocalists (grades 9–12) offering small-ensemble coaching with professional musicians.
Students receive weekly coaching from professional musicians and have the chance to perform in masterclasses. Past masterclass guests include musicians from Takács Quartet, Calder Quartet, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, faculty at USC, and more.
Participation in the Chamber Music Institute will provide advanced musicians with the chance to play in smaller ensembles such as duos, trios, quartets, and quintets. There will also be opportunities for instrument-specific ensembles for younger students, such as flute choir, double bass ensemble, cello choir, and more. Advanced high school singers will have the opportunity to perform in a small vocal chamber ensemble.
In recent seasons, CMI students have studied and performed a diverse range of pieces by composers including Franz Joseph Haydn, W.A. Mozart, Benjamin Britten, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Darius Milhaud, William Grant Still, Florence Price, George Walker, and Caroline Shaw.
Students will be matched according to age and ability. There will be weekly coachings with professional musicians and educators throughout the season, as well as two masterclasses and a recital.
Playing in a chamber ensemble requires great responsibility in learning individual parts and preparing for rehearsal. Private lessons are strongly encouraged, though students without a private teacher may be accepted on a case by case basis. Students do not need to be Elemental Music alumni in order to participate.
Please email Program Director Emily Call for more information about this program.
SCHEDULE & TUITION
Chamber Music Institute meets on Saturday mornings at Elemental Music (1906 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica). Other rehearsal schedules may possible pending group and coach availability.
Tuition for the 2026/27 season is approximately $465/trimester, for a total of $1,395 for the season. Participation is a year-long commitment (24 rehearsals, 2 masterclasses, 1 recital).
Early Bird Discount for those who enroll by June 1: $25
Non-refundable deposit of $250 is due upon enrollment.
Tuition reduction is available on a sliding scale. Our Tuition Reduction Form is short & sweet. Please submit your form ASAP so we can help determine a family-friendly tuition rate for you and start making music! Payment plans are also available.
Auditions
Interested in joining the Chamber Music Institute?
Instrumentalists (grades 6–12) must play:
one scale of their choosing
two contrasting solos for the audition, demonstrating technical facility and lyrical expression
sight reading may be required
In an a cappella audition, vocalists (grades 9–12) must:
sing up and down a major scale and arpeggio
sing an octave
short folk or classical solo selection sung a cappella demonstrating vocal proficiency and expressive ability
sing/echo tonal memory patterns.
Auditions for this program will be held in September 2026. Please fill out the form below to get on our list. Program Director Emily Call will contact you with more information.
2026/27 Master Class Guests include
Photo by Kevin Hsu
Zachary Mowitz, cello
LA Phil, SAKURA Cello Quintet, ensemble132
Previous Master Class Guests include…
Lina Bahn, violin (USC Thornton School of Music)
Matthew Duvall, percussion | Maiani da Silva, violin | Lisa Kaplan, piano (Eighth Blackbird)
Jennifer Kloetzel, cello (University of California, Santa Barbara)
Kevin Kumar, violin (Salastina)
Jonathan Moerschel, viola (Calder Quartet | University of California, Santa Barbara)
Giovanna Moraga Clayton, cello (Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra)
Richard O’Neill, viola (Takács Quartet | University of Colorado, Boulder)
Seth Parker Woods, cello (Wild Up | USC Thornton School of Music)
Wendy Richman, viola (International Contemporary Ensemble | UCLA, CSUN)
If you would like to speak with our Translation Liaison to answer questions and provide information in Spanish, please email Juanita Devis. You can also visit our Spanish website for more information!
Si usted desea hablar con nuestra Traductora Intermediaria para que responda sus preguntas y reciba la información en español, por favor envíe un correo electrónico a Juanita Devis. ¡También puede visitar nuestra página de internet en español para más información!
Useful Downloads
26-27 Parent Handbook (English/Spanish)
26-27 Calendar & Supply List (Saturday)
26-27 Calendar & Supply List (Sunday)
26-27 Calendar & Supply List (Wednesday)
26-27 Calendar & Supply List (Thursday)
Tuition Reduction Form