This Berkshire High Peaks Festival Master Class on Sunday, July 30 at 11:00am is presented by John Esposito of Bard College Conservatory. Read full biography here.

Berkshire High Peaks Festival master classes, talks, and Moonlight Sonatas concerts are free and open to the public and take place at Berkshire School in Sheffield, Massachusetts (unless otherwise noted).

At the core of the festival are 50 international students of exceptional promise and demonstrated accomplishment who gather for intensive study, are coached as part of performing ensembles, and enjoy discussions and workshops by prominent composers, renowned pedagogues, and notable figures in the music world as they prepare for professional lives.

This year’s theme is “Pathways.” At a time when the music business is fraught with uncertainties and career paths aren’t as prescribed and predictable as previously, faculty will give a series of presentations about how they found their individual places in the music world. All concerts, master classes, and talks will be open and free to the public. Central to the festival’s mission are performance opportunities for young artists on the cusp of their careers.

The intimate scale and highest level of talent make possible an invigorating ten days of discovery, exploration, bonding, and growth. The festival has an all-inclusive atmosphere, fostering camaraderie and cross-cultural exchange and understanding. The faculty is similarly international.

The Berkshire High Peaks Festival is a performing and teaching summer institute that brings together renowned musicians, pedagogues, and exceptionally gifted international students, normally held in the cultural hub of the southern Berkshires. The intimate scale and highest level of talent make possible an invigorating ten days of discovery, exploration, bonding, and growth. The festival has an all-inclusive atmosphere, fostering camaraderie and cross-cultural exchange and understanding. The faculty is similarly international.