July 22 – August 3, 2026!
For Outstanding International String Players, Pianists and Vocalists!
July 22 – August 3, 2026 at Darrow School in New Lebanon, NY
Announcing the 2026 Berkshire High Peaks Festival for Outstanding Young Musicians! For the 17th year, an international group of strings, pianists and vocalists will converge for intensive study with distinguished faculty artists. Each participant will receive private lessons, join in master classes by our faculty and guests, be coached as part of a performing ensemble, and enjoy discussions and workshops by prominent composers, renowned pedagogues and notable figures in the music world who will help guide and inspire as you prepare for a life in the profession.
What to Expect
In addition to immersing yourself in the pillars of the Western canon—Bach, Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms, Dvořák, Tchaikovsky, and more—both as an individual musician and in chamber ensembles, you’ll also have the opportunity to explore new music and expand your artistic reach. Our programming embraces an adventurous spirit, engaging with Latin American repertoire, Eastern European traditions, 20th-century American and Hollywood works, Asian influences, and newly composed pieces. Ensemble work ranges from duos and trios to quartets, sextets, and beyond.
And expect the unexpected! Participants are encouraged to branch out into improvisation and the language of jazz with expert guidance, enjoy movement-based wellness such as Tai chi and yoga tailored to the physical demands musicians face, and take in the breathtaking Berkshire surroundings through hikes, campfire gatherings, and unhurried personal practice time.
Our home at Darrow School offers an inspiring backdrop: a historic Shaker campus nestled on 365 acres at the base of Mount Lebanon, featuring wooded trails, wide-open fields, original stone and timber architecture, and serene natural beauty everywhere you look.
Meals are fresh, thoughtfully prepared, and served three times daily. For physical conditioning and recreation, participants will have access to The Dairy Barn, a beautifully renovated athletic and wellness facility at Darrow that offers a full range of fitness resources.
The atmosphere is immersive, nourishing, and designed to support growth—artistically, physically, and personally—within a community of fellow musicians who share a passion for exploration and excellence.
Performance Opportunities
Participants will have the chance to perform both on the beautiful Darrow campus and in multiple run-out concerts to renowned Berkshire institutions. The Berkshire High Peaks Festival continues to expand its presence throughout the Berkshires and Hudson Valley, with past performances at celebrated venues including the Norman Rockwell Museum, Chesterwood, The Guthrie Center, the Orpheum Theater in Tannersville, NY; Basilica Hudson; the New York State Museum in Albany; Bridge Street Theater in Catskill, NY; the Carey Institute for Global Good in Rensselaerville, NY; and the Becket Arts Center—among many others.
Most of all, we look forward to the togetherness, shared purpose, and supportive artistic spirit that define the Berkshire High Peaks Festival.
Distinguished Faculty Include
- Violinists Katie Lansdale (Berklee College of Music), James Stern (University of Maryland) and Ari Isaacman-Beck (Dalí String Quartet)
- Violists Anthony Devroye (Avalon String Quartet, Northern Illinois University of Music)
- Cellists Yehuda Hanani (Mannes School), Joel Noyes (Metropolitan Opera, Mannes School), Sae Rom Kwon (Kangnam University, Seoul, Korea)
- Pianists Alexander Shtarkman (Peabody Conservatory), Max Levinson (New England Conservatory, Boston Conservatory) Mark Irchai (Levine School of Music, Wash. D.C.), and Shiyu Wang (Indiana University East)
- Vocalist Julia Bentley (New Budapest Orpheum Society, University of Chicago)
- Stage Director Jay Lesenger (Chautauqua Opera Company)