Virginia Tech® home

Chamber Ensembles

A student with long brown hair plays a violin

Performing chamber music at a high level is an essential part of becoming a professional musician.  Few experiences can be as satisfying as studying and creating chamber music in a serious group coached by faculty with exceptional experience as professional performers in chamber music groups. Chamber ensembles regularly perform in masterclasses for the world’s leading musicians, with recent masterclasses presented by Yo-Yo Ma, The Emerson, Brentano and Ying Quartets, and the Turtle Island String Quartet,  the Berlin Philharmonic and Imani Wind Quintets, and Third Coast Percussion ensemble

Groups meet for weekly coachings with faculty, as well as meeting at least twice a week as an ensemble for rehearsals.  Meeting times are scheduled based upon the mutual availability of the individuals involved. The chamber music program is flexible in order to allow students to explore different repertoire and instrumentation.  Frequently groups include brass, woodwinds, strings, and voice in various combinations both in standard and non-standard combinations. Placement into an ensemble is based upon audition for the Chamber Ensemble Directors at the beginning of each semester. 

Want to know more?

Directors for Chamber Ensembles are happy to answer your questions.  

  • Alan Weinstein
  • John Irrera
  • Molly Wilkens-Reed