Opera
  • Home
  • CHQ Assembly
  • 2025 Season
        • La bohème
        • Lincoln in the Bardo
        • Ida by Lamplight | Sitcom
  • About
        • History
        • Past Productions
        • Leadership
        • Performance Venues & Accessibility
        • Opera in the Schools
  • Young Artists
        • Young Artist Program
        • Audition FAQs
  • Alumni
  • Opera Conservatory
  • Media
  • Opera Guild
  • Donate
  • Buy Tickets
Theater
  • Home
  • CHQ Assembly
  • 2025 Season
        • The Real James Bond…Was Dominican
        • Execution of Justice
        • The Witnesses
  • About
        • Past Productions
  • Conservatory
        • Acting Conservatory
        • FutureNow Stage Directing Fellowships
        • Design Fellowships
        • FAQ
  • New Play Development
        • New Plays at CTC
        • Young Playwrights Project
  • Your Visit
  • Get Involved
  • News
        • Blog Posts
        • In The News
        • The Chautauquan Daily
        • Alumni in the News
  • Donate
  • Buy Tickets
Give
  • Home
  • CHQ Assembly
  • Make a Donation
        • Chautauqua Fund
        • Boundless
        • Endowment
        • Monthly Giving
  • Ways to Give
        • Appreciated Securities
        • Capital Support
        • Chautauqua Fund
        • Endowment/Naming
        • Gift Planning
        • Honor Your Host
        • Honorary/Memorial
        • Matching Gifts
        • Monthly Giving
        • Program Sponsor
        • Scholarships
  • Donor Recognition
        • 1874 Society
        • Bell Tower Society
        • Bestor Society
        • Daugherty Society
        • Lewis Miller Circle
        • NOW Generation
        • Foundation Membership
        • Honorary and Memorial Tree Program
  • Foundation
        • History & Mission
        • Board of Directors
        • Foundation Staff
        • Foundation Publications
        • Contact
  • Advancement
        • Institution Board of Trustees
        • Advancement Staff
        • Advancement Publications
        • Contact
        • Foundation Membership
  • Donate
  • Buy Tickets
Foundation
  • Home
  • CHQ Assembly
  • Mission
  • Board of Directors
  • Staff
  • Publications
  • Membership
  • Endowment/Naming
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Buy Tickets
  • About Us
    • News & Announcements
    • 150 Forward Strategic Plan
    • Boundless
    • Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) at Chautauqua
    • Media Resources
    • Staff Directory
    • Washington, D.C. Office
  • Employment
  • Resources
    • FAQs
    • CHQ FAQ Google Group
    • Safety & Security Department
    • Shared Promise
    • The Smith Memorial Library
    • Post Office
    • Services & Amenities
    • Business Center
    • Chautauqua Institution Policies
    • AED Locations on Grounds
    • The Chautauquan Daily
    • Chautauqua Lake Conservation
    • Chautauqua Institution Archives
  • CHQ Assembly
  • Community Portal
  • Giving
    • Donate Securely Online
    • Boundless
    • Donor Recognition
    • Ways to Give
    • Chautauqua Foundation
    • Advancement
  • Visit
        • Plan Your Visit
          • 2025 Season
          • Visit Must-Dos
          • Experience Planner
          • Accessibility at Chautauqua
        • Eat, Drink & Shop
          • Dining
          • Heirloom Restaurant
          • Shopping & Services
          • Chautauqua Bookstore
        • Places To Stay
          • Athenaeum Hotel
          • Private Accommodations
          • Denominations and Religious Organizations
          • Nearby Accommodations
        • Explore the Grounds and Gardens
          • Maps and Directions
          • Bus and Tram Tracker
          • Plaza Cam
          • Chautauqua Lake Conservation
        • Group Travel
          • Chautauqua Travels
          • Book a Group Visit
          • Tour Operators
          • Road Scholar
          • Chautauqua on a Budget
          • Tour Chautauqua County
  • Things to Do
        • Events
          • All Events
          • Event Calendar
          • Weekly Themes
          • Experience Planner
          • Grid Calendar
        • Classes
        • Performing & Visual Arts
        • Education
        • Recreation
        • Chautauqua Cinema
        • Religion
        • Youth & Family
        • Experience Community
        • Discover CHQ
  • Gate Passes, Tickets & Registrations
        • Buy Gate Passes and Parking
          • Long-term Gate Passes & Parking
        • Buy Single Event Tickets
          • Concert Tickets
          • Lecture & Afternoon Tickets
        • Register for a Youth Program
        • Register for Special Studies Classes
  • Festival Schools
        • School of Music
          • Conducting Fellowship
          • Instrumental Program
          • Opera Conservatory
          • Piano Program
        • School of Dance
        • School of Art
        • Theater Conservatory
        • Alumni
        • Chautauqua Connections
  • Buy Tickets
  • Give
  • Donate
  • Buy Tickets

looking for something?

  • Festival Schools
  • School of Music
    • Conducting Fellowship
    • Instrumental Program
      • Apply
      • Cost of Attendance
      • Faculty
      • Guest Artist and Master Classes
      • Instrumental Chamber Music
      • Sigma Alpha Iota Competition
    • Opera Conservatory
      • Meet the 2025 Opera Conservatory
      • Apply
      • Opera Conservatory Faculty
      • About the Chautauqua Opera Conservatory and Facilities
    • Piano Program
      • Apply
      • Cost & General Information
      • Faculty
      • Lessons and Master Classes
      • Performance Opportunities
    • Housing and Student Life
    • School of Music Calendar
  • School of Art
  • School of Dance
    • Audition Information
    • Programs
    • Cost & General Information
    • Performances
    • Faculty
    • Alumni
    • Support the Dance Program
  • Student Handbook
  • Theater
  • Alumni
  • Art
  • Schools Rules and Regulations
  • Chautauqua Connections
Timothy Muffitt conducting the MSFO in one of their concerts

Apply to the Instrumental Program

Applications for the 2025 season have closed.

audition repertoire & tips for preparing audition video

Chautauqua welcomes applications from all eligible musicians with no preference to racial or ethnic origins, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, disability, or age. 

Admission decisions and scholarship awards are made by March 1 for the Instrumental Program. We will start to release audition results to applicants by instrument section throughout the month of February. Every applicant will be contacted with their admission results through the email address on their application by March 1. In collaboration with peer festivals, we are participating in an Admit Reply deadline of Monday, March 10 at 7 p.m. Eastern. Those accepted will have until this deadline to commit to a festival. After this deadline passes, alternates will be notified of their acceptance and will have an enrollment deadline of Wednesday, March 12 at 7 p.m. Eastern.

Contact Information

Sam Minardi-Lopez
Manager of Student Services & Arts Education Business Coordinator
716-357-6234
sminardi@chq.org

Sarah Malinoski
Director, Chautauqua Schools of Performing and Visual Arts
716-357-6233
f: 716-357-9014
smalinoski@chq.org

Chautauqua Festival Schools of Performing and Visual Arts
P.O. Box 1098
1 Ames Ave.
Chautauqua, NY 14722

The Music School Festival Orchestra is underwritten in part by the Hultquist Foundation and the Carnahan-Jackson Foundation of Jamestown, N.Y.

Scholarships are awarded only to students enrolled for, and who will participate fully in, the entire program. 

In 2024, the Chautauqua Institution awarded direct scholarship aid to 100% of the students in the Instrumental Program.  

Applicants must be enrolled in or recently graduated from music studies at the time of application. Professional musicians are not eligible for admission or financial aid. 

Save Your Trip

Fill out the form below to save your trip. You will receive a link to your saved list via email.

  • Hidden
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Save Your Favorites

Fill out the form below to save your favorites. You will receive a link to your favorites list via email.

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
Hidden

Notice!

You have now entered the season. Some website content may differ depending on the current season we are in: Summer or Fall/Winter/Spring. You can toggle between the two season options at any time.

Okay

Subscribe to Chautauqua Institution’s email newsletter

  • About
  • Resources
  • Sustainability
  • Contact
  • Whistleblower Policy
  • Employment
  • Ethics Point
  • Labor Law Notices
  • Privacy Policy
  • ADA Compliance
Chautauqua Institution
P.O. Box 28
One Ames Ave.
Chautauqua, N.Y. 14722

1.800.836.ARTS
Washington, DC Office
1150 Connecticut, Avenue NW | Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
202.480.2244
  • CHQ Assembly logo
  • Privacy Policy
  • ADA Compliance

© 2022 Chautauqua Institution. Chautauqua Institution is a not-for-profit organization, dependent upon your gifts to fulfill its mission. Gate tickets and other revenue cover only a portion of the cost of your Chautauqua experience.