’There’s a big sense of camaraderie, and because it’s a pretty small programme you really develop connections with everyone,’ says the US violinist
I first heard about the Perlman Music Program when Itzhak Perlman gave a concert tour around the US, but it wasn’t until years later that I decided to apply. I’ve done it for two years now.
We wake up around 7.30am and the first thing we have is stretching, which is great in the morning when you’re tense. We have breakfast and then we have some practice time; it’s four hours of required practice a day, but you can practise whenever you want. At 12.30pm we have lunch, and in the afternoon there are lessons, chamber rehearsals and chamber coaching.
Before dinner we have choir, which is required. We’re all string players, so none of us are amazing vocalists, but it’s still fun and we have a great chorus director. After dinner we have orchestra rehearsal, and then the rest of the night is free! Sunday is mainly free too: you don’t have required classes and we usually go on off-campus excursions.
The summer is split into two-week trimesters, with a different chamber group and repertoire each time, and themes like Mozart or Contemporary. You only know in advance what your first group is, then near the end of each trimester you get your new assignments. It’s good because you get to work with different people throughout the summer.
I felt intimidated when I first got in and decided to go, but I was surprised at how welcoming and supportive it is. There’s a big sense of camaraderie, and because it’s a pretty small programme you really develop connections with everyone. There’s a lot of mixing between ages, and it’s great to meet people from all around the world who are also into music - everybody has fun together!
I’d say my favourite parts of the program are the spontaneous chamber music reading sessions – those are really fun – and how involved Mr and Mrs Perlman are with camp life. They eat meals with us, sing in the chorus, and we occasionally have nights where we listen to music and get to hear their takes on different recordings and talk about musical concepts. It’s very special.
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