Young Artist Experience

Sample Weekday Schedule

The first four weeks of the Festival are typically heavily focused on chamber music rehearsals, coaching and private lessons and classes held on the Kent State University campus. 

• 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.: Chamber Music Rehearsals or Coaching Sessions
• 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Lunch and Lessons
• 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.: Chamber Music Rehearsals or Coaching Sessions
• 3:00 - 9:00 p.m.: Classes, Lessons, Practice Time or Rehearsals

You’ll perform in chamber music concerts typically held at the end of Weeks 2 and 4. These concerts occur in Kent State University Glauser School of Music’s intimate and acoustically beautiful Ludwig Recital Hall and surrounding communities like Cleveland, Chagrin Falls, Hudson, Ravenna, and Stow.

Musical Enrichment and Social Opportunities

Weekly faculty concerts featuring Festival faculty and guest artists. 

Trips to Blossom Music Center to hear weekly concerts by The Cleveland Orchestra.

Participate in and observe masterclasses, orchestra repertoire and technique classes, and audition clinics with members of The Cleveland Orchestra, Kent State music faculty, and internationally renowned guest artists. 

Take excursions to area attractions for bowling, hiking, minigolf and kayaking on the Cuyahoga River; pizza and movie nights; and the annual 4th of July Party. 

Orchestra Week Schedule

In most seasons, the fifth week of the festival is dedicated to orchestral studies culminating in two same-day performances at Blossom Music Center. The schedule of the week is flexible from year-to-year to accommodate artist, conductor and venue availability. 

Chamber Orchestra

• The Kent Blossom Music Festival Chamber Orchestra forms this week, typically conducted by The Cleveland Orchestra’s assistant/associate conductor. 
• Rehearsals are held daily, allowing for an in-depth study of the works to be performed. 
• A culminating performance is held at Blossom Music Center before The Cleveland Orchestra takes the stage to perform a concert. 

Side-by-Side with The Cleveland Orchestra

• A highlight of the Festival is the Side-by-Side performance where you sit alongside your mentors to perform during The Cleveland Orchestra’s portion of the concert. 
• Leading up to the concert, you’ll have at least one rehearsal at Severance Hall with The Cleveland Orchestra, led by that week’s conductor. 

Pianists

• You’ll stay busy during Orchestra Week through extensive work with Joela Jones, head of keyboard studies for the Festival and now-retired principal keyboardist of The Cleveland Orchestra. 
• Each year is a bit different, with a course of study determined by Joela. You can expect a rigorous schedule that may include study of and classes in keyboard repertoire in orchestral settings, piano duos and chamber music, and solo repertoire.