Chamber Days

June 15 through 19, 2026

A week-long chamber music workshop for string players of middle-school to college age, featuring extensive daily coaching and performing opportunities designed to:

  • Improve your instrumental playing ability
  • Improve your performing ability
  • Improve your musicianship
  • Develop ensemble skills
  • Develop rehearsal skills
  • Develop leadership skills
  • Have fun with other musicians while learning great repertoire!!

And for Pianists - Piano Camp!

Study piano duets, chamber music for piano and other instruments, and solo pieces. Daily masterclasses and lessons on both solo and ensemble music with WWU piano faculty, Judith Widrig.

Instructional Format

Chamber music represents the pinnacle ensemble experience for musicians where instrumental playing skills, musicianship, leadership and collaborative skills are developed to the highest level in small ensembles in which every player has the opportunity to shine in both soloistic and supporting musical roles while performing the greatest literature written for our instruments. Students will receive daily coaching from expert faculty in a small group learning environment as well as in larger ensembles: in addition to their small chamber groups, all string players will perform in a non-conducted large string ensemble and pianists will perform in piano duos and quartets. Each day includes multiple rehearsal and coaching sessions and culminates with an afternoon performance class wherein each group has the opportunity to perform material mastered, that day. By the end of the week, students will have had multiple performance opportunities in preparation for the Final Concert for family and friends.

Dates and Schedule

End of Week Gala Concert for Family and Friends

Friday, June 19 at 5:30 p.m. in the Western Washington University Concert Hall

Daily schedule

  • First Day Orientation Meeting: Monday, June 15 at 9:30 a.m. in Performing Arts Center Room #24
  • Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. through 4 p.m.
  • Friday 10 a.m. through 7 p.m.
  • Includes multiple coaching sessions and an afternoon performance classes. Each group will have the opportunity to perform material mastered, that day.

Coaches

  • Grant Donnellan, Professor of Violin, WWU, Director, North Sound Youth Symphony
  • Nick Strobel, Bellingham High School Orchestra Director
  • Samantha Sinai, private Cello instructor
  • Lisa Humphrey, private Viola/Violin instructor
  • Judith Widrig, WWU Piano faculty
  • Victor Costanzi, Bellingham Festival of Music artist
  • James Ray, WWU String faculty
  • Janet Steinberg, WWU String faculty
  • Ryan Dudenbostel, WWU Orchestra Director
  • Afternoon Masterclasses with WWU faculty and guest artists

Application and Registration

Auditions

New students must submit an audition video for acceptance via the online application process.

Audition video requirements

  • A major and minor scale showing position work
  • An excerpt (5 minutes or less) from solo repertoire of your choice

Registration

  • Please register online by May 15
  • Registration after May 15 will still be accepted; but on a space-available basis.
  • You will receive confirmation afterwards as to whether we have space for you in one of the ensembles.
  • Do not send payment at this time – wait to receive admission confirmation.

Respiratory Virus Safety Precautions

If a student contracts a Respiratory virus, such as COVID-19 during the camp, they will need to follow current State of Washington Respiratory Virus Guidelines, which could require them to miss the end of camp. Students and faculty are encouraged, but not required, to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses prior to attending to protect the health of our ensemble, staff, and instructors.

More information about Chamber Days

Contact Grant Donnellan

 

Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*).

Application form

Your information

If no director, leave blank
Enter in years and months. Ex: 3 years, 2 months.
Enter in years and months. Ex: 3 years, 2 months.
If no private instructor, leave blank

Parent or Guardian Information

Returning participant
Have you previously attended WWU Chamber Days as a student?

Audio sample

A short audio or video sample of your playing.

  • Submit a brief recording containing a major and minor scale of your choice (2-3 octaves, 2-4 note slurs) and a 2-5 minute excerpt from a solo work
  • Piano accompaniment not required
  • If you have problems attaching links or files, or sharing uploaded files, contact us.
Audio sample type
One file only.
16 MB limit.
Allowed types: avi, mov, mp4, ogg, wav, webm, mp3, ogg, wav.
Link to audio sample

Be sure to allow grant.donnellan@wwu.edu access to any shared files.

Which most affected your decision to apply to Chamber Days?

Looking for more information?

If you have any questions, we're happy to find you an answer. Call the Music Department Office 360-650-3130, or view the directory of faculty and staff.