Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival Announces 2026 Season Programming

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
National Media Contact:
Amanda Sweet/Bucklesweet
Amanda@bucklesweet.com

Vermont/Local Media Contact:
Alexandra Tursi/Cultivate
alex@cultivatepr.co 

 

GREEN MOUNTAIN CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2026

SEASON PROGRAMMING

Featuring guest quartets Balourdet and Verona, inaugural Barnebl String Quartet Fellowship, Senior & Junior programs, and five weeks of chamber music, masterclasses, and community events in Colchester, Vermont, June 28 – August 2, 2026

 

COLCHESTER, Vt. — The Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival (GMCMF) announces its 2026 season, running June 28 – August 2 at St. Michael’s College and the Elley-Long Music Center in Colchester, Vermont. The season features a full roster of Festival Artist concerts, student performances, public masterclasses, the newly launched Barnebl String Quartet Fellowship, and deep community engagement throughout the greater Burlington area. Full schedule and ticketing information will be available at gmcmf.org by May 2026.

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“Each summer, GMCMF brings together distinguished chamber musicians from around
the country and the students who will carry the art form forward. What drives the festival
is dialogue between artists at every stage, and between the music and the communities,
local and national, that sustain it.” - Elizabeth Chang, Artistic Director

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FESTIVAL ARTISTS SERIES
Formerly the Artist Faculty Series, the Festival Artists Series presents GMCMF Artist Faculty, guest quartets Balourdet Quartet (June 30) and Verona Quartet (July 21), and festival fellows performing with faculty. Programs include winning works from GMCMF’s Call for Scores, prelude concerts by student string quartets, pre-concert talks, and post-concert Q&As with guest artists.

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2026
6:45 PM Pre-Concert Talk with Balourdet Quartet; 7:30 PM BALOURDET QUARTET
Amy Beach: String Quartet in One Movement, Op. 89
Eleanor Alberga: String Quartet No. 2
Maurice Ravel: String Quartet in F Major, M. 35
Angela Bae, Justin DeFilippis, Benjamin Zannoni, Russell Houston

THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2026
7:30 PM QUINTESSENCE
Call for Scores Winning work, to be announced
Mozart: String Quintet in G Minor, K. 516
String Quintet No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 87

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2026
6:45 PM Prelude Concert; 7:30 PM CROSSCURRENTS
Jalbert: Piano Trio No. 2
Kurtág: 12 Microludes (1977-1978)
Turina: Piano Trio No. 2 (1933)
Fauré: Piano Quartet No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 45

FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2026
6:45 PM Prelude Concert; 7:30 PM CONSTELLATIONS
Hersant: Onze caprices pour 2 violons
Kodály: Duo for Violin and Cello, Op. 7
Brahms: String Sextet No. 1 in B-Flat Major, Op. 18

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2026
6:45 PM Prelude Concert; 7:30 PM ABUNDANCE
Call for Scores Winning work, to be announced
Glière: String Octet in D Major, Op. 5
Dvorák Piano Quartet No. 1 in D Major, Op. 23

FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2026
6:45 PM Prelude Concert; 7:30 PM THROUGH LINES
Mozart: Piano Trio in B-Flat Major, K. 502
Fauré: Piano Trio in D Minor, Op. 120
Bacewicz: Piano Quintet No. 1

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2026
6:45 PM Prelude Concert; 7:30 PM VERONA QUARTET; Post-concert Q&A
Augusta Read Thomas: Clara’s Ascent (2019)
Janácek: Kreutzer Sonata (1923)
Beethoven: String Quartet No. 12 in E-flat Major, Op. 127 (1825)
Jonathan Ong, Dorothy Ro, Abigail Rojansky, Jonathan Dormand

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2026
6:45 PM Prelude Concert; 7:30 PM AFTERLIGHT
Bloch: Three Nocturnes (1924)
Bridge: Noveletten, H. 44 (1904)
Zemlinsky: String Quintet in D Minor (1894-1896)
Walton: Piano Quartet in D Minor (1918-19)

 

NEW IN 2026: BARNEBL STRING QUARTET FELLOWSHIP

2026 Inaugural Recipients: Candide Quartet, The Juilliard School
GMCMF launches the Barnebl String Quartet Fellowship, providing an emerging professional string quartet with a comprehensive package of professional performance opportunities. The inaugural recipients, the Candide Quartet, who are all current students at The Juilliard School, will perform throughout the 2026 festival, including on the Festival Artists Series. The fellowship includes six paid professional concerts across the United States during the 2026-2027 season, culminating with a seventh concert during the 2027 Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival.

 

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“The Barnebl Fellowship represents a significant new chapter for GMCMF. We
are excited to welcome the Candide Quartet as our inaugural Barnebl fellows,
and to support their work across six professional performances in the coming
season. This is the kind of sustained investment in emerging artists that we
hope will define GMCMF's next chapter.” Elizabeth Chang, Artistic Director

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PUBLIC MASTERCLASSES & PRESENTATIONS

• June 29 & 30 — Balourdet Quartet “Fundamentals of String Quartet Rehearsal”
• July 10 — Ani Kavafian, violin
• July 20 — Verona Quartet
• Date TBD — Astrid Schween, cello

STUDENT PERFORMANCES

Students perform throughout the festival on two dedicated series: the Emerging Artists Series and the Mansfield Solo Concert Series. Performances begin July 2 and take place at the McCarthy Arts Center Recital Hall and the Roy Room at Dion Student Center on the campus of St. Michael’s College. Full dates will be posted at gmcmf.org in May 2026.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Quartet Hops
Chamber music performed on the hour, every hour, in local businesses throughout Church Street Marketplace in downtown Burlington on Saturday, July 11; Saturday, July 18; and Sunday, July 19.

Quartet Conversations Series

This lecture performance series features guest musicologists giving deeper context to composers and repertoire accompanied by live performances by student string quartets.

• July 9 at 1:00 PM: Phoenix Books, Burlington with Evan MacCarthy
• July 10 at 1:00 PM: Dorothy Alling Library, Williston with Evan MacCarthy
• July 15 at 1:30 PM: Pierson Library, Shelburne with Nathaniel Lew
• July 17 at 1:15 PM: South Burlington Public Library with Nathaniel Lew
• July 21 at 1:00 PM: Phoenix Books, Downtown Burlington with Nathaniel Lew

Family Concert Series

Interactive, family-friendly performances by student string quartets designed for children and families; sweet treats provided by Vermont Cookie Love!

• Thursday, July 16 at 1:15 PM: South Burlington Library Kids
• Friday, July 17 at 10:30 AM: Lake Champlain Chocolates on Pine Street
• Monday, July 20 at 11:15 AM: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library in Williston
• Tuesday, July 21 at 10:30 AM: Burlington YMCA (for YMCA campers)

Festival Fellows in the Community

• Saturday, July 11 — Shelburne Vineyard — GMCMF Benefit Concert
• Sunday, July 12 — Sunday Classical — BCA Church Street Gallery

GMCMF JUNIOR PROGRAM (July 19 – August 1)

Returning for its second year, the Junior Program serves students ages 8–13. Highlights include a Mini Quartet Hop on Friday, July 31 on Church Street, and showcase concerts on campus throughout the two-week program.

 

“From the Junior Program to the Emerging Artists Series to our fellows on the Festival
Artist Series, we are building opportunities with lasting impact for musicians at every
stage, in partnership with communities in Burlington and beyond.” Amanda Stenroos, General Manager

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ABOUT GREEN MOUNTAIN CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL

The Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival (GMCMF) is dedicated to the performance, teaching, and advancement of chamber music. Based at St. Michael’s College and the Elley-Long Music Center in Colchester, Vermont, the festival brings together distinguished artist faculty, emerging professional ensembles, and talented students each summer for an intensive season of concerts, masterclasses, and community programming. For more information, visit gmcmf.org.

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Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival Concert Calendar

June 2026

Tuesday, June 30

• Festival Artists Series concert featuring the Balourdet Quartet (guest), includes a pre-concert talk at 6:45 PM by the quartet
  • Time: 7:30 PM | Location: Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester, Vermont

July 2026

Thursday, July 2

• Festival Artists Series concert “Quintessence” featuring Artist Faculty & winning work from the 2026 Call for Scores performed by Barnebl Fellows, the Candide Quartet
  
  • Time: 7:30 PM | Location: Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester

Saturday, July 4

• Student performances begin with Emerging Artists Series and Mansfield Solo Concert Series, held on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
  
  • Time: 12:30 on Saturdays, 4:00 PM during the week | Locations: McCarthy Arts Center Recital Hall, St. Michael's College campus, Colchester (Emerging Artists Series & early Mansfield Solo Concerts); Roy Room, Dion Student Center, St. Michael's College campus (later Mansfield Solo Concerts)

Tuesday, July 7

• Festival Artists Series concert “Crosscurrents” with faculty and fellows; includes prelude concert at 6:45 PM
  
  • Time: 7:30 PM | Location: Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester

Friday, July 10

• Ani Kavafian (violin) Public Masterclass
  
  • Time: 1:00 PM | Location: McCarthy Arts Center Recital Hall, St. Michael's College campus, Colchester
• Festival Artists Series concert “Constellations” with faculty; includes prelude concert at 6:45 PM
  • Time: 7:30 PM | Location: Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester

Saturday, July 11

• Quartet Hop with chamber music performed on the hour, every hour, in local businesses
  
  • Time: Hourly from 10 AM to 4 PM | Location: Church Street Marketplace, downtown Burlington
• GMCMF Benefit Concert performed by the festival's eight Festival Fellows
  
  • Time: 3:00 PM | Location: Shelburne Vineyard, Shelburne, Vermont

Sunday, July 12

• Sunday Classical performance by the Festival Fellows
  
  • Time: 10:00 AM | Location: BCA Church Street Gallery, Burlington

Tuesday, July 14

• Festival Artists Series concert “Abundance” with faculty and fellow; featuring performance of 2026 Call for Scores winning piece, includes prelude concert at 6:45 PM
  
  • Time: 7:30 PM | Location: Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester

Thursday, July 16

• Family Concert
  
  • Time: 1:15 PM | Location: South Burlington Library Kids

Friday, July 17

• Family Concert
  
  • Time: 10:30 AM | Location: Lake Champlain Chocolates on Pine Street, Burlington
• Festival Artists Series concert “Through Lines” with faculty, fellows, and guests; includes prelude concert at 6:45 PM
  • Time: 7:30 PM | Location: Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester

Saturday, July 18

• Quartet Hop with chamber music performed on the hour, every hour, in local businesses
  
  • Time: Hourly from 10 AM to 4 PM | Location: Church Street Marketplace, downtown Burlington

Sunday, July 19

• Quartet Hop with chamber music performed on the hour, every hour, in local businesses
  
  • Time: Hourly from 10 AM to 4 PM | Location: Church Street Marketplace, downtown Burlington
• GMCMF Junior Program begins, a two-week program for students ages 8–13, running through August 1, with showcase concerts throughout
  • Location: St. Michael's College campus, Colchester

Monday, July 20

• Family Concert
  
  • Time: 11:15 AM | Location: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library in Williston

Tuesday, July 21

• Family Concert
  
  • Time: 10:30 AM | Location: Burlington YMCA (for YMCA campers)
• Festival Artists Series concert featuring the Verona Quartet; includes prelude by student quartet at 6:45 PM, and post-concert Q&A with the Verona Quartet
  • Time: 7:30 PM | Location: Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester

Friday, July 24

• Festival Artists Series concert “Afterlight” with faculty, fellows, and guests; includes prelude concert at 6:45 PM
  
  • Time: 7:30 PM | Location: Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester

Saturday, July 25

• Music For Food Concert featuring Festival Fellows; proceeds benefit local food shelf
  
  • Time: 7:30 PM | Location: Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Burlington

Friday, July 31

• Junior Program Mini Quartet-Hop with performances by Junior Program students
  
  • Time: 9:30 AM-12:00 PM | Location: Church Street Marketplace, Burlington

 

August 2026

Saturday, August 1

• GMCMF Junior Program Final Chamber & Orchestra Concert
  
  • Time: 3:00 PM | Location: McCarthy Arts Center Recital Hall

 

Note on the Candide Quartet: As the 2026 inaugural recipients of the new Barnebl String Quartet Fellowship, the Candide Quartet (from The Juilliard School) will perform throughout the festival, including appearances across the Festival Artists Series.