All material found in the Press Releases section is provided by parties entirely independent of Musical America, which is not responsible for content.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2026
National media contact: Amanda Sweet/Bucklesweet
Email: amanda@bucklesweet.com
Local Meadowmount Contact: Casey Boyer, Communications Coordinator
Email: caseyboyer@meadowmount.org
Meadowmount School of Music Announces
2026 Guest Artists
Isidore String Quartet, Ani Kavafian, Ralph Kirshbaum, Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, and Arnold Steinhardt
WESTPORT, NY – The historic Meadowmount School of Music announces its 2026 concert season with a roster of guest artists that welcomes distinguished performers, artist faculty, and celebrated alumni representing decades of Meadowmount’s far-reaching impact. Additional artists and events will continueto be announced over the coming months.
Concerts will be presented between June 28 and August 5, continuing a 82-year tradition of intensive training for young string musicians in the Adirondacks. Meadowmount has long been a favorite summer destination for young musicians and has helped shape some of the greatest artists of the past century—including Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Pinchas Zukerman, Marin Alsop, James Ehnes, Stefan Jackiw, and Jessie Montgomery.
The Isidore String Quartet will be in residence at Meadowmount for a concert on Thursday, July 30 and a Chamber Music Masterclass on Friday, July 31. Featuring two Meadowmount alums, the quartet is a critically acclaimed ensemble, the first prize winner of the 2024 Banff International String Quartet Competition, and recipient of the prestigious 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant. Alongside their high-energy performances, the quartet is deeply engaged in reaching new audiences through inclusive programming, community-centered work, and championing a diverse range of composers and perspectives. Meadowmount looks forward to welcoming Adrian Steele, violin, Phoenix Avalon, violin (MMT alum), Devin Moore, viola, and Joshua McClendon, cello (MMT alum).
Violist and alumna Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt returns, performing a faculty series concert and leading viola and chamber music masterclasses. As a performer and teacher, Ms. Pajaro-van de Stadt is one of the most respected violists today. She was the founding violist of the twice-Grammy-nominated Dover Quartet, and played in the group from 2008-2022.
Two more revered musicians and teachers add to the list of alumni returning to Meadowmount in summer 2026. Ani Kavafian, violin soloist, chamber musician, and professor of violin at the Yale School of Music, will lead a masterclass on Thursday, July 9. Arnold Steinhardt, best known as the first violinist with the Guarneri String Quartet for 45 years and a beloved teacher and colleague, will lead a chamber music masterclass on Monday, July 20. Artistic Director Janet Sung will lead a Q&A with Mr. Steinhardt on Tuesday, July 21, which will be open to the public.
Award-winning cello soloist, highly-respected chamber musician, and teacher Ralph Kirshbaum will visit Meadowmount for the first time and lead a cello masterclass on August 3 and chamber music masterclass on August 4. As a teacher, Mr. Kirshbaum served on the faculty of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England for 38 years. In 2008, he accepted the Gregor Piatigorsky Endowed Chair in Violoncello at USC’s Thornton School of Music, where he founded and served as Artistic Director of the inaugural Piatigorsky International Cello Festival to great acclaim.
“We are thrilled to present an exceptional roster of guest artists at Meadowmount this summer,’ said Artistic Director Janet Sung. “From Arnold Steinhardt to the Isidore String Quartet, this year’s artists include distinguished alums that showcase the longtime impact that Meadowmount has had on generations of artists. The artistry and depth of musical experience that they will share with the young artists at Meadowmount and our audiences promises to make it a very inspiring and exciting summer!”
Concerts take place at the Edward Lee and Jean Campe Concert Hall, with student performances scheduled on Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:30 PM and every Sunday at 5:00 PM. All events are open to the public with a suggested donation of $10 at the door, no advance registration or tickets required.
Masterclasses are open to the public and offer a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the teaching process, with students performing live on stage and receiving direct feedback from the guest artist, making each inspiring session a blend of performance, seminar, and guest artist talk.
Meadowmount has long been a hidden gem for discerning audiences, offering up-close access to artists at pivotal moments in their careers. For seven weeks each summer, a corner of the Adirondacks becomes one of the most vibrant centers of music-making in the country. Visitors are warmly invited to witness the next generation of greatness in action. With more guest artist announcements to come, Meadowmount invites students and audience members to watch this summer take shape.
Additional information on guest artists can be found here:
About Meadowmount School of Music
Founded in 1944 by Ivan Galamian, the Meadowmount School of Music is a seven-week summer program for young violinists, violists, and cellists. Its alumni include world-renowned soloists, chamber musicians, and principal players in leading orchestras. Meadowmount offers a unique blend of tradition, rigor, and inspiration on its 240-acre campus in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. The school retains an intimacy that provides for personal attention and fosters camaraderie among the students. Many students return year after year and alumni retain strong connections and return as faculty and guest artists, ensuring the continuity of the Meadowmount teaching tradition.
FEATURED JOBS
RENT A PHOTO
