Which Summer Workshop is Right for You?
Baroque Performance Institute students and me.
Where I live, early March doesn’t have much to recommend it. Winter’s messy death rattles alternate with previews of summer’s moist inferno. Also there’s mud. And pollen. A lot of mud and a lot of pollen.
But you know what early March *is* great for? Registering for a summer workshop!
I love summer workshops. They offer inspiration, new perspectives, and the privilege of immersing oneself in music for a week or more. My students who attend summer workshops return with more knowledge, improved skills, and a clearer focus on what and how they want to play.
But with so many summer workshops out there, how do you know one to sign up for?
Well, first off, you don’t have to stop at just one!
But also, it helps to reflect on the kind of experience you’re looking for Each summer workshop has a unique flavor, with different strengths and weaknesses, and what you want and need may change from year to year. Think about your priorities for this upcoming summer. Are you looking for challenge and growth or something more comfortable? Familiar faces or new friends? A bustling atmosphere or an intimate experience? A deep dive into a specific topic or a wide array of options? I truly do believe there’s a workshop for nearly everyone,
I’m teaching at four great summer workshops this summer. Is one of them right for you? Keep reading to find out!
(Side note #1: If the financial cost of a week long summer workshop seems daunting, please know that workshops often struggle to find enough people to fill their work study and/or scholarship positions. In addition, the American Recorder Society offers scholarship funding, as does Early Music America.)
(Side note #2: There are, of course, a lot of other excellent workshop options out there.)
You want to explore diverse musical interests in a friendly, easy-to-navigate setting.
Mountain Collegium: June 28-July 4, 2026
Exceptionally well-run early music and folk workshop in the North Carolina Mountains. I’ve taught many times at this workshop and am always impressed by its friendliness and warmth. It’s a large workshop with a broad faculty slate and is fabulous place to try out something new.
You’re an advanced beginner who is worried about overwhelm and wants something designed for your level.
Mountain Collegium again. One really nice thing about this workshop is that it features a special track tailored to the needs of emerging recorder players (i.e., those who are newer to the instrument or are still in the process of developing foundational skills).
I want a congenial, midsize workshop that strikes a good balance between depth and breadth.
Mideast Early Music Week: July 19-25, 2025
Mideast is a friendly, multi-instrument, multi-era workshop in Pittsburgh run by several of its own participants. It offers a nice balance between various workshop poles (large vs. small, intense vs. low key, depth vs. breadth) and, as a bonus, features the Von Huene shop in residence. Excellent handicapped accessibility. Mideast is the only workshop I teach that’s located in a major metro.
I love Baroque music! Immerse me!
Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute: June 14-27, 2026.
Oberlin pairs top-notch musical facilities with small-town charm. Recorder players enjoy a friendly masterclass and technique session with me in the morning. The afternoon offers one-to-a-part Baroque consort or mixed-instrument Baroque ensembles. Additional opportunities include Baroque orchestra, beginning viol, baroque dance class, daily lectures and concerts, the ability to attend other masterclasses, and more. Suitable for high-intermediate players and above (players should be able to confidently hold your own line in an ensemble; workshop pitch is A=415.) Dorm housing available or food and lodging on your own.
I want a small, intimate workshop with limited student enrollment.
Virginia Baroque Performance Academy: June 7-13, 2026.
COURSE FULL FOR 2026: Unique, enrollment-limited workshop in the Shenandoah Valley offering recorder masterclass and baroque chamber ensembles. Relaxed schedule (no evening events) Half-day, master-class only enrollment available. Food and lodging are on your own.