Information
What began six summers ago as an informal summer music festival as become one of the most respected and high quality programs for chamber music in the Orange County area. We pride ourselves on offering a personal and highly-engaging rehearsal environment. The unique experience of studying and performing side-by-side with artist faculty is the catalyst for significant personal and musical growth for young musicians that have participated in our previous festivals.This season, ChamberArtsFest offers two programs divided by age and ability level.
Senior Program
The CAF Senior Program is the primary component upon which the festival was founded. This past season, undergraduate and graduate musicians from university and conservatory programs were invited to engage in two weeks of in-depth study of Beethoven's String Quartets (Op. 95, and Op. 127). In addition to daily rehearsals, all ensembles participated in regular performance classes, masterclasses with guest artists and concert performances at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in San Juan Capistrano (Friday, July 24 @ 7:00pm) and the University of California, Irvine's Winifred Smith Recital Hall (Saturday, July 25 @ 7:00pm).
Our distinguished guest teacher for this year's senior program was Peter Marsh, Director of String Chamber Music at the University of Southern California who spent a day playing and working with our quartets.
Junior Program
The CAF Junior Program is designed for advanced students ages 12-18. Working side-by-side with artist faculty in rehearsals and classes, young artists develop critical ensemble skills and acquire valuable performing experience. The Junior Program runs concurrently with the Senior Program, giving our younger students a chance to interact with and observe the rehearsals of high level musicians and teachers.
Dress Code
There is no required dress for rehearsals or classes. We recommend you dress to ensure both your comfort in playing and also for the weather which outdoors can be rather warm during the Irvine summer. This region is best classified as "semi-arid desert" despite the extensive landscaping that would indicate otherwise.
We are more flexible with concert attire than most festivals. As you can see from the photographs on this site, our performers appear in everything from solid black to dressy gowns. If you desire, bring more than one concert outfit so that you may have a choice for the different performances on the schedule (some day, some evening). We want you to be able to focus on making music rather than worrying about having specific attire.
Outside Rehearsal
ChamberArtsFest takes place at the offices of MusiShare, Inc. in the heart of the City of Irvine in Southern California. Incorporated in 1971, Irvine is one of the nation's largest planned urban communities, encompassing more than fifty-five square miles. It ranks among the highest in the nation in the quality of its educational institutions and overall safety.
Our rehearsal studio is located within walking distance of two huge commercial centers that include some of the finest restaurants and shopping that Irvine has to offer. Down the street, The District is a million square-foot outdoor center with everything from chain megastores to specialized boutiques and mega-theatre complex. Our next-door neighbor The Diamond Jamboree hosts a wealth of culinary destinations including first-rate Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and fusion cuisines along with the first 85C Bakery Cafe in the United States. A few miles north or south on major freeways lead to the internationally recognized South Coast Plaza and it's adjacent Orange County Performing Arts Center, and the Irvine Spectrum Center, Irvine's first major entertainment hub. Within an hour's drive are Southern California's major attractions, including the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and of course, hundreds of miles of beaches.
Visitors from outside the Orange County area fly into John Wayne Airport, only a 10-15 minute drive from our studio on major streets.