YAF Summer Session 2026
Mountain View & Palo Alto, CA
June 14 – 27, 2026
YAF Summer Session is an intensive two-week program for dedicated string and piano students in incoming grades 4–12. With one to a part, students work in small ensembles to take on the challenges unique to chamber music, advancing their development in ways inaccessible by youth orchestras or private lessons alone. Each rehearsal is led by faculty to guide them through the minds of great composers and their iconic masterworks, uncovering history, culture, and artistic expression along the way.
Sunday, March 15 – Applications due – $85
Week of March 30 – Enrollment Finalized
Week of April 13 – Repertoire/practice parts distributed
June 14–27 Summer Session (Mountain View, CA)
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Sunday/Monday, June 14/15 – Rehearsals Begin
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Saturday, June 20 – Performance Seminar
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Saturday, June 27 – Final Concert at First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto
Program Details
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Six two-hour Chamber Music Rehearsals – All chamber music rehearsals are coachings led by assigned faculty. Ensembles meet 3 times per week in Mountain View within one of two choices of schedules, for a total of 12 hours. Students are not expected to rehearse independently from their assigned coaching.
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Performance Seminar (Saturday, June 20) – Each student performs for their peers to simulate performance conditions with faculty critique
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Chamber Concert (Saturday, June 27) – A Public chamber music performance at First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto
Schedule Options
Students/ensembles may select specific coaching times from within one of two schedule tracks:
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Sunday / Tuesday / Thursday (6/14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25) or
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Monday / Wednesday / Friday (6/15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 26)
Individual practice time is given and expected of each students during off days between assigned coachings on both Tracks.
All students are expected to be present for their selected schedule track, middle-Saturday Performance Class, and the Chamber Concert. All potential schedule conflicts should be resolved prior to applying.
Program Director: Jeffrey Li
Auditions & Excerpts
Admission to YAF is by video audition only. Students must demonstrate not only proficiency in their primary instrument, but commitment to ensemble playing by preparing instrument-specific excerpts.
Instrument-specific excerpts and details are provided in the Application below.
