Applications Closing for Ravinia’s Summer 2025 Piano & Strings Program

Open to cellists, violinists, violists, and pianists, the application deadline is January 15

The Ravinia Festival, North America's oldest music festival in Illinois, is known for presenting a large variety of concerts throughout the summer and hosting young artists at its Steans Institute for coaching, master classes, and performance opportunities.

The Steans Institute's Piano & Strings Program focuses on the interpretation of classical sonatas and chamber music through collaboration in small groups. The program is open to applicants aged 18–30 at the time of attendance.

Each summer, about 30 violinists, violists, cellists, and pianists engage in intensive rehearsals and receive guidance from leading artists — who help them refine their craft and enhance their interpretive skills and creative insights.

The emerging musicians are featured in over a dozen concerts and master classes in community venues and at Ravinia.

Application requirements for each specific instrument can be found here. Applications close on January 15.

Led by Artistic Director and violinist Midori, the faculty include the likes of Emanuel Ax, Martin Beaver, Ettore Causa, Timothy Eddy, Liza Ferschtman, David Grimal, Hsin-Yun Huang, Jeffrey Kahane, Gilbert Kalish, Teng Li, Jens Peter Maintz, Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, Christoph Richter, Marcy Rosen, Mark Steinberg, Joel Thompson, and Donald Weilerstein.

There is also a Collaborative Piano Fellowship for alumni which is focused on duo performance.

Notable alumni of the Steans Institute include pianists Jeremy Denk and Yuja Wang, cellist Zlatomir Fung, the Isidore Quartet, and violinists Alexi Kenney and Elena Urioste.