Seminar 14
Chamber Music & Recording | Hybrid Music Orchestral Courses
31st of August to 17th of September 2026
In September 2026, from August 31st to September 17th, FAME’S Institute will host a two part Orchestral Program, the first part consisting of two shorter interconnected courses and the second of one longer course, designed for European students interested in advancing their experience in performance and recording, while exploring new musical genres.
Held at FAME’S Studio in Skopje, North Macedonia, the program brings together internationally acclaimed mentors who will guide students through an intensive artistic and educational process.
Part 1: Our Chamber Music & Recording Music Orchestral Course welcomes selected string quartets and piano trios to be mentored by the renowned Kyan Quartet. Through intensive masterclasses and collaborative recording sessions, participants will deepen their understanding of ensemble playing, with a strong focus on musical communication, technical precision, interpretative depth, and artistic collaboration during its first part, as well as on the nature of professional recording practices during its second part, experiencing studio sessions and the collaborative environment of working with conductors, producers, composers, and international clients.
Part 2: Our Hybrid Music Orchestral Course offers string players to work alongside internationally acclaimed violinist Irina Muresanu in the preparation and performance of About Love, a concert project for string orchestra. Through intensive rehearsals, sectional work, lectures, and coaching sessions, participants will develop their orchestral musicianship, ensemble communication, stylistic versatility, and interpretative skills while exploring a diverse repertoire by Amy Beach, Philip Glass, Pablo de Sarasate, and Arnold Schoenberg. The course culminates in a public concert performance, offering students valuable experience in professional concert preparation and collaborative music-making.
Open Call Announcement:
12.06.2026
Application Deadline:
12.07.2026
Chamber Music & Recording Music Orchestral Course
31st of August to 9th of September 2026
In collaboration with Le Dimore del Quartetto, a renowned European network supporting emerging ensembles, Kyan Quartet will be mentoring our Chamber Music Course in September.
Guided by Kyan Quartet, selected string quartets will take part in an immersive chamber music residency at the FAME’S Institute. Through intensive masterclasses and collaborative recording sessions, participants will deepen their understanding of ensemble playing, with a strong focus on musical communication, technical precision, interpretative depth, and artistic collaboration.
Throughout the eight-day program and its two interconnected courses (Chamber Music Course and Recording Music Orchestral Course), participants will receive intensive coaching in:
- Ensemble technique
- Musical interpretation
- Performance skills
- Stage presence and communication
- Rehearsal strategies and collaborative musicianship
In addition to the masterclasses, participants will have exclusive access to open rehearsals, offering a unique insight into the Quartet’s creative and professional working process. These sessions will allow students to closely observe rehearsal techniques, artistic decision making, and the dynamics of high-level chamber music performance.
Furthermore, participants will spend four additional days in the studio, following Kyan Quartet during their professional recording sessions. Across four morning sessions, the Quartet will record their repertoire in a professional studio environment, while participating student quartets will have full access to observe the entire recording process — including session preparation, communication with the production team, note-taking, and insight into the artistic and technical aspects of professional chamber music recording.
As part of the residency, participants will also be introduced to the professional recording process through the unique opportunity to take part in sessions within the FAME’S Project. Led by our conductors and produced for internationally renowned composers and producers, these sessions provide participants with firsthand experience of the professional recording process.
KYAN QUARTET (MENTOR)
The award-winning Kyan Quartet brings together four exceptional musicians from the United Kingdom, the United States, China, and France. Established in 2020, the quartet enjoys a busy and vibrant career, having performed across Europe and Asia in venues including Wigmore Hall, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Beethoven-Haus Chamber Music Hall, Shanghai Opera House, and Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra Hall.
The Kyans have held residencies with the Britten Pears Young Artist Programme, Fondazione I Teatri’s Casa del Quartetto and the South Downs Summer Music International Festival. They have additionally won places on numerous prestigious courses,
Discover: Kyan Quartet.
Hybrid Music Orchestral Course
10th – 17th September 2026
The third course of the September program focuses on orchestral performance and concert preparation, offering participants the opportunity to work alongside internationally acclaimed violinist Irina Muresanu in the creation of a public concert project for string orchestra.
Built around the concert program About Love, the course presents a diverse selection of works that reflect different perspectives on one of the most universal human experiences. Through a carefully selected repertoire by Amy Beach, Philip Glass, Pablo de Sarasate, and Arnold Schoenberg, participants will engage with a broad range of musical languages, performance practices, and interpretative approaches.
Throughout the course, students will take part in intensive rehearsals with the string orchestra under the guidance of Irina Muresanu, focusing on the preparation and interpretation of the concert program. Particular attention will be given to ensemble cohesion, stylistic versatility, musical communication, and expressive performance.
Through this collaborative process, participants will strengthen their orchestral musicianship while gaining valuable insight into the artistic and practical aspects of preparing a professional concert performance.
In addition to full orchestra rehearsals, the course will be complemented by lectures, coaching sessions, and sectional rehearsals designed to support the artistic and technical development of the participants. Students will also have the opportunity to experience the recording process in a professional studio environment and to take part in all stages of concert preparation, from the first rehearsal through to the final public performance.
Participants will gain practical experience in:
- Professional orchestral rehearsal processes
- Ensemble communication and leadership within a string orchestra
- Stylistic interpretation across diverse musical periods and genres
- Balance, phrasing, and orchestral sound production
- Collaboration with a distinguished soloist and mentor
- Concert preparation and performance practice
The course will culminate in a public concert performance of About Love, presenting a program that reflects different experiences of love—from warmth and affection to passion, forgiveness, and transformation. This final performance serves as both the artistic culmination of the September program and an opportunity for participants to apply the skills and experience gained throughout the course in a professional concert environment.
IRINA MURESANU (MENTOR)
Romanian-born violinist Irina Muresanu is equally in demand on both sides of the Atlantic, as she has appeared throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and South Africa. Ms. Muresanu has firmly established herself as a successful recording artist, and her adventurous programming and thematic concepts define her as a sought-after soloist and chamber musician. A laureate and winner of top prizes in several prestigious international violin competitions including the Montreal International, Queen Elisabeth International, UNISA International String, Washington International, and the Schadt String Competition, Muresanu achieved international acclaim early on as an outstanding young soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. Muresanu’s awards also include the Creative and Performing Arts Award at the University of Maryland, a prestigious New Music USA Grant, a Pro Musicis International Award, the Presser Music Award, and the Arthur Foote Award from the Harvard Musical Association.
Discover: Irina Muresanu.