Chamber Music Program Supporting the Community
The Fischoff National Chamber Music Association is committed to inspiring the next generation of chamber musicians through our annual Fischoff Competition and community outreach programs. Established in 1999, the Fischoff Chamber Music Academy, formerly known as the Fischoff Mentoring Project, is helping to create a chamber music community among local area high school musicians who are dedicated to digging deeper into the challenging repertoire of chamber music.
Each year, string, piano, woodwind, brass, and mixed ensembles of three to six middle school and high school musicians in Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan are selected to participate. This program offers 8-12 coaching sessions with a professional musician to dive into the challenging repertoire of chamber music. Offerings include masterclasses, workshops, competition preparation, community outreach, and a culminating recital.
Students gain life-long friends, memories, and social, emotional, and musical skills they can apply to all facets of their lives, and often do not receive this type of musical training until they reach college!
Thanks to the generous support of community organizations and donors, this program is heavily subsidized, and Fischoff invests $900 per student each year. In return for this generous scholarship, all Academy students will continue to pay it forward by giving back to the community through free outreach concerts and volunteer service with the Fischoff National Chamber Music Association.
Kenneth Geoffroy Memorial Award
The Kenneth Geoffroy Memorial Prize is awarded to a local Junior Division ensemble to encourage the participation of local chamber music ensembles in the Fischoff Competition. A special $800 cash prize and masterclass by one of the Fischoff Competition jurors is awarded to the highest-ranking junior ensemble from the Michiana region (60-mile radius of South Bend).
Academy Resident Student Ensemble
This advanced group is selected to represent the Academy and uphold Fischoff’s values through high-level performances and outreach.
Resident Ensemble members will:
- Be the first to be contacted for special performances outside the regular Academy calendar of events.
- Lead and perform outreach events, especially school recruitment visits.
- Help design interactive, age-appropriate school programming and present polished performances at high-profile events.
- Receive a tuition scholarship.
Visit the Academy webpage for the full list of events, ensembles, and application information.
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You may send a check, payable to FISCHOFF, to Megan Simmons, 119 Haggar Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556