Audition &
Application Information
Application form can be found here.
Timeline
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The early application deadline for CIMF Summer 2026 is Monday, March 23rd for an audition on Saturday, March 28th. The final application deadline for is Monday, April 20th for an audition Sunday, April 27th. All video audition submissions are due by April 27th.
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Final admissions decisions announced by May 1, 2026
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Tuition for accepted musicians is due on May 15, 2026
Applications received after April 20th will be waitlisted. Waitlist applicants will be contacted after May 15th concerning their status.
CMI and COPP chamber music assignments will be announced and music sent out in early June. CIMF Orchestra parts assignments and seating for the COPP week will also be announced in June, along with other festival information.
Application Information
All CIMF youth applicants submit one single application regardless of which summer program they are applying for – Chamber Music Intensive (CMI) or Chamber & Orchestra Performance Program (COPP). CIMF programs are open to participants ages 21 and under.
NOTE: ALL participants in the CMI program who play orchestral instruments (strings, winds, brass, percussion) are required to participate in the COPP program the following week, unless they cannot participate in the second week in order to attend college orientation/first week of college during the week of COPP.
College-age musicians participating in the CMI week are required to participate in the CIMF Orchestra during COPP, but not the entire program unless they so choose.
Applicants do NOT need to submit audition materials when they submit their application, but all materials must be submitted before either the early or final audition date.
Applicants must pay a $20 application fee.
Audition Live or Via Video Submission
Live auditions are strongly recommended, but video recordings are also accepted.
Participants may submit a video audition in place of a live audition if unavailable on March 28th or April 26th. Videos must be submitted by the final audition date of April 26, 2026. Videos should be submitted either as email attachments or via Google Drive or another data sharing service such as Dropbox.
Please upload a video of yourself performing two contrasting works and the scales and arpeggios listed below under "Audition Requirements" and put them in a folder titled “Your Name – CIMF 2026”. Share the link to the folder with cimf@wctyo.org
Tuition
CMI (week 1) tuition is $850. The CMI week includes a minimum of nine hours per week of chamber ensemble rehearsal led by an artist-faculty member, one private lesson, masterclasses and workshops, and complimentary tickets to all CIMF Artist Concerts during the festival.
COPP (week 2) tuition is $900. The COPP week includes a minimum of six hours per week of chamber ensemble rehearsal led by an artist-faculty member, one private lesson, masterclasses and workshops, participation in the CIMF Orchestra led by Orchestra Director Eric Mahl, and complimentary tickets to all CIMF Artist Concerts during the festival.
COPP (week 2), including the Composition Program, tuition is $1100. The COPP/Composition Program week includes a minimum of six hours per week of chamber ensemble rehearsal led by an artist-faculty member, one private lesson with CIMF Composition Program Director Jon Cziner, workshops, participation in the CIMF Orchestra led by Orchestra Director Eric Mahl, and complimentary tickets to all CIMF Artist Concerts during the festival. In addition, Composition Program participants will have an original chamber work rehearsed and performed by CIMF artist-faculty members and/or guest artists and have a second chamber work read by artist-faculty. Both the performances and the readings will be professionally recorded and the recordings made available to the composers.
Scholarships and Financial Assistance
CIMF offers financial assistance to accepted participants based on need. Accepted participants who require financial assistance in order to attend CIMF should complete the financial aid form and send it to cimf@wctyo.org. We are firm in our belief that cost should not be a barrier to participating in CIMF. Click here for the financial assistance form.
Supporting Materials
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Applicants may ask private teachers or music professionals to submit letters of recommendation on their behalf to cimf@wctyo.org no later than the final application deadline of April 20, 2026.
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Composers must submit supporting representative materials (listed under "Audition Requirements") no later than the final application deadline of April 20, 2026.
Audition Requirements
Woodwinds, Brass, Harp & Strings:
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Any two contrasting solo works. One of these works may be replaced by two orchestral excerpts of your choosing.
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Any two major scales and arpeggios selected by the applicant, at least two octaves
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Possible sight-reading for live auditions
Piano:
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At least two contrasting solo works
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Any two major and any two minor scales and arpeggios selected by the applicant, at least three octaves.
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Possible sight-reading for live auditions
Percussion:
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Any two contrasting solo works. One of these should be on a mallet instrument and the other should be on snare drum or timpani.
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Any two major and any two minor scales and arpeggios selected by the participant, at least three octaves.
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Possible sight-reading for live auditions
Composition:
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PDF scores and MP3 recordings (MIDI is acceptable) of 1-3 works composed since January 1, 2023. It is strongly recommended that at least one of these be a chamber work that could be performed at CIMF.
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Complete list of all compositions including names of pieces, instrumentation, dates of completion, and any details of performances.
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All materials should be sent to cimf@wctyo.org by April 20, 2026.