9SCM STRING QUARTET INTENSIVE
Reimagined
YOUTH PROGRAM FOR GRADES 8-12
Two immersive weekends.
One unforgettable musical experience.
9SCM is proud to present our newly reformatted String Quartet Intensive for intermediate and advanced musicians in grades 8–12.
This season features two weekend-long intensives; one in the fall and a second weekend in the winter.
The 9th Street Quartet makes up the core faculty of this program along with other highly qualified professional performers and educators in the DC area. Now going into their 10th year working together as quartet coaches, their depth of knowledge and experience is unparalleled in our region.
Musicians of the String Quartet Intensive experience the challenge of learning individual parts to perform with their string quartets drawing from the vast string quartet canon. Each participant makes a commitment to the other members of their quartet to be present and prepared. They learn the skills to collaborate, generate their own musical ideas, and communicate with each other in a respectful way. String quartets are self-conducted, which means that SQI musicians have complete independence in performance.
Program Highlights
2026-27 Season
Overview
New for the 2026-27 Season, our String Quartet Intensive Program will consist of two extended weekend programs held from Thursday evening through Sunday.
Key Dates
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August 28: Application & video audition submission deadline (new candidates)
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August 31: Acceptance notifications sent
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October 8-11: First Intensive Weekend
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October 18: Featured Performance, one selected student quartet to open for 9th Street Quartet’s Amadeus Concert
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February 11-14: Second Intensive Weekend
We have intentionally scheduled these programs on holiday weekends to minimize conflicts with other commitments and give musicians a day to rest and recharge before heading back to school.
What to Expect
The new format is designed to maximize the value of every hour spent together. Groups will receive their repertoire a month in advance so that they can hit the ground running, and scheduled rehearsals on their own ahead of intensive weekends are required. Leading up to the intensive weekend, each quartet is paired with a member of the 9th Street Quartet for mentorship hours, providing a chance to work through early rehearsal questions and build a relationship with the coaches ahead of time.
The unique nature of string quartet playing means that members of the intensive enjoy the highest coach-to-student ratio of any youth music program in the area, allowing for unparalleled individual attention and support.
The weekend itself includes focused coaching sessions, a prominent guest artist clinic, and an interactive "whole musician" session led by 9SQ on any number of topics that are not only essential in chamber music, but life outside of the rehearsal room. Students will also have the opportunity to see and hear the 9th Street Quartet Resident Faculty concert, and even sit in on an open rehearsal for a front-row look at professional-level ensemble collaboration and performance. The weekend culminates in the students' own closing concert, open to the public.
Our new String Quartet Intensive structure is a concentrated, high-impact experience that goes well beyond what a weekly coaching model can offer.
New this season:
One quartet will be selected to open for the 9th Street Quartet's October 18 performance on the Amadeus Concert series in Great Falls, VA.
MEntorship
The SQI experience begins before the intensive weekend. Each quartet is paired with a member of the 9th Street Quartet for individual mentorship hours in the weeks leading up to the intensive, providing dedicated time to work through early rehearsal challenges, set goals for the weekend, and build a relationship with their coach before the intensive begins.
Faculty Concert and OPen Rehearsal
As part of each intensive weekend, students are invited to sit in on an open dress rehearsal with the 9th Street Quartet, giving them an inside look at how professional musicians prepare and communicate in the rehearsal room. The weekend also includes a performance by the 9th Street Quartet, giving SQI musicians a front-row seat to the highest level of ensemble playing.
Guest Artists
Each Intensive weekend, 9SCM is proud to present opportunities for our members to interact with world-renowned guest artists. Whether through master classes, guest lectures, or other interactive events, 9SCM values the experience that comes from interacting with premier artists in our field. Previous guest artists include the Miro Quartet, Takacs Quartet, Tesla Quartet, and the Thalea Quartet.
Performing chamber music at a high level requires mastery of not only all of the fundamental aspects of our playing: intonation, rhythm, tone, style, and expression, but also of the intangibles that bring performances to life.
Members of the 2021-22 String Quartet Intensive work with the celebrated Miro String Quartet in a Guest Masterclass
October Guest artist
We are thrilled to announce that violinist Annie Fullard will join us as our guest artist for the October intensive. A founding member of the award-winning Cavani String Quartet, Director of Chamber Music at the Peabody Conservatory, and co-author of The Art of Collaboration: Chamber Music Rehearsal Techniques & Teambuilding, Annie brings a wealth of insight into the art of ensemble communication, making her a perfect fit for everything SQI is about.
Whole Musician Development
At 9SCM, we invest in our musicians not just as instrumentalists, but as unique individuals. In a moment when kids experience more pressure and more distraction than any generation before them, the discipline of chamber music offers something rare: a place where character is formed alongside craft.
This belief is the foundation of how we teach. While many youth music programs focus solely on technical mastery and performance polish, the String Quartet Intensive is explicit and intentional about the human skills music-making builds. We've seen, year after year, that the students who thrive in an ensemble carry that capacity into everything else they do.
Through our Whole Musician clinics, and extending into rehearsals, we teach that the highest levels of musicianship also require skill in the following areas:
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Communication: learning to express ideas without words, and to hear what others are saying without them either
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Teamwork & Collaboration: succeeding only when everyone succeeds together
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Respect: for the music, for the coaches, for each other's voice in the room
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Leadership: stepping up from within the ensemble, both musically and personally, when the moment calls for it
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Creativity & Innovation: finding your own interpretation within a shared structure
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Problem-Solving & Conflict Resolution: working through a passage, a disagreement, or a mistake without giving up on each other
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Courage & Resilience: performing in public, recovering from error, returning to try again
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Discipline & Organization: showing up prepared, every time, because the group depends on it
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Multi-Tasking & Excellence Under Pressure: reading, listening, playing, and adjusting, all at once, in real time
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Personal Responsibility: knowing your part and your presence matter to the whole
We firmly believe that these are more than "soft skills." They are skills that our young musicians will carry with them into the future well beyond their musical ventures, and we are committed to nurturing that growth in every interaction.
2026-27 Program Fees
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Tuition: $1500
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Audition Fee (non-refundable) : $50
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Need-based assistance may be available. Inquire directly with 9SCM
Frequently Asked Questions
What level of music do participants work on?
We only program works originally written for string quartet, drawing from the Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary periods. You won't perform arrangements or pedagogical repertoire in our program unless it fits a very specific performance theme.
How will I prepare for the intensive?
Quartets receive their repertoire approximately one month before their intensive weekend, with the expectation that members will schedule independent rehearsals ahead of time. Because the weekend itself is intensive by design, individual preparedness is essential to getting the most out of your coaching time and performing at your best.
Do I need to audition?
Returning SQI members do not need to audition. All new candidates, and all newly forming ensembles (including pre-formed groups not previously part of the program), will need to audition for placement.
Can I request to play with my friends or bring a pre-formed group?
Yes, and we strongly encourage it! This program is designed with pre-formed quartets in mind, so we encourage musicians to form their group with friends before auditioning whenever possible. Pre-formed groups audition together, and slots can be scheduled by contacting 9SCM directly. If you don't have a pre-formed group, reach out to us — we're happy to help connect you with other musicians forming quartets ahead of auditions.
Why are the intensives scheduled over long weekends?
We chose these dates intentionally. Scheduling around long weekends helps reduce conflicts with regular school commitments and gives musicians a built-in day off on Monday to recover before returning to their classes.
What's the application timeline?
For the October intensive, new candidates must submit applications and video auditions by August 28. Acceptance notifications go out August 31, with tuition due September 4 (50% non-refundable). Quartet repertoire is distributed September 10, giving groups a full month to rehearse independently before the intensive weekend. (February timeline will be announced soon.)
How many concerts will I perform?
Each intensive weekend concludes with a closing concert at Saint George's Episcopal Church, open to friends and family. Additionally, one quartet from each intensive will have the opportunity to be selected for a special guest performance. For October, that means opening for the 9th Street Quartet's October 18 performance on the Amadeus Concert series in Great Falls, VA.
Do you ever accept advanced 7th graders?
On occasion, if we have a specific opening for a student in one of our younger quartets, we will listen to 7th grade candidates based on the recommendation of their teacher. It is essential that these young members be mature and responsible musicians, fully committed to their group and this program.
Do you offer payment plans?
We are happy to work with you to find an arrangement that works. If you are in need of financial assistance — whether a payment plan or partial/full scholarship — please be in touch directly with 9SCM. Our goal is to ensure the participation of every qualified candidate regardless of financial means.