Pre-College

Recognized by industry leaders and top performing arts institutions, Chamber Music | OC’s Pre-College Program is the only pre-professional classical music training program of its kind in Southern California. Open to promising young musicians between the ages of 10 and 18, Pre- College participants will join Chamber Music | OC’s vast professional network of performers, educators, and community advocates while developing essential skill sets guaranteed to bring success both on and off the concert hall stage.

With four separate curriculum tracks, Pre-College participants curate the experience that best fits their needs and schedules. For questions or for more information, please submit an inquiry via the contact page.

Curriculum and Tuition Information

Full Track

Chamber Music Core + any 3 Electives of your choosing in a year (see list of electives below).

Tuition: $3,500/year

Honors Ensemble Track

Includes Chamber Music Core for advanced students with emphasis on competition participation.

Tuition: $2,675/year

Partial Track

Chamber Music Core + any 1 Elective of your choosing in a year (see list of electives below).

Tuition: $2,975/year

Sonata Duo Track

Includes weekly participation in Sonata Class during Terms II and III only (Saturdays 12:00-1:00 PM) with performances and master classes, open to Junior and Senior instrumentalists only.

Tuition: $1,475/year

Chamber Music Core

Chamber Music Core is made up of: Weekly Chamber Music Coachings; Performance Classes; Guest Artist Master Classes and Workshops; Concert Participation/Senior Solo Recitals; Rising Stars Recitals.

The Full Track also includes: One-on-one college/audition guidance, solo recital opportunities (seniors only), community outreach performances, and the use of recording studio/equipment/professional engineer at a discounted rate.

Electives *

Term I
Aug – Oct: 10 weeks

  • Pathways to College and Career: Portfolio and Internship Preparation (virtual and in-person)
  • Duo Dynamics: Mastering Two Piano Repertoire (performance elective for Piano Four-Hands and Two-Piano repertoire with emphasis on competition preparation)

Term II
Nov – Jan: 11 weeks

  • Music Theory Fundamentals (six-part workshop, offered on Fridays)
  • Sonata Duo Class Part I * (performance elective for string/piano duo repertoire)

Term III
Feb – Apr: 11 weeks

  • Sonata Class Part II * (performance elective for string/piano duo repertoire)
  • Pitch Perfect: Aural Skill for Musicianship (six-part workshop)
* Sonata Duo Class participants must commit to both Part I and II sections over the duration of Terms II and III (offered on Saturdays from 12:00-1:00 PM).

Each hour-long Elective class is offered weekly (unless noted otherwise), at a separate time, during the designated Term only.

Additional electives are available to all participants a la carte at the rate of $450 per elective, per term.

Scholarship and Financial Aid

Limited financial aid packages are available based on merit and need. Please send an inquiry to admin@chambermusicoc.org for more information.

Special Participant Prizes (awarded at the end of the season):

  • The Irv Weinstein Memorial Scholarship ($2,000 scholarship awarded to one graduating senior pursuing music in college)
  • Most Improved Student Award (includes a $2,500 credit towards a Full-Track only tuition for the following season) *

* This credit cannot be combined with any additional discounts.

Operational Calendar
Term I
Aug – Oct: 10 weeks

  • Mandatory Orientation: Aug 22 *
  • August: 23-24; 29-31
  • September: 5-7; 12-14; 19-21; 26-28
  • October: 3-5; 10-12; 17-19; 24-26

Term II
Nov – Jan: 11 weeks

  • November: Oct 31-Nov 2; 7-9; 14-16; 21-23
  • Thanksgiving Break: Nov 28-30 **
  • December: 5-7; 12-14; 19-21
  • Holiday Party: Dec 19
  • Winter Break: Dec 22-Jan 2 **
  • January: 3-4; 9-11; 16-18; 23-25
Term III
Feb – April: 11 weeks

  • February: Jan 30-Feb 1; 6-8; 13-15; 20-22; 27-Mar 1
  • March: 6-8; 13-15; 20-22;
  • Spring Break: Mar 23-Apr 5 **
  • April: 10-12; 17-19; 24-25
  • Rising Stars Recitals: Apr 25 *
* Attendance is mandatory for all participants
** No classes
"In addition to getting to play great music, Chamber Music | OC's Pre-College Program gives me a sense of belonging."
Ivan Wang

Alumnus, Chamber Music | OC Pre-College Program

Pre-College Alumni

Violin

Mayukh Banerjee - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Phil Chen - Stanford University
Aileen Chung - New England Conservatory
Angela Huang - University of California, Los Angeles
Irene Im - The Juilliard School Pre-College
Luchi Jiang - Northwestern University
Antony Karacic - Boston University
John Kim - University of Michigan
Rachel Kim - Yale University
Danielle Liu - Chapman University
Vivian Lu - Duke University
Annabella Luo - Carnegie Mellon University
Megan Martono - Rice University
Leo Matsuoka - Eastman School of Music
Katherine Park - Princeton University
Hannah Song - The Juilliard School
Kelly Tsai - Boston University
Matthew Yee - California State University, Fullerton
Jayden Yeung - Stanford University

Cello

Ivette Chen - Harvard University
Reina Cho - The Juilliard School
Andrew Do - Princeton University
Annie Hyung - Northwestern University
Mary Kim - University of Southern California
Justin Koga - Duke University
Natalie Kwok - Columbia University
Daniel Paik - University of Pennsylvania
Daniel Park - Pomona College
Jungwoo Park - Columbia University
Nathan Park - Princeton University
Brandon Shin - University of Michigan
Kristina Tu - University of California, Irvine
Ivan Wang - Rice University

Viola

Brandon Chen - University of California, Santa Barbara
Elaine Chi - Dartmouth College
Francesca Estrada - University of California, Berkeley
Julia Im - University of California, Berkeley
Zoe Lee - California State University, Fullerton
Christine Lin - Pomona College
Noah Pacis - Princeton University
Sarah Shim - Universität der Künste Berlin

Piano

Eun Choi - San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Clare Chun - Biola University
Jake Clayton - University of California, Berkeley
Grace Hsia - University of California, Irvine
Fiona Kouwabunpat - University of California, Los Angeles
Nicole Kouwabunpat - University of California, Irvine
Sofia Kouwabunpat - University of California, Los Angeles
Erin Lee - Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins
Sean Lee - Princeton University
Frank Lin - New York University
Songvy Nguyen - University of California, Berkeley
Grace Park - University of Southern California
Ian Park - John’s Hopkins University
Rafe Schaberg - New England Conservatory
Clara Truong - Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins
Kyle Yeung - The Juilliard School Pre-College
Kevin Zhang - University of California, Los Angeles

The application period for the 2025/26 Pre-College Program is now closed. Information for the 2026/27 Pre-College Program will be announced in March 2026.

If you wish to be notified about next season, please contact Claire Lee, Pre-College Coordinator, at claire.lee@chambermusicoc.org.

Faculty

Erin Breene

Erin Breene

Cello; Chamber Music

Ross Gasworth

Ross Gasworth

Cello; Chamber Music

Judy Huang

Judy Huang

Piano; Chamber Music

Iryna Krechkovsky

Iryna Krechkovsky

Violin; Chamber Music

Kevin Kwan Loucks

Kevin Kwan Loucks

Piano; Business and Entrepreneurship

Sorah Myung

Sorah Myung

Viola; Chamber Music

Beth Nam

Beth Nam

Piano; Chamber Music

Vera Ivanova

Vera Ivanova

Composition; Music Theory

Louise Thomas

Louise Thomas

Piano; Chamber Music

Lucy Vu

Lucy Vu

Career Counselor

Master Classes and Workshops

Richard Aaron

Richard Aaron

Cello

Sookkyung Cho

Sookkyung Cho

Piano

Suejin Jung

Suejin Jung

Piano

Mike Kaufman

Mike Kaufman

Cello

Kee-Hyun Kim

Kee-Hyun Kim

Cello

Minju Kim

Minju Kim

Violin; Viola

Robert Koenig

Robert Koenig

Piano

Pre-College Orientation and Welcome Party

August 22, 2025

August 22, 2025 @ 6:00 p.m. | Mandatory Orientation and welcome party for all 2025/26 Pre-College Participants.

Event Details

Community Engagement: Pre-College Ensembles at Heritage Pointe

October 12, 2025

October 12, 2025 @ 6:30 p.m. | Members of Chamber Music | OC's Pre-College Programs share their musical talents with the community at Heritage Pointe. Not open to the public.

Event Details

Pre-College Workshop: Piano Technique with Suejin Jung

October 19, 2025

October 19, 2025 @ 5:00 p.m. | Suejin Jung, Piano Faculty at the Montecito Music Festival, leads a piano technique workshop for Pre-College participants. Not open to the public.

Event Details

Pre-College Workshop: Violin and Viola Technique with Minju Kim

October 25, 2025

October 25, 2025 @ 5:00 p.m. | Minju Kim, Assistant Professor of Violin at the Boston University School of Music, leads a violin and viola technique workshop for Pre-College participants. Not open to the public.

Event Details

Faculty Artist Showcase

November 01, 2025

November 1, 2025 @ 7:30 p.m. | Members of Chamber Music | OC’s very own Pre-College faculty join forces to present an exciting evening of chamber music in a variety of configurations.

Event Details and Purchase Tickets

Community Showcase Series: Waverly Chapel

November 14, 2025

November 14, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m. | Part of the Community Showcase Series, the Waverly Chapel at Fairhaven Memorial Park presents a concert featuring the Chamber Music | OC Virtuosi.

Event Details

Discussion and Pre-College Master Class: Richard Aaron, cello

November 22, 2025

November 22, 2025 @ 6:30 p.m. | Richard Aaron, Professor of Cello at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, leads a master class for Pre-College Participants, and a discussion moderated by Ross Gasworth.

Event Details and Purchase Tickets

Community Engagement: Pre-College Ensembles at Heritage Pointe

December 07, 2025

December 7, 2025 @ 6:30 p.m. | Members of Chamber Music | OC's Pre-College Programs share their musical talents with the community at Heritage Pointe. Not open to the public.

Event Details

Pre-College Master Class: Sookkyung Cho, piano

January 04, 2026

January 4, 2026 @ 5:00 p.m. | Sookkyung Cho, Associate Professor of Piano and Artist-Performer at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, leads a master class for Pre-College participants. Not open to the public.

Event Details

Recital and Pre-College Master Class: Robert Koenig, piano

January 24, 2026

January 24, 2026 @ 7:30 p.m. | Robert Koenig, Professor and Head of Collaborative Piano at UC Santa Barbara, leads a master class for Pre-College Participants, and is presented in recital with violinist and CMOC Executive Director Iryna Krechkovsky.

Event Details and Purchase Tickets

Community Showcase Series: Classical Crossroads' Classical Interludes

February 07, 2026

February 7, 2026 @ 3:00 p.m. | Part of the Community Showcase Series, Classical Crossroads' Classical Interludes Series presents a concert featuring the Chamber Music | OC Virtuosi.

Event Details

Community Engagement: Pre-College Ensembles at Heritage Pointe

February 08, 2026

February 8, 2026 @ 6:30 p.m. | Members of Chamber Music | OC's Pre-College Programs share their musical talents with the community at Heritage Pointe. Not open to the public.

Event Details

Community Engagement: Pre-College Ensembles at Heritage Pointe

April 12, 2026

April 12, 2026 @ 6:30 p.m. | Members of Chamber Music | OC's Pre-College Programs share their musical talents with the community at Heritage Pointe. Not open to the public.

Event Details

Pre-College Sonata Duo Class Workshop: Michael Kaufman, cello

April 18, 2026

April 18, 2026 @ 12:00 p.m. | Michael Kaufman, Assistant Professor of Cello at University of Utah School of Music, leads a workshop for Pre-College Sonata Duo Class participants. Not open to the public.

Event Details

Rising Stars Recitals

April 25, 2026

April 25, 2026 @ 12:00 p.m. | Chamber Music | OC's nationally-recognized Pre-College Program culminates with this showcase featuring participant ensembles performing chamber music masterpieces.

Event Details

Complete 2025-26 events coming soon!
Chamber Music | OC’s entire facility, including the Weinstein Performance Space, is wheelchair accessible.
I can't get the application to work. What do I do?

We apologize for the trouble. If you are for some reason unable to submit the application successfully, please contact Claire Lee (claire.lee@chambermusicoc.org), Pre-College Coordinator, for a direct link.

Do I need to have prior chamber music experience to participate in Chamber Music | OC's Pre-College Program?

Prior chamber music experience is not required. Musicians who have not experienced small ensemble playing are especially encouraged to apply as the curriculum offers a highly structured introduction to the art.

What are the judges looking for in my Audition Video?

The Audition Committee will assess the applicant’s level of playing as well as the required supplemental information. The short interview portion will allow the Committee to gain a better understanding of an applicant’s time commitment outside of school, and will also assist with making curriculum recommendations that will best suit each participant’s individual needs.

How do I apply for financial aid?

Limited financial aid packages will be available to those who demonstrate a need for assistance. Applicants seeking additional aid should reach out to Clare Lee (claire.lee@chambermusicoc.org), Pre-College Coordinator, to inquire about eligibility.

What are the criteria for the full-tuition scholarship?

The Audition Committee may award up to two full-tuition scholarships to applicants demonstrating exceptional talent. The level of repertoire, individual commitment to music studies, as well as future aspirations will be strongly considered in the decision-making process.

How much time should I expect to commit as a participant of the Pre-College Program?

Participants in the Full-Track Curriculum can expect to commit an average of 3 hours a week, with Partial-Track Curriculum participants around 2 hours a week – this includes weekly coachings and class attendance. Although the majority of the work for Electives will be done in-class with limited homework, individual practicing in preparation for weekly coachings, performance classes, and other public appearances will require additional time, and will vary depending on each individual.

How is Master Class participation determined?

The Pre-College curriculum offers several chamber music master classes presented by distinguished visiting guest artists. Every group is eligible to be featured on the Master Class Series upon the recommendation of the performance faculty. Faculty’s criteria for selection includes monitoring steady progress of each group in coachings, individual preparation, and the consistency of the full ensemble’s attendance throughout the season. Please note that every program participant is required to be present for all scheduled guest artist master classes, regardless of the selection outcome.

As a Full-Track Curriculum participant, do I need to register for an Elective during each of the three Terms?

Full-Track participants may select any three Electives that best fit their schedules throughout the year, regardless of the Term. For example, participants may choose to opt out of taking any Electives during Term II because of a particularly busy college audition schedule, and instead take two Electives during Term III, and one during Term I, etc. Elective classes never overlap, allowing participants the freedom to carefully manage their schedule throughout the year.

As a Partial-Track Curriculum participant, do I need to register for an Elective during each of the three Terms?
Partial-Track participants are only required to register for a total of one Elective during any of the Terms. Participants choosing this track may also consider registering for additional Electives (for an additional cost) should they desire to take advantage of more than one class.
Who gets to perform during the Rising Stars Recitals?
Participation in the annual Rising Stars Recitals is mandatory for every member of the program. Each group will have the opportunity to perform their assigned chamber music work in its entirety. The recital will be professionally photographed and audio/video recorded at no charge to the participant.