ARTIST RESIDENCIES
The Lake George Music Festival is a collaborative artist retreat for both young professionals and internationally acclaimed guest artists. All participants attend as a way to advance intellectually, artistically, and professionally while working closely together in a tight-knit community and nurturing atmosphere.
HOW TO APPLY
Festival Artists are invited to Lake George on the basis of a recorded audition. Combined enrollment is limited to the number of musicians needed for a full symphony orchestra; plus pianists.
Applications for 2025 will be accepted for violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, horn, trumpet, percussion, piano, and pre-formed ensembles. Applications will open on November 1, 2024.
The final deadline to apply for all programs is January 1, 2025 at 11:59pm EST. Applications will remain open on a rolling admission basis after January 1 to fill remaining vacancies as needed.
Candidates who pass the recorded audition screening may be contacted for a telephone or ZOOM video interview prior to admission.
Any fees due for housing and meals will be due April 1.
Questions about repertoire or other submission related details please contact us at info@lakegeorgemusicfestival.com
I think LGMF played a big part in defining who I am as a performer.
Sarah Hadley Yakir
Each year I forge new lifelong connections with talented likeminded musicians from
around the country.
Mia Barcia Colombo
LGMF has provided the scene to perform diverse repertoire with incredible musicians.
Alexander Theiss
ARTIST RESIDENCIES
What Sets Us Apart
Lake George’s season is held in early to mid-June each year. Our campus is Located in the Village of Lake George on the grounds of the historic Fort William Henry Hotel, on the southern shores of Lake George. Lake George is a unique program for instrumentalists where there is no faculty/student dichotomy, formal curriculum, and no private lessons.
Our focus instead, is bringing together like-minded peers for a collaborative artist retreat. Festival Artists attend as a way to advance intellectually, artistically, and professionally while working closely together in a tight-knit community and nurturing atmosphere. Programming is led by Directors Barbora Kolarova, Alyssa Weinberg, and Roger Kalia and a committee of long-standing core alumni.
"Incredible programming, venues, and musicians."
— Charles Paul
Lake George Festival Artists are generally at the undergraduate or graduate level. Many are emerging professional concert artists or members of a nationally recognized symphony orchestra or chamber ensemble. All festival artists are expected to be in residence for the full two-week season, participating in daily chamber music and orchestral rehearsals, performances, and other special events. Focused on performance, a typical residency includes 1-2 chamber performances, 2 orchestral programs, and one large ensemble.
In addition to individual applicants, Lake George also welcomes pre-formed ensembles. Pre-formed ensembles have the opportunity to perform as a group, as individual players within other chamber groups, and in the orchestral settings.
Festival Artists receive an all-access festival pass to attend all events, professional audio recordings of performances, and professional photographs. Festival Artists can also enjoy fun events like our ice cream socials, boat cruise, and after party. The festival also presents informal musical gatherings like our “late-night concert” and on occasion workshops, master classes, and seminars with artist managers, guest artists, and other industry leaders.
The Lake George Music Festival Campus is on the grounds of the Fort William Henry Hotel in the Village of Lake George. These beautiful grounds offer artists the ideal location for an early summer retreat in a beautiful environment. The campus offers a heated swimming pool, spa, practice and rehearsal spaces, and direct access to the Village downtown and lake. Performances take place at our beautifully restored 19th century venue, The Carriage House. Our historic facility and community hall, all enhanced by the beautiful surroundings make a residency at Lake George a fulfilling and treasured opportunity.
Not only is Lake George a destination for classical musicians and cultural tourists, it is also a quintessential summer vacation town. With the most gorgeous lake and natural scenery as our backdrop, Lake George offers everything from hiking, parasailing, kayaking, and boat cruises to fine dining, quiet parks and beaches, and of course a plethora of touristy attractions like mini-golf courses, arcades, t-shirt shops, and ice cream parlors.
"I GREW ARTISTICALLY AND SOCIALLY."
— VINCENZO VOLPE
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
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Current CV or Resume
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Audition video links
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Application fee of $25
VIDEO AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Video recordings must include two contrasting works and an orchestral excerpt of your choice. Pianists and ensembles are exempt from the orchestral excerpt requirement. Percussionists, please include one marimba solo and one other instrument. Submissions should contrast both in style and tempo. Recordings must be unedited and recorded within the past 6 months. If you choose to submit a piece originally written with piano accompaniment, your video should be recorded with a pianist. Piano reductions of concertos are acceptable.
ELIGIBILITY
We offer residencies to artists from all nationalities and backgrounds ages 18 and up. Generally, those who qualify for Lake George residencies typically are undergraduate or graduate students who show great professional promise. An abiding principle at Lake George is that applications for residency are judged solely on basis of artistic merit.
COSTS & LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS
Lake George provides considerable fellowship support to subsidize room, board, and other costs.
Festival Artists can opt to stay on campus in a shared hotel room for an $850 (per artist) fee. Single rooms are $1,550. Festival Artists can choose to stay with a local host family, typically in a nearby location free of charge. Host family stays are not within walking distance, so having a vehicle or ride-sharing with another Artist who drives will be necessary.
Breakfast and lunch is available daily for an additional, optional $250 fee.
Due to limited space, overnight guests are not permitted (except for spouses and partners with advance permission). There is also a restriction against having pets at Lake George.