Cong Quartet Master Class with Keith Robinson

HIMA USA 2026:

Saga Advanced String Quartet Intensive

August 12 - 16, 2026. Five-day program for advanced, pre-formed emerging professional string quartets.

Up to four string quartets will be selected for this intensive program led by Sibbi Bernhardsson, Professor of Violin and Director of Strings at Oberlin Conservatory of Music, 17-year member of the Grammy-winning Pacifica Quartet. The quartets will receive:

  • Shared lodging at Lakeside Chautauqua and daily meals

  • Daily coaching by renowned string quartet artist-faculty

  • Daily master classes by renowned string quartet artist-faculty

  • Shared public recitals

  • Career and mentoring sessions

  • Daily admissions pass to Lakeside Chautauqua (access to wellness and fitness center, recreational activities and other programs)

Rehearsals, coachings and master classes will take place at Lakeside Chautauqua. Concerts and other activities as well as lodging will will be located within the Lakeside Chautauqua campus.

This program is open to pre-formed quartets only.

Artist-Faculty:

  • Sibbi Bernhardsson, violin (Oberlin Conservatory Professor of Violin and Director of Strings, former member Pacifica Quartet, Director and jury chair of the Cooper International Competition for Violin)

  • Additional faculty TBD

Festival participants will be expected to arrive on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Final festival activities (final concerts) will take place on Sunday, August 16.

Apply for this program

Non-refundable application fee: $50

Application deadline: February 28, 2023

Applications for the Advanced String Quartet Program will be in two stages:

  1. Submit application and recording by February 28, 2026.

  2. Finalists will be invited for a 30-minute interview.

Recording requirements: Your audition recording should consist of 3 selections. These selections should be one movement each from three contrasting works. Please upload your recording to a streaming service like YouTube or Vimeo or a cloud-based file sharing service like Google Drive or Dropbox. You will share the link in the application form.

Email info@himafestivalusa.org with any questions.