Once again, we began our summer with the Chamber Music Intensive, led by our Chamber Music Department Chair, Aimée Kreston, and assisted by PCM alum Albert Zhou. In the intensive, students engage in rigorous training, rehearsals, and masterclasses, culminating in an end-of-week recital that showcases the music they have learned during the week.

See below an interview with Aimée Kreston that further discusses the intensive.

This interview was conducted on June 19, 2025.

What do you think are the advantages of doing Chamber music, and how does it help your career? 

First of all, chamber music is really fun. I would say it’s what we all love the most because it’s just like a little group of friends, and there’s some togetherness, autonomy, and agency. When you’re in an orchestra, you’re supposed to do as you’re told. When you’re a soloist, you have agency, but you’re alone. So chamber music is kind of the best of both worlds.

What are the advantages of doing this program for students? 

There are several things that are very unusual about this program. One is that I start them as soon as possible. I think it’s extremely important that young people learn to play chamber music as soon as possible, so that’s age 9-10. The second thing is that I have extremely high expectations. I don’t know of another program — certainly not for young people — where students are expected to start an entire chamber work with three or four movements on a Sunday, and perform it the next Sunday. This is more of what we would expect from professional musicians. Therefore, they’re also learning what the expectations are going to be of them when they get older. 

When I first started the program, people told me it couldn’t be done. And I said, just watch, if you tell them this is what I expect you to do, I guarantee you that they will be able to do it. Students gain a tremendous sense of pride when they realize they can do what’s expected of them. This changes how they approach their solo music, their schoolwork, and everything because they just grow up a lot during the week.

Can you say more about the masterclasses?

A masterclass — as I heard one student explain to another — is like a public lesson. While that is true, it’s not exactly correct from the teacher’s standpoint. While listening to students play, a teacher wants to pursue a more global topic that can be a good learning experience for the audience, as well as the students playing — something that everyone can take home and apply to their own work and practice. It’s also very good for the students when the teacher asks questions, because it’s not easy to be in front of 50 people and have to think on the spot to answer what can be very complex questions.

What was the best part of the intensive for you?

Seeing how well the students did. I was just so proud of them all on the final Sunday. When you see somebody young who’s just tried their absolute best and worked so hard and really achieved what they sought to achieve, there’s nothing better than that.

Any advice to future students who want to join the Chamber Music Intensive?

Do what your teacher says, practice hard, and send in your application early. Do your best job at doing what your teacher asks you to do when you’re practicing at home during the week — you’ll improve and be ready for a program that’s as intense as this, and we’d love to have you!

Are you or anyone you know interested in learning more about PCM’s Chamber Music program, taking lessons with our esteemed faculty members, or joining a youth or adult ensemble? Please don’t hesitate to reach out, and we hope to see you on campus soon!