Student Life
visit the links below
to find out more

 

The Castillon Trio in Rehearsal

Faculty Joseph Bognar and Wayman Chin prepare to play a four hand recital

Faculty prepare the Dvorak Quartet for a concert

Emily MacGregor (Stamford UK) & Rachel Wilkinson (Indiana)

Adam Hughes (Indiana) prepares to play the horm part of the Lennox Berkley Trio

The Borodin Quartet playing in the school hall

St. Mary's Church viewed across the river Welland

A view of the old boys school across the rooftops of Stamford
About the Town, View the Festival Campus, Planning your Travel & Useful Tourist Links
Application Form & Guidelines, Fees, Housing and Meals etc
Schedule of concerts and public masterclasses

Application & Fees

Admission Criteria:

  • Students must be 16 or over by the start of the festival.
    Younger students may be considered by special arrangement.
    There is no upper age limit for students.
    Acceptance to the festival will be made based upon the strength of the application.
  • Parents or legal guardians, can attend the festival as “Festival Guests”.
    Festival Guests can enjoy watching coachings and masterclasses or merely use the festival's discount accomodation as a base for explorating of the beautiful local countryside!
  • A limit of 35 students will be accepted to the festival.
  • Students making individual applications will be placed in ensembles according to experience.
  • Pre-formed ensembles qualify for scholarship consideration

Fees for 2008:

- Includes all tuition for coachings, private lessons and masterclasses
- Includes free admission to all festival events
- Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Includes accomodation in single or shared rooms (gender specific)
(Single accomodation is limited and all requests will be honored where possible)

US Participants

$1495 - shared room & board

Festival Guest *
$1195 - shared room & board
$1350 - single room & board

* Legal Parent or Guardian accompanying a student

UK Participants

Non Resident Student
£450 tuition only *

In Residence
£880 - shared room & board

* students price meals may be purchased individually by prior arrangement
The festival offers a return shuttle service from London's Heathrow Airport to Stamford at the start and at the end of the festival. The shuttle is operated by the Stamford Endowed Schools by arrangement with the festival. If you would like to take advantage of this service please indicate on your application
- an additional fee of $50 (US) or £30 (UK) covers the return trip.
Please consult with the administration to find out shuttle times before you book your plane ticket!

 

General Application Instructions:

All candidates must send the following materials via mail or courier.

    1. Application form and Participation Agreement completed in full

    2. $35 (£25 UK) Non-refundable application fee - made payable to SIMF
    3. Current Passport Size Photo
    4. Audiotape, videotape or CD of applicant playing -
      clearly labeled with the applicant’s name, contact information & details of the music performed.
    5. Letter of recommendation from a music/instrumental teacher
    6. Repertoire list of recent solo, chamber, and orchestral works studied and/or performed.

Please remember to include a return address & application fee.
Recommendation letters may be sent by e-mail.

Phone or email the US or UK contact below for an application form or alternatively download a pdf version of the Application form & Participation Agreement

 

US & Asia Applications

Dr. Andrew Smith
Artistic Director, SIMF
212 Post Road West
Westport, CT 06880
USA

(219) 309 6213

UK & European Applications

Email: Dan Leetch, UK Director
or

Lucy Kong, SIMF PR & Education
36 Viking Way,
Thurlby, Nr Bourne
Lincs. PE10 0HX
England

01778 426 044

 

Instruments:
Preference will be given to applicants in violin, viola, cello and piano. The festival considers applications on any orchestral instrument that could be included in string or string and piano based ensembles - horn, flute, clarinet, oboe etc Pre-formed ensembles may qualify for scholarship consideration.

Masterclasses:
All participants are eligable for the masterclasses and are encouraged to apply.
Applicants will be chosen to participate in masterclasses based upon the readiness of their solo repertoire in the first week of the festival. Please indicate on your application if you are interested in the masterclasses or email your request to the festival director.

Travel:
The festival does not oversee transportation or flights to and from the festival. However, since we want your trip to be happy and problem free, we are happy to help and advise you with your plans. For your confidence and peace of mind all students and festival guests must inform the administration of their final travel plans and provide emergency contact information. Students, guests and legal guardians are advised to arrange read the Festival's Participation Agreement and arrange appropriate travel insurance (including medical cover) for the applicant for the extent of their trip. All international travelers are advised to check that they have current and appropriate documentation to travel to the UK i.e. current passports and in some special cases visas.

Airport Shuttle:
The festival offers a return shuttle service from London's Heathrow Airport to Stamford at the start and at the end of the festival. The shuttle is operated by the Stamford Endowed Schools by arrangement with the festival. An additional fee of $50 (US) or £30 (UK) covers the return trip. Please consult with us before booking your flight so that we give you details of the times the shuttle runs. Space is limited so please reserve your ticket early!

Liability:
The festival administration does not take accept liability for loss or damage to person or property and advises you to take adequate insurance for yourself and your property to cover both your travel and your stay. The festival administration reserves the right to cancel the festival if student numbers are not reached. In the event of cancellation all tuition payments will be returned in full and students will be informed via email or phone. The festival also reserves the right to dismiss any student for misconduct. Please read the festival's Participation Agreement Form carefully and return it with your application form.

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