performance
About
The Cortona Sessions Performance Program is open to vocalists and performers on ANY INSTRUMENT age 18 and over.
Performers with all levels of contemporary music experience are encouraged to apply. Accepted performers will be assigned new compositions written by participating composers for ensemble premieres. Each performer will receive private or group lessons with the performance faculty. Throughout the Sessions, performance participants will:
premiere new works by festival composers alongside other participants and faculty
perform in masterclasses/lessons with Cortona Sessions faculty
collaborate in coachings with composers
optional: participate in Cortona Sessions Contemporary Performance Competition (see below)
develop their contemporary performance skills through lectures and private lessons
participate in excursions with faculty and fellows
have opportunities to perform and demonstrate significant works from the traditional contemporary repertoire
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flute: Sarah Brady
clarinet: Gregory Oakes
saxophone: Geoffrey Deibel
violin: MingHuan Xu
cello: Mick Stirling
voice: Christie Finn
piano: Brianna Matzke
piano: Winston Choi
percussion: Michael CompitelloCOMPLETE CORTONA COLLECTIVE
Click here to see a full list of Cortona Collective members. -
deadline: February 15, 2026
eligibility: all performers age 18 and over
application fee: pay-what-you-can (suggested $35)
more info: tuition, lodging, travel, etcLate applications will be considered for acceptance into the Sessions, but financial aid, fellowships, and scholarships are not available to late applicants.
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
The application form will require you to please submit the following:
2-3 recordings demonstrating your performance ability; at least one composition should be from the 20th/21st century
contact info for two recommenders who can comment on the applicant in both professional and social settings (no recommendation letters needed)
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The Cortona Sessions Contemporary Chamber Music Initiative (CCMI) is a program designed to encourage pre-formed chamber ensembles to attend the Sessions. Ensembles will have new works written expressly for their ensembles which they will premiere at the Sessions. They will also have the opportunity to perform works from their repertoire on a special profile concert during the Sessions. In addition, all ensemble members will have the opportunity to perform additional premieres as soloists or in mixed ensembles with faculty and other participants. Ensembles will receive special coachings in addition to all benefits of attending the Cortona Sessions. Participating ensembles will leave the Sessions with the title Ensemble Fellow of the Cortona Sessions.
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The Cortona Sessions welcomes pianists to apply for the position of Resident Fellow in Piano. One pianist will be selected, based on their application materials, to attend the Sessions on a full-tuition scholarship. The Resident Fellow in Piano will serve as pianist in multiple premiere works, and will be called upon to play with faculty in performance settings. The Resident Fellow in Piano should have a wide range of experience within a variety of contemporary music languages and traditional chamber music playing. Their submitted work samples and biography should demonstrate a commitment to work creatively and entrepreneurially within contemporary music (i.e. commissioning projects, ensembles, albums, interdisciplinary/collaborative/creative performance programs, etc.)
Please contact the sessions if you have any questions.
Former Piano Fellows:
Yeon-Kyung Kim (2025)
Jixue Yang (2024)
Jonathan Hannau (2023)
Justin Ortez (2022)
Jack Yarbrough (2020)
Wesley Ducote (2019)
Brianna Matzke (2018)
Sonya Belaya (2017)
Wen-Ting Ong (2016) -
We are prepared to offer up to a full-tuition scholarship for one or more applicants who can provide audio/visual documentation services and/or other technological support. Specific responsibilities in this role will be dependent on your previous experience and talents, and could include any combination of the following: photographic documentation of the Sessions, video documentation of concerts, audio engineering for concerts, technical support for rehearsals and classes, production management, and more. There is a section on the application to fill out if you would like to be considered; there, please submit a brief description of your previous experience in audio-visual documentation and/or music technology, and please include links to work samples.
email all questions to: info@cortonasessions.org
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In 2012, the Sessions established its first Contemporary Performance Competition. This competition provides performance participants with the opportunity to play major works from the 20th/21st Centuries in an encouraging competition setting. The primary intention of the competition is to encourage future collaboration between Cortona Sessions Fellows. The winner of the Cortona Sessions Contemporary Performance Competition receives the Hiebert Prize:
a cash prize
a commission sponsored by the International Foundation for Contemporary Music (IFCM) - the winner will commission a composer in attendance at theSessions for a new work, with the composer's commissioning fee covered by the IFCM.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL COMPETITION GUIDELINES and REPERTOIRE REQUIREMENTS
PREVIOUS WINNERS OF THE HIEBERT PRIZE
2025 | Emma Kieselhorst, marimba
commission: Gabriel Gekoskie2024 | Megan Campbell, marimba
commission: Delfin Demiray2023 | Holly Workman, violin
commission: reinier potgieter2022 | Justin Ortez, piano
commission: Kevin Kay, the queering of fragile notes2020 | Humay Gasimzade, piano
Commission: Lila Meretzky2019 | Shannon Leigh, clarinet
commission: Emerson Sudbury2018 | Kathryn Vetter, clarinet
commission: Paul Hwang2017 | Amber Evans, soprano
commission: Lisa Atkinson, fac ut ardeat2016 | Brian Allred, flute
commission: Camila Agosto2015 | Connor Mikula, saxophone
commission: Will Healy, speaking2014 | Grant Bingham, bassoon
commission: Clay Allen2013 | Kelley Barnett, flute
commission: Adam Borecki2012 | Jennifer Weimann, mezzo-soprano
commission: Dave Waugh
