Friends of Chamber Music Young Artist Project

The mission of the Young Artist Project is far beyond simple honing of musical skills. The practice of chamber music, with its incredible demands on active participation and communication, collaboration and negotiation, leadership and compromise, personal responsibility and building of consensus for the benefit of the whole — while in a context of a concentrated conductor-less ensemble — is uniquely positioned to perfect and refine these qualities. Especially at an early age, chamber music experience develops young people's diligence, focus, and sense of self in invaluable ways, nurturing them as individuals and members of society. Time and time again, we have seen that participation in chamber music programs does truly change these young people’s lives, building their confidence and maturity, and empowering them to become the leaders of the future.

— Dmitri Atapine & Hyeyeon Park, FCMKC Artistic Directors

GIVE NOW to SUPPORT EDUCATION

Young Artist Project event or performance

Accepting applications for Spring 2025
now and through January 6th, 2025.

LEARN MORE AND APPLY!

FCMKC is proud to champion a unique initiative to expand music education opportunities in our community — The Friends of Chamber Music Young Artist Project!

Jackie Lee, Young Artist Project Director

What started in 2023 as a collaboration with Heartland Chamber Music, has, since the Fall of 2024, become a full-fledged education arm of the Friends. In the program we offer full scholarships to four select chamber music ensembles, consisting of students aged 12-19 from the Kansas City area. These talented young musicians will receive top-quality instruction, including weekly coaching sessions with our esteemed faculty, which includes some of Kansas City's foremost musicians, as well as Dmitri Atapine and Hyeyeon Park, the Artistic Directors of Friends of Chamber Music Kansas City.

Additionally, participants have the unique opportunity to perform in masterclasses and work with select world-renowned artists featured in Friends of Chamber Music Kansas City's flagship concert season. Our young artists already had the chance to learn from distinguished artists such as Quartetto di Cremona and members of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

Participants not only perform in the program’s chamber music recitals but also develop essential leadership skills and serve as ambassadors for chamber music through performances in the Kansas City community. These included a performance hosted by the Kansas City Music Teachers Association, an aired performance on Kansas Public Radio, and a highly acclaimed educational performance tour across all high schools in the Blue Valley School District.

Faculty includes:

Dmitri Atapine, cello; Sean Chen, piano; violin; MingYu Hsu, viola; Benny Kim, violin; Duke Lee, viola; Jackie Lee, viola; Scott Lee, viola; Chiafei Lin, violin; Michael Mermagen, cello; Hyeyeon Park, piano; Susie Yang, cello

Guest faculty include:
Select Guest Artists and Ensembles on the FCMKC flagship series.