Music@Menlo

Music@Menlo is an internationally acclaimed chamber music festival and institute in the San Francisco Bay Area that operates as a self-funding program of the Menlo School, a California 501(c)3 nonprofit public benefit corporation. Founded in 2003 by renowned musicians and visionary arts leaders, David Finckel and Wu Han, the organization is known for its high artistic standards and in-depth educational programs. Audiences experience top-tier performances, and young musicians study and perform chamber music under the guidance of world-class faculty members.

With a mission to engage and sustain an audience for chamber music, programmed and presented at the highest levels of excellence, and to provide talented young musicians with comprehensive educational opportunities, Music@Menlo offers a broad range of artistic and educational programs. Its community engagement programs include AudioNotes, an innovative series of preconcert listener guides, Café Conversations, a series of free and informal discussions that explore music, art, and culture, and the Encounter Lecture series, which offer a wide range of opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to engage with chamber music.

Every summer, a three-week festival is presented, featuring thematic concerts performed by world-class musicians. The 2022 Summer Festival explored the life, times, and music of Haydn, and the 2023 Summer Festival celebrated Beethoven’s work and legacy in parallel with the unfolding of chamber music history. The 2024 Summer Festival will take place July 19 through August 10, and the festival theme, artists, and programs will be announced on February 10. Music@Menlo performances take place in unique concert spaces on the campus of Menlo School, one of the country’s leading college preparatory independent schools with a strong commitment to the arts. Venues include the state-of-the-art Spieker Center for the Arts, Stent Family Hall’s intimate Spieker Ballroom, and Martin Family Hall, a versatile multimedia facility.

Music@Menlo provides exceptional training for talented young musicians through its summer Chamber Music Institute, which runs concurrently with the festival. The institute is comprised of two programs, the Young Performers Program for advanced string players and pianists ages ten to nineteen, and the International Program, for pre-professional string players and pianists ages twenty to thirty. The programs offer participants a rich, immersive experience, and a unique opportunity to study in a rigorous, nurturing environment where they explore advanced chamber music repertoire. Students develop their technical and interpretive skills under the tutelage of world-class musicians, engaging in rehearsals, masterclasses, seminars, and performances. Many Chamber Music Alumni have forged successful careers on the chamber music world stage and now lead dozens of internationally renowned festivals and ensembles.

In addition to its summer activities, Music@Menlo presents special events, performances, and community outreach year-round. Upcoming events include the 2024 Season Announcement and an exploration of classical music written for cinema. The annual Winter Residency Program also brings a group of Music@Menlo artists to the Menlo School campus to engage with students for a series of enriching classroom sessions and performances. The artists, alumni of Music@Menlo’s Chamber Music Institute, work with Menlo School faculty to create lesson plans that integrate the art and history of classical music with the students’ own curriculum.

Music@Menlo is advised by an eight-member board of directors, of which one member is typically a liaison Menlo School trustee. The Executive Director reports to the Chief Financial Officer of Menlo School and oversees six full-time staff that comprises a Director Artistic Administration, Communications Director, Development Director, Business and Operations Manager, and two Development Associates, all of whom are employees of Menlo School. The Executive Director and staff collaborate closely with the Artistic Directors, who are primarily based on the East Coast. For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, annual revenues were $2.35 million with approximately $1.9 million from contributions and grants, and $450,000 in earned revenue. For the 2024 fiscal year, the total annual revenue and expenses are budgeted at $2.4 million.