Chamber Music Workshop
for Adult Amateur Musicians
September 20–24, 2027
Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University
Workshop overview
A welcoming five-day chamber music workshop in Oxford for adult amateur musicians from the UK, US, and around the world.
Held at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University, Kammermusik Workshops UK welcomes adult amateur players of strings, woodwinds including French horns, and piano. Share music with an international community while exploring major wind and string works that are rarely accessible to amateur players, alongside chamber groups of two to six players, with or without piano.
Works are generally distributed in advance, while sight-reading is also an important part of the experience. An extensive library is available for workshop use and may also be borrowed for freelance playing. Groups change each day, although larger works may span two days, and there are daily opportunities to perform. There is also free time to explore Oxford’s historic city centre.
Lady Margaret Hall occupies an attractive site just north of the University Parks and offers excellent facilities for the workshop. The detailed 2027 repertoire is to be confirmed.
Expert Coaching, Shared Music
Work with experienced chamber musicians as your ensemble develops its sound, communication, and interpretation. Daily coaching gives adult amateur players time to explore repertoire in depth, build confidence, and enjoy music-making with new colleagues.
Meet the confirmed 2027 faculty on our Coaches page.
Is it right for me?
The workshop is for adult amateur musicians from intermediate to highly experienced levels. There is no formal audition. New applicants are asked to assess their playing level carefully using the ACMP Guide to Playing Levels so that parts can be assigned appropriately and everyone can enjoy the music-making.
If helpful, applicants may share a recording, a teacher reference, or details of their experience to assist with placement.
Instruments
We welcome woodwinds, including flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, and French horns; strings, including violins, violas, cellos, and basses; and pianists. Resident piano accompanists are anticipated. Final instrument places and ensemble balance are to be confirmed for 2027.
Music, Community, Oxford
Talbot Hall, featuring Steinway and Bechstein pianos, is at the centre of workshop activity. Each day brings a welcoming mix of large and small group music, with time to meet fellow adult amateur chamber musicians. One or two larger groups may work on substantial wind, string, or chamber-orchestra repertoire, while other participants play in groups of two to six.
We aim to match players with parts of appropriate difficulty. Before dinner, participants may share short, informal works-in-progress. These supportive performances introduce the wide repertoire explored during the workshop and give valuable experience of performing with relatively short preparation time.
Afternoons and evenings also allow time for informal pickup groups. Participants are encouraged to bring music they would especially like to play. Individual lessons are not included in the schedule, but private lessons with a coach may be arranged separately, subject to availability and fees to be confirmed for 2027.
Costs and accommodation
The 2027 workshop fee of £635 covers coaching, music rental, rehearsal-room rental, administration, and daily coffee, tea, and snacks.
College accommodation and meal packages are available, with options for non-resident participants and guests. Rooms are in the college halls of residence, close to rehearsal and performance spaces, with accessible room options available.
The table below shows 2027 prices. College accommodation will be booked through Kammermusik Workshops UK; participants may also make independent accommodation arrangements.
| Item | Amount | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Workshop fee | £635 | Coaching, music rental, rehearsal room rental, administrative costs, snacks/coffee/tea |
| One-day fee | £127 | If pre-arranged with the director, includes tuition, coffee/tea/snacks. Does not include lunch or dinner – these must be ordered separately. |
| Full meals package | £215 | Lunches Mon – Fri and dinners Sun – Fri |
| Lunches package | £65 | Lunches, Monday – Friday |
| Dinners package | £150 | Dinners, Sunday – Friday |
| Individual lunches | £13 | One lunch, 5 available |
| Individual dinners | £25 | One dinner, 5 available |
| Guests snacks/tea/coffee | £35 | Snacks/tea/coffee, 5 days |
| Single room (shared bathroom) – Package | £453 | Standard Room and breakfasts for 1 person, shared bath, check-in Sunday 19 Sept., checkout Saturday 25 Sept. (6 nights), including VAT. Additional nights £75.50. |
| Single room with bathroom – Package | £522 | Standard Room and breakfasts for 1 person, with en suite bath, check-in Sunday 19 Sept., checkout Saturday 25 Sept. (6 nights), including VAT. Additional nights £87. |
| Twin (double) room with bathroom- Package | £816 | Room and breakfasts for 2 people, with en suite bath, check-in Sunday 19 Sept., checkout Saturday 25 Sept. (6 nights), including VAT. Additional nights £136. |
| Private Lesson | £60 | A one-hour private lesson with any of the coaches |
Financial aid
A limited financial-aid programme is planned which allows us to award a few “scholarships” up to around £500. To apply, please make the appropriate selection on the registration form. Read about the Scholarship Programme.
Registration
Registration details, application deadline, deposits, payment schedule, cancellation terms, and instrument limits for Oxford 2027 are to be confirmed. Instrument places will be managed to support balanced ensembles, and applicants not immediately placed may be offered a waiting-list position.
International travel with instruments
International participants travelling to Oxford with an instrument should consult our Travelling Internationally with Instruments guide for practical guidance on entering the UK.
Sponsorship
This workshop has been regularly supported by the generosity of ACMP – the Associated Chamber Music Players, an international service organisation supporting chamber music for pleasure. Learn more about ACMP at ACMP.net.
Questions?
Contact the workshop team with questions about the Oxford 2027 workshop, coaching, accommodation, or international travel. Further practical details will be shared with accepted participants nearer the workshop.
Privacy notice
Information submitted to Kammermusik Workshops UK will be kept securely and will not be shared with other groups or forwarded to third parties without your express permission, except where required to administer the workshop or by law.