OCMF Studio masterclass in session

Where great artists
share their craft

OCMF Studio is the festival's dedicated education and masterclass programme, offering advanced students and young professional musicians rare, close-up access to artistry at the very highest level. Masterclasses take place over the course of the festival week, woven into the same creative atmosphere that defines OCMF's performances.

Participants work alongside festival artists in sessions that are as much about musical conversation as technical instruction — exploring interpretation, style, and the art of chamber music from the inside. It is an experience that many describe as life-changing.

OCMF also works with schools and youth music organisations across Oxfordshire, offering open rehearsals, workshops, and free concert access, ensuring that transformative musical experiences reach young people at every level.

OCMF Studio Artists

This year's masterclasses are led by five world-class musicians, each bringing a lifetime of performance experience and a deep commitment to the next generation of chamber music talent.

Meta4 — String Quartet performing at OCMF 2026
Meta4
String Quartet
Alena Baeva — violinist performing at OCMF 2026
Alena Baeva
Violin
Julius Drake — pianist performing at OCMF 2026
Julius Drake
Piano
Dorottya Láng — mezzo-soprano performing at OCMF 2026
Dorottya Láng
Mezzo-soprano
Dirk Mommertz — pianist performing at OCMF 2026
Dirk Mommertz
Piano

What to Expect

One-to-One & Group Sessions

Participants work directly with festival artists in both individual and group masterclass settings, receiving focused feedback and engaging in open musical dialogue.

Immersion in Festival Life

Masterclass participants are welcomed into the full life of the festival — attending concerts, open rehearsals, and informal sessions with the artists throughout the week.

Chamber Music at its Heart

OCMF's unique collaborative spirit means that masterclasses go beyond technique, exploring the interpretive questions and human dimensions that make chamber music extraordinary.

Early-Career Opportunities

Dozens of young musicians benefit from OCMF's ongoing commitment to emerging talent, with masterclasses forming a cornerstone of the festival's educational mission year after year.

"For gifted young musicians, the chance to learn directly from exceptional artists is rare and formative — the kind of experience that shapes not just technique, but a musical life."

Priya Mitchell

Interested in Taking Part?

Whether you are an advanced or an emerging group, we would love to hear from you. We warmly invite applications from all groups. To audition for a place in our masterclasses — held in the historic surroundings of the Holywell Music Room, New College, and the Schwarzman Centre — please submit a video recording via the link below.

Application deadline: 1 July 2026

Apply Now