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Program Descriptions
Professional String Quartet Studies

Professional String Quartet Studies

with the Pacifica Quartet & Atar Arad

June 28 - July 18, 2026

The Professional String Quartet Studies with the Pacifica Quartet and Atar Arad is a three-week, invitational designed for burgeoning young string quartets to receive professional mentoring from the Pacifica Quartet & Atar Arad in the areas of string quartet performance, professional career development, community engagement and teaching. In additional to regular coachings, masterclasses, and multiple public performances both on and off the IU campus, the string quartets selected for this program will also garner valuable teaching experience as guest faculty artists of the IU Summer String Academy while also receiving feedback and mentoring on their chamber music instruction from the Pacifica Quartet. The invited will receive full tuition, as well as room and board for the duration of the program.

Academy faculty

Pacifica Quartet members holding their instruments

The Pacifica Quartet is a professional string quartet based in Bloomington, Indiana and was named the faculty quartet-in-residence at the Jacobs School of Music in 2012. Its members are: Simin Ganatra, first violin; Austin Hartman, second violin; Mark Holloway, viola; and Brandon Vamos, cello.

Atar Arad

Israeli-born violist and composer Atar Arad is professor of music in viola at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. His summer activities include teaching at Keshet Eilon in Israel, Domaine Forget in Canada, the Heifetz Institute, and the Steans Music Institute, where he has served on faculty since 1991.

Daily schedule

Participating string quartets will receive daily coachings and regular masterclasses with the Pacifica Quartet and Atar Arad. Each quartet will perform a work of their choice at the end of each week in Auer Hall on the Indiana University campus. Additionally, each participating quartet will provide one hour of instruction a day for student quartets from the chamber music program of Indiana University’s Summer String Academy.

Audition requirements

A video recording of three contrasting string quartet movements, preferably with one of the representative movements being from a string quartet of Haydn or Beethoven.

Please upload video clips of the performances to a private YouTube channel and send links to Austin Hartman at akhartma@iu.edu.

Deadline: March 1, 2026

How to Apply

REGISTRATION FOR SUMMER 2026 WILL OPEN IN DECEMBER 2025

Eligibility: Open to young professional string quartets with individual members being at least 18-years of age or older.
Registration: Complete the online registration form and pay the Non-Refundable Registration Fee ($25). The registration fee per quartet is $100 total but each individual quartet member must register and pay $25 each.
- Save your login information so you can easily go back to edit your registration if needed.
Deadlines: Required online registration form and audition materials should be received by March 1, 2026.
Enrollment cap: Enrollment is limited to two quartets.

Once you have completed the previous steps, please submit the Participant Agreement Form

Cancellation Policy: Click here for our most up to date cancellation policy.

Registration Link Coming Soon

Professional String Quartet Studies