A program for professional and early-career string players.

Application window August 1st -September 15.

Stay updated on Rising Artists program news and application deadlines

The Rising Artists Program of the Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach provides intensive performance, career, and community engagement opportunities for exceptionally talented emerging professional and conservatory-level musicians. The program embraces a collaborative environment where rising artists create, perform and learn alongside established leaders and musicians who have made a significant impact in the chamber music field.

The Rising Artists Program offers a unique platform for musicians at a pivotal stage of their careers to work closely with world-renowned artist-mentors during an immersive week of rehearsals, performances, and professional development.

Program Highlights:

  • Collaborative music-making with artists who share a passion for chamber music
  • Intensive rehearsals and performances with distinguished artist-mentors
  • Career development sessions on topics such as launching a project or organization, community engagement initiatives and in-school programming

PROGRAM DETAILS

APPLICATION WINDOW: AUGUST 1-SEPTEMBER 15

APPLICATION FEE: $35 by August 25; $55 from August 26 – September 15, 2026

Concert

Saturday, January 9, 2027
7:00 pm Performance (no intermission)
Norton Museum of Art

Program Dates

January 2 – 10, 2027

Application Deadline

September 15, 2026

Acceptance Decisions

October 21, 2026

Eligibility

Age 20–30 years old, as of 12/31/2026

Location

Palm Beach, Florida

Stipend

$1,500 + Housing, Meals, & Travel Provided

Instruments

Violin, Viola, and Cello

Application Fee

$35 by August 25
$55 from August 26 – September 15, 2026

Featured Work

George Enescu — Octet in F major, Op. 17

Artist-Mentors

Arnaud Sussman

Arnaud
Sussmann

Co-director

Winner of a 2009 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Arnaud Sussmann has distinguished himself with his unique sound, bravura, and profound musicianship. Minnesota’s Pioneer Press writes, “Sussmann has an old-school sound reminiscent of vintage recordings by Jascha Heifetz or Fritz Kreisler, a rare combination of sweet and smooth that can hypnotize a listener.”

Mr. Sussmann has recently appeared as a soloist with the Mariinsky Orchestra under Valery Gergiev, and the Vancouver, and New World Symphonies. As a chamber musician, he has performed at the Tel Aviv Museum, London’s Wigmore Hall, Lincoln Center, and the White Nights Festival in Saint Petersburg. He has also given concerts at the Caramoor, Music@Menlo, La Jolla SummerFest, Mainly Mozart, and Seattle Chamber Music festivals, collaborating with many of today’s leading artists including Itzhak Perlman, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Wu Han, David Finckel, and Jan Vogler.

Sussmann is Artistic Director of the Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach, Co-Director of Music@Menlo’s International Program, and teaches at Stony Brook University. Mr. Sussmann plays the 1731 ‘Schneeberger’ Stradivarius violin on loan from a private owner.

Edward
Arron

Co-director

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Arron made his New York recital debut in 2000 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Since that time, he has appeared in recitals, as a soloist with major orchestras, and as a chamber musician, throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.

The 2024-25 season marks Mr. Arron’s 12th season as the co-artistic director with his wife, Jeewon Park, of the Performing Artists in Residence series at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Mr. Arron tours and records as a member of the renowned Ehnes String Quartet and he is a regular performer at the Boston and Seattle Chamber Music Societies, the Brooklyn Chamber Music Society, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Bargemusic, Caramoor, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival, Seoul Spring Festival in Korea, Music in the Vineyards Festival, Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival, Manchester Music Festival, and the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival in Finland.

Mr. Arron’s performances are frequently broadcast on American Public Media’s Performance Today. In 2021, Mr. Arron’s recording of Beethoven’s Complete Works for Cello and Piano with pianist Jeewon Park was released on the Aeolian Classics Record Label. The recording received the Samuel Sanders Collaborative Artists Award from the Classical Recording Foundation. A graduate of the Juilliard School, Mr. Arron currently serves on the faculty of the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Paul
Neubauer

Guest Artist

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Arron made his New York recital debut in 2000 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Since that time, he has appeared in recitals, as a soloist with major orchestras, and as a chamber musician, throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.

The 2024-25 season marks Mr. Arron’s 12th season as the co-artistic director with his wife, Jeewon Park, of the Performing Artists in Residence series at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Mr. Arron tours and records as a member of the renowned Ehnes String Quartet and he is a regular performer at the Boston and Seattle Chamber Music Societies, the Brooklyn Chamber Music Society, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Bargemusic, Caramoor, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival, Seoul Spring Festival in Korea, Music in the Vineyards Festival, Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival, Manchester Music Festival, and the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival in Finland.

Mr. Arron’s performances are frequently broadcast on American Public Media’s Performance Today. In 2021, Mr. Arron’s recording of Beethoven’s Complete Works for Cello and Piano with pianist Jeewon Park was released on the Aeolian Classics Record Label. The recording received the Samuel Sanders Collaborative Artists Award from the Classical Recording Foundation. A graduate of the Juilliard School, Mr. Arron currently serves on the faculty of the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Outstanding Rising Artists alumni enjoy future performance opportunities as part of CMSPB main season concerts in Palm Beach and at our partner venue, the Boscobel Chamber Music Festival in New York.

Audition Requirements

Video Requirements

  • Solo: 1st movement of a Major Sonata or Concerto (accompaniment preferred)
  • Chamber: Two (2) contrasting movements from one or more major chamber music works (can be from the same work)

Guidelines

  • Recording of you playing in an ensemble
  • String trios or larger ensembles preferred
  • Sonatas with piano will not be accepted for chamber music requirement
  • Performances of full works are also welcome

Sample Schedule

Date

Schedule

Sunday, 1/3/27

Arrival

Monday, 1/4/27 –
Sunday, 1/10/27

10 am – 1 pm: Rehearsals or Outreach Performance

1 pm – 2:30 pm: Lunch and Conversations on Career Topics

2:30 pm – 6:30 pm: Rehearsals

7:30 pm: Evening activities (Donor Dinner, attend a Concert or Music Event, Private House Concert, or Rising Artists Program Concert)

Sunday, 1/10/27

Departure evening of Sunday, 1/10 OR morning of Monday 1/11

Alumni

2025 Rising Artists

• Angela Chan, Violin
• Matthew Hakkarainen, Violin 
• Brian Isaacs, Viola 
• Sara Scanlon, Cello 

2026 Rising Artists

• Bobby Boogyeom Park, Violin
• Gabrielle Després, Violin
• Katie Liu, Viola
• Sydney Lee, Cello 

FAQs

The Rising Artists program of the Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach is very much inspired by Caramoor’s Rising Stars, a program that made a meaningful impact in our lives as young artists. Musicians of different generations come together, sharing their love and joy for playing chamber music. This collaborative spirit is at the heart of the program, creating a dynamic learning environment where young musicians can gain invaluable insights and inspiration from their experienced colleagues, and vice-versa!

– Edward Arron and Arnaud Sussmann

Professional and early career string players (violin, viola, cello); ages 20-30 years old

The application deadline is by 11:59 pm on Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Application decisions will be sent by Monday, October 12, 2026

$35 application fee until August 25 (11:59 PM ET)

$55 from August 26 through September 15 (11:59 PM ET)

No letters are needed. Provide contact information (email address & phone number) for two (2) professional references.

  • Does my Sonata/Concerto selection need to be accompanied or unaccompanied?
    Accompaniment is preferred but not required.
  • Does my chamber repertoire need to be solo or playing in an ensemble?
    Please submit recordings of you playing in an ensemble.
  • I don’t have a trio or larger work. Can I submit a string duo? e.g. Kodaly Duo for Violin & Cello
    Yes, a string duo is acceptable if you do not have a trio or larger work available.
  • Can I submit entire works?
    Yes, you can submit recordings of entire works.

The video submission procedures will be available once the application opens.

International students currently studying in the US can apply, but will need to apply for a work permit from your educational institution.

Featured Work

George Enescu — Octet in F major, Op. 17

  • Starting an organization
  • Donor relations
  • Education and Community Engagement programming

Applicants chosen for the Rising Artists Program will receive a $1,500 stipend (USD).

  • Flights: CMSPB will cover round trip domestic economy flights
    • seats for cellos will be covered
  • CMSPB will provide all local ground transportation 

Rising Artists will have rental home accommodations or hosted home stays.

All meals will be provided by CMSPB (home meals and restaurants)