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Home Programs VIMA 2025 Track Details

Instrumentalist

World-class training and performances

Participants enrolled in Varna International Music Academy (VIMA) have the opportunity for a once-in-a-lifetime experience! We are proud to announce that ILYA KALER and LEVON AMBARTSUMIAN are both coming to VIMA South Carolina this June 2025.

  • Ilya Kaler is an instructor at the Cleveland Institute of Music & winner of the Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition, the Sibelius Competition, & the Paganini Competition. Instrumental participants will have the amazing opportunity to perform with him two times in Brahms’ Violin Concerto! Kaler will also be teaching a limited number of private lessons to our VIMA Instrumental participants & will be giving a masterclass in which 4 string players will have the opportunity to perform.
  • Levon Ambartsumian is an award-winning violinist & professor at the University of Georgia. He will be teaching private lessons to our VIMA Instrumental participants & will be giving a string masterclass.


In addition to all these exciting opportunities with Ilya Kaler, participants will also receive in-depth music instruction from our expert faculty and will benefit from unparalleled performance opportunities alongside world-class master artists. This program is open to instrumentalists seeking to develop a professional performing career as an orchestral and chamber musician and will take place in major cities of South Carolina, including the Capital City of Columbia, as well as the cities of Greenville, Rock Hill, and Myrtle Beach along the breathtaking shores of the Grand Strand.

Applicants have four options for participating in VIMA SC 2025. Instrumentalists who pass the audition process successfully will perform in the Festival Orchestra for two, three, or all five works! The Festival Orchestra will feature internationally recognized artists from prestigious US orchestras and renowned educational institutions. Participants will be assigned a position in the orchestra under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter of the Metropolitan Opera and under the tutelage of the lead master artists in the orchestra within their respective sections. Auditions are required for all positions. Participants in this program will also receive coaching and preparation for the chamber music recitals under the tutelage of master artists.


OPTION 1: Brahms’ Violin Concerto with Ilya Kaler & Brahms’ Symphony #1

DATES: JUNE 12 – JUNE 17, 2025
(Arrive on June 11, depart on June 18)
TUITION: $990 PER WEEK (TOTAL TUITION: $990)
**EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: $740 TOTAL**

What's Included:
  • Perform Brahms’ Violin Concerto with Ilya Kaler & Brahms’ Symphony #1 two times with the Festival Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
  • Participate in the string masterclass with world-renowned violinist Ilya Kaler (applications required – ONLY 4 APPLICANTS WILL BE CHOSEN TO PERFORM)
  • Opportunity to have a private 30-minute lesson with Ilya Kaler for an additional cost of $200 (applications & audition recordings required – ONLY 24 PARTICIPANTS WILL BE CHOSEN)
  • Participate in the string masterclass with master teacher and violinist, Levon Ambartsumian (auditions are required to be chosen to perform)
  • Attendance at a special symposium with Ilya Kaler & Levon Ambartsumian moderated by the host of Sonata and Soundscapes, Bradley Fuller
  • One 60-minute individual lesson per week with a master teacher
  • One 2-hour group sectional rehearsal led by master principal players
  • Two-hour group music chamber music coaching to prepare for the instrumental chamber recital
  • Participation in the student chamber recital

OPTION 2: From Stage to Screen: An Evening of Broadway Favorites & Hollywood Classics and Brahms’ Violin Concerto with Ilya Kaler & Brahms’ Symphony #1

DATES: JUNE 6 – JUNE 17, 2025
(Arrive on JUNE 5, depart on June 18)
TUITION: $990 PER WEEK (TOTAL TUITION: $1555)
**EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: $1165 TOTAL**

What's Included:
  • Perform Brahms’ Violin Concerto with Ilya Kaler & Brahms’ Symphony #1 two times with the Festival Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
  • Perform From Stage to Screen: An Evening of Broadway Favorites & Hollywood Classics with the Festival Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
  • Participate in the string masterclass with world-renowned violinist Ilya Kaler (applications required – ONLY 4 APPLICANTS WILL BE CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE)
  • Opportunity to have a private 30-minute lesson with Ilya Kaler for an additional cost of $200 (applications & audition recordings required – ONLY 24 PARTICIPANTS WILL BE CHOSEN)
  • Participate in the string masterclass with master teacher and violinist, Levon Ambartsumian (auditions are required to be chosen to perform)
  • Attendance at a special symposium with Ilya Kaler & Levon Ambartsumian moderated by the host of Sonata and Soundscapes, Bradley Fuller
  • One 60-minute individual lesson per week with a master teacher
  • One 2-hour group sectional rehearsal led by master principal players
  • One 2-hour group music music coaching to prepare for the student instrumental chamber recital
  • Participation in the student instrumental chamber recital

OPTION 3: A Grand Night for Singing and Die Fledermaus

DATES: JUNE 19 – JUNE 29, 2025
(Arrive on June 18, depart on June 30)
TUITION: $990 PER WEEK (TOTAL TUITION: $1695)
**EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: $1270**

What's Included:
  • Perform in the Festival Orchestra for A Grand Night for Singing under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera (if applicable for the score)
  • Perform in the Festival Orchestra for Die Fledermaus under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
  • One 60-minute individual lesson per week with a master teacher
  • One 2-hour group sectional rehearsal led by master principal players
  • One 2-hour group chamber music coaching to prepare for the student instrumental chamber recital
  • Participation in the student instrumental chamber recital

OPTION 4: All Works

DATES: JUNE 6 – JUNE 29, 2025
(Arrive on JUNE 5, depart on June 30)
TUITION: $990 PER WEEK (TOTAL TUITION: $3250)
**EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: $2440 TOTAL**

What's Included:
  • Perform Brahms’ Violin Concerto with Ilya Kaler & Brahms’ Symphony #1 two times with the Festival Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
  • Perform From Stage to Screen: An Evening of Broadway Favorites & Hollywood Classics with the Festival Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
  • Perform in the Festival Orchestra for A Grand Night for Singing under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera (if applicable for the score)
  • Perform in the Festival Orchestra for Die Fledermaus under the baton of Maestro Gregory Buchalter from the Metropolitan Opera
  • Participate in the string masterclass with world-renowned violinist Ilya Kaler (applications required – ONLY 4 APPLICANTS WILL BE CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE)
  • Opportunity to have a private 30-minute lesson with Ilya Kaler for an additional cost of $200 (applications & audition recordings required – ONLY 24 PARTICIPANTS WILL BE CHOSEN)
  • Participate in the string masterclass with master teacher and violinist, Levon Ambartsumian (auditions are required to be chosen to perform)
  • Attendance at a special symposium with Ilya Kaler & Levon Ambartsumian moderated by the host of Sonata and Soundscapes, Bradley Fuller
  • One 60-minute individual lesson per week with a master teacher
  • One 2-hour group sectional rehearsal led by master principal players
  • One 2-hour group music coaching to prepare for the instrumental chamber recital
  • Participation in the student instrumental chamber recital
Application & Audition Requirements:

Applicants for the Instrumentalist Program must submit the following:

  • Application
  • Resumé
  • Video recording from within the past 12 months containing solo repertoire or works performed with piano or orchestral accompaniment

Optional Add-Ons & Exclusions:

Private Lesson with Ilya Kaler:
Interested string players can have a private 30-minute lesson with world-renowned violinist, Ilya Kaler for an additional cost of $200. If interested, string players must submit an application and recording because only 24 applicants will be chosen.

Accommodations:
Lodging will be in student campus housing in the City of Columbia for the majority of the time, in host homes on the Grand Strand for a few nights, and in a hotel in Greenville for a few nights. Participants are welcome to make their own lodging arrangements, if preferred.

  • Double occupancy: $350 per week (7 nights)
  • Single occupancy: $525 per week (7 nights)
Meals:
Meal availability depends on the city. Please see the breakdown below:
  • Columbia: A meal plan is available for $35 per day. This includes 3 meals each day provided by Columbia International University (CIU). Participants who opt for the meal plan must pay for the entire service. The meal plan cannot be modified.
  • Greenville: Participants responsible for all meals
  • Coast: Participants responsible for all meals
Ground Transportation:
Transportation during VIMA SC is included for those that add lodging to their program package, but participants are responsible for their own transportation to and from the airport.

We encourage you to connect with other participants to make arrangements for shared rides during the program. Varna International will facilitate contact between participants to aid in your communication.