2026 ADULT CHAMBER MUSIC retreat
JUNE 14 - 21, 2026
Music Educators, Community Orchestra Members,
College Students, Adult Musicians are eligible to apply.
No video required for returning participants!
RETREAT DETAILS
Located in picturesque Northern Minnesota, our week- long Retreat offers a unique experience of meeting likeminded classical music enthusiasts and performing alongside internationally renowned musicians in the heart of Northwoods.
Each participant will be assigned to two different chamber music groups: one with fellow participants (pre-formed groups are welcome to apply for the Retreat!), and one with fellow participants AND a faculty member, to facilitate music collaboration and artistic communication between the participants and their coaches. Pre-formed ensembles will receive daily coachings from TCCC members and guest artists.
Repertoire will be tailored to the size, instrumentation and experience of the participants. The Retreat will be concluded with a performance of all chamber music groups.
2026 Retreat activities include:
Chamber music coachings and rehearsals side by side with Retreat faculty
Instrumental technique classes
Sight-reading sessions and Open-Mic session
Guest Artist talk and performance
Large Ensemble (cello choir, mixed ensemble etc.)
Final Performances and Outreach Performance & Storytelling Through Music workshop
Additional activities: Faculty Opening Concert & Reception, Drumming Circle, Group Hike
NEW THIS YEAR - SONATA UP NORTH program
for advanced level participants willing to dive deep into the sonata repertoire for two instruments and closely collaborate with one of our Faculty members. This is a unique opportunity to work on a complex repertoire with the faculty member as your duo partner. Each participant signed up for the program receives 4 rehearsals/coachings with the faculty member focused on the selected sonata movements.
The repertoire needs to be selected by participants based on the following criteria:
For piano participants - the repertoire must include sonatas for piano and violin, viola, cello or horn
For participants playing strings, winds and horn - the repertoire must include sonatas with piano or with violin, viola, cello
SLOTS ARE LIMITED TO 4 PARTICIPANTS selected based on the application and repertoire*
Program is open to pre-formed duos as well.
*if you are selected for Sonata Up North program, you will only be assigned to one other ensemble for the Retreat week
HOW TO APPLY?
If you would like to be considered for the Sonata program, simply mark it on your application form and submit the requested material!
Contact Us if you have questions!
2026 Faculty: Magdalena Sas - Cello
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Prize winner of international competitions and Fulbright scholar, Polish cellist Magdalena Sas performs across Europe, Asia and the Americas, and appeared in renowned concert halls such as Musikverein and Konzerthaus in Vienna, BOZAR in Brussels, Witold Lutoslawski Studio in Warsaw, NCPA in Mumbai. She had the privilege to share the stage with Ivry Gitlis, Gary Hoffman, Philippe Graffin, Frank Morelli and collaborate with ensembles such as the Australian World Orchestra, the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, Sinfonietta Cracovia, the Beethoven Academy Orchestra in Poland, YES Camerata and Hulencourt Soloists in Belgium. She was a member of the prestigious European Chamber Music Academy (ECMA) in Vienna, Austria.
Magdalena is the founder and Artistic Director of the Third Coast Chamber Collective (TCCC) bringing international artists and innovative programing to various community spaces in rural Northern Minnesota.
2026 Faculty: Clare Longendyke - Piano
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Pianist Clare Longendyke is a soloist, chamber musician, and fearless advocate for new music who brings daring repertoire and thoughtful storytelling to the concert stage. Her performances are marked by imaginative programming, charismatic stage presence, and a gift for weaving together contemporary works and classical favorites.
In 2024, Clare released her debut solo album, …of dreams unveiled, featuring music by Claude Debussy, Amy Williams, and Anthony R. Green. The album reached #2 on the Billboard Traditional Classical chart and was praised as “a work of remarkable pianistic invention” (The WholeNote) and “delightfully daring” (EarRelevant).
A passionate collaborator with living composers, Clare has commissioned more than 30 new works and premiered over 250 pieces in the past decade. Her programs often pair works from the standard repertoire by Beethoven, Debussy, and Amy Beach, to name a few, with today’s most compelling musical voices, creating concerts that speak to the depth and vitality of the classical tradition.
Highlights of Clare’s 2025–26 season include appearances with Symphony New Hampshire, the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, and the Danville Symphony of Illinois. She has appeared on recital series across the country and as a soloist with the Mankato Symphony, Rochester Symphony, and Symphonicity.
Clare holds degrees from Boston University (BM) and Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music (MM, DM). Whether from the stage or in conversation, Clare invites audiences into the heart of her artistry—one that builds bridges between tradition and transformation and brings the concert experience vividly to life.
2026 Faculty: Madlen Breckbill - Violin/Viola
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Madlen H. Breckbill (violin & viola) is a versatile chamber and orchestral musician. She has worked and trained in Europe, performing with Konzerthaus Orchester Berlin, TAÏGA String Quartet in Denmark, and Villa-Musica Chamber Academy in Germany. With Konzerthaus Orchestra Berlin, Madlen toured China and Japan and performed under the batons of conductors Sir Roger Norrington, Christian Eschenbach, Leon Fleisher, and Ivan Fischer.
As a chamber artist, Madlen has collaborated with artists across Europe and North America, including Martin Beaver, Steven Dann, Ernst Kovachik and Richard Lester. In WI, Madlen has been seen playing with Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society, Midsummer Music, the Token Creek Chamber Music Festival, and LunART.
In 2019, Madlen founded Samtalä | Musicians in Dialogue, for which she is now both a performer and artistic director. Samtalä | Musicians in Dialogue is a chamber music series rooted in musical dialogue, creating innovative concert experiences that explore novel combinations of established, contemporary, and newly commissioned works.
Madlen holds a BM and MM from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School in Toronto. Her primary teachers include violinists David Perry, Paul Kantor, Erica Raum, Barry Shiffman, and violists Steven Dann and Sally Chisholm.
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Russian violinist Evgeny Zvonnikov enjoys a varied career as a performer and educator. He is currently faculty of West Texas A & M University and has served for several years as the Associate Concertmaster of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and Concertmaster of the Wichita Grand Opera Orchestra. Evgeny has taught masterclasses around the world and has collaborated with many acclaimed musicians, including pianists Misha Dichter, Leon Fleisher, Gilbert Kalish, and Peter Donohoe.
As a member of the Grammy nominated St. Petersburg String Quartet, Evgeny participated in many summer music festivals and concert series in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia, and performed in renowned concert halls, such as Carnegie Hall in New York.
In 2021 Evgeny won the First Prize at the Golden Classical Music Awards, which included a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
2026 Faculty: Evgeny Zvonnikov - Violin
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Raised in Pinckney, Michigan, Dr. Devin Cobleigh-Morrison is the Assistant Professor of Horn at the University of Louisville School of Music with faculty wind and brass quintet duties, and is guest artist faculty at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. He was previously on faculty at Washburn University, fourth horn of the Lancaster Festival Orchestra, the hornist of Wingra: the University of Wisconsin-Madison's faculty wind quintet and has held various chairs with orchestras nationwide. An in-demand guest musician, he has appeared with the Cincinnati, Louisville, Milwaukee, Kansas City, and Omaha Symphonies, Dayton Philharmonic, and was guest principal horn of the Caroga Lake Music Festival.
Cobleigh-Morrison is an active member of the International Horn Society, appearing in performance at multiple international symposia as a soloist, chamber musician, and arranger with the NU Corno International horn choir. In 2025 he commissioned and premiered Memories for horn and piano by renowned composer for horn, Jacob White, and as an educator he has led his university horn choir to premiere Windscapes by Wayne Lu, and Poema Sonora by Keegan Coomer. He can be heard on the Omaha Symphony's live recording of Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, op. 27, on albums Jurriaan Andriessen; Music for Oboe and Winds, and “Voyage!” from the Cincinnati Pops.
Dr. Cobleigh-Morrison holds a bachelor's degree from the Chicago College of Performing Arts, a master’s degree from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and a doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a jazz performance minor. His primary teachers include Elizabeth Freimuth, Daniel Grabois, Dale Clevenger, Randy Gardner, and Tom Sherwood.
2026 Faculty: Devin Cobleigh-Morrison - Horn
Sample Schedule - download
Sunday - Faculty Concert & Welcome Reception
Monday-Friday: 9:00am-4:00pm Classes/Rehearsals
Saturday: 10-12:00pm Group Activity
5:00 pm Dress Rehearsal
7:00pm Final Performance
Sunday: Departure
Location
We are located in Grand Rapids, MN, a small town surrounded by Minnesota’s nature. Explore the beauty of Northwoods while making music and expanding your chamber music repertoire.
All classes and rehearsals will take place at the Reif Performing Arts Center.
TUItion
$525 (includes a $50 nonrefundable registration fee)
$425 - (includes a $50 nonrefundable registration fee) for Itasca Orchestra & Strings Program members ONLY
What does it cover?
- daily classes, access to a rehearsal space, access to an instrument (for pianists and percussionists)
- additional events admission fees (concerts, guest artist talks, Drumming Circle etc.
- sheet music & other necessary materials
- Retreat opening Reception
Accommodation
For participants who do not reside in Grand Rapids or the closest area we provide accommodation options (paid in addition to the Retreat tuition) - limited slots are available at discounted rates on a first come first serve basis. Participants will be requested to select their preferable option in our application form while registering for the Retreat.
For any questions regarding accommodation please email us at thirdcoastchambercollective@gmail.com
HOW TO APPLY
Community Orchestra Members, Music Educators, College Students, and Adult Musicians ( 18+) with 3 or more years of experience are eligible to apply.
We welcome applications from strings (including harp), piano, woodwind, French horn and percussion players who would like to perform chamber music works with fellow participants and camp faculty members! Pre-formed ensembles are encouraged to apply!
(If you do not fit into any of the categories listed above but would like to participate, please contact us to determine whether our Retreat is for you!)
Application Deadline: MARCH 15. SLOTS ARE LIMITED. (For pianists, only 3 slots available)
To apply, please prepare a short video with the repertoire you are currently working on and fill out the application form below (available HERE to download or as a Google Form). Please, note the video is not an AUDITION and does not need to be perfect - it will simply help us place you in the ensemble that will be best for your level of experience and musicianship, and will ensure satisfactory musical collaboration and learning process.
Application process:
Fill out the 2026 Retreat application form (available below).
Upload and share your video (see below for details).
No video required for returning participants!
Wait for a confirmation email from TCCC.
Pay your registration fee (the deadline for paying the registration fee is 2 weeks after you receive a confirmation email from TCCC. The final deadline is MARCH 20). Payments may be made on our site (bottom of this page) or by mailing a check. Once we receive your payment or check you will receive a final confirmation of participation and your slot will be reserved.
Pay your tuition fee - deadline is MARCH 31. Payments may be made on our site (bottom of this page) or by mailing a check. After the final payment date tuition is nonrefundable.
VIDEO requirements:
Please record a 3-5 minute video including:
- 2 short solo pieces/excerpts of contrasting character (incomplete pieces or selections from one piece are acceptable)
Submit the video via a shareable link (Google Drive, YouTube, WeTransfer etc.) to thirdcoastchambercollective@gmail.com
APPLICATION FORM
If using the Word document, submissions should be emailed to thirdcoastchambercollective@gmail.com.
If using the Google Form, submissions will be automatically recorded.
WordDoc (send via email when complete)
REGISTRATION FEE and TUITION PAYMENTS
Pay securely via credit card using the “Add to Cart” button below, or mail your check to:
Third Coast Chamber Collective Inc., PO BOX 6, Grand Rapids,MN 55744
Please contact us with any inquiries about the program and the application process.
We are looking forward to making music with you!
2025 RETREAT Partners & Sponsors
We are grateful to all individual donors and supporters who made this program possible! Special thanks to Gary and Donna Bordner and our Volunteers team : Juliet Jones, Susan Clandon, Marjorie Lavalier, Alina Beer, and Gay Reese.
This program was made possible, in part, through the support of Associated Chamber Music Players (ACMP),
an international service organization supporting chamber music for pleasure.
Join ACMP – Membership is FREE!