Workshops & Festivals in 2026
The following organizations are Advertisers or Partner Members of ARS, and we are delighted to spread the word about their workshops and events of interest to recorder players. 
Spring Break Workshop, April 11-12, 2026, Arlington, VA
Memorial Day Workshop, May 22-25, 2026, Litchfield, CT
Main Festival, July 12-26, 2026, Allentown, PA
Director: Frances Blaker
Recorder faculty: Rainer Beckmann, Letitia Berlin, Frances Blaker, Héloïse Degrugillier, Teresa Deskur, Rotem Gilbert, Eric Haas, Sarah Jeffery, Lawrence Lipnik, Sian Ricketts, Patricia Petersen, Wendy Powers, Nin Stern, with Na’ama Lion & Emi Ferguson (flute) (not all both weeks).
Cloth of Gold: Music of France and England
The Amherst Early Music Festival offers classes for most early music instruments, voice, and dance with music and topics ranging from Medieval to Baroque. You can take an easy ride, just for the fun of it, or you can improve your playing, singing, or dancing; expand your knowledge; and enjoy being part of the friendly and stimulating Festival community. Classes run Monday thru Friday each week. Tuition: $750 per week for all programs. See website for room & board options, and complete list of faculty.
Contact: Sally Merriman
781-488-3337
info@amherstearlymusic.org
amherstearlymusic.org
June 6-14, 2026
Berkeley Festival & Exhibition
Berkeley, CA
Director: Derek Tam
Founded in 1990 and produced by the San Francisco Early Music Society (SFEMS), the Festival has become one of the world’s largest and most important early music conclaves, deemed “a remarkable institution on the American musical scene” by The New York Times.
This year, we’re excited to present 21 main stage concerts, as well as special events, a three-day exhibition, community workshops, and dozens of Fringe presentations. There is truly something for everyone! From Boethius and Bach to gamelan and Gershwin, this year’s lineup promises to entice and enthrall.
Building off the success of BFX 2024, our mainstage concerts will continue to be pay-what-you-can, which have brought record-breaking crowds to SFEMS in recent years. As always, we encourage patrons to “pay it forward”—consider purchasing a subscription to ensure premium seating, and to undergird our commitment to financial accessibility in early music.
The Festival Exhibition and Marketplace—free and open to the public—takes place Thursday, June 11 through Saturday, June 13, 2026.
The Exhibition features the work of instrument makers, publishers, retailers, performing and service organizations, and all others who provide materials, information, and support for the early music community.
September 4-6, 2026
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, 123 Market St. Bloomsburg, PA.
Workshop Director: Susan Schwartz
Musical Director: Lawrence Lipnik
Spend a glorious weekend making early music in beautiful Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. The workshop will feature Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque ensemble repertoire in a friendly and supportive environment. All types of early instruments are welcome – the more, the merrier! Classes will include recorder and viol consorts, voices and viols, and ensembles for mixed instrumental and vocal ensembles in spacious rooms adjoining the historic St. Matthew Lutheran Church. There’s lots of time for spontaneous break-out sessions, and the weekend will culminate Sunday in an all-workshop large group session with an informal presentation open to the Bloomsburg community. We offer scholarships and work study - we want everyone who wants to come to be able to join us!
Susan Schwartz
570-441-2774
director@bloomearlymusic.orgbloomearlymusic.org May 29–31, 2026
University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, WI
Directors: Laura Kuhlman, Pamela Wiese
Recorder Faculty: Miyo Aoki, James Chaudoir, David Lee Echelard, Lisette Kielson, Laura Kuhlman, Mona Mann; Recorder and Voice: Anne Timberlake; and Viol da Gamba: Erica Rubis and Katherine Shuldiner
Let's Make Music Together
Vocal, recorder and viola da gamba enthusiasts are invited to attend the Early Music Festival which is held on the beautiful campus of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Participants will attend two classes that meet three times over the weekend. Saturday evening will feature large group playing, as well as an Open Mic opportunity, an Ice Cream social rounds out the evening. Sunday morning before lunch will feature a “Tutti” session where all participants will come together for a rehearsal and performance of a special piece. This is a weekend of “hands on” playing where people can connect with other early instrument enthusiasts, musicians of all levels are encouraged to attend. The Oak Park Recorder School is proud to have hosted this workshop each year.
Pamela Wiese
(708) 860-0451
oprecorder@gmail.com
www.whitewaterearlymusic.org
Week #2 : November 1 - November 7, 2026
Hidden Valley Music Seminars, Carmel Valley, CA 93924
Director: Letitia Berlin and Lawrence Lipnik
Week 1 Faculty:
Recorder: Letitia Berlin, Frances Blaker, Lawrence Lipnik
Viola da Gamba: David Morris, Lawrence Lipnik
Early Strings and Repertoire: Shira Kammen
Week 2 Faculty:
Recorder: Letitia Berlin, Frances Blaker, Lawrence Lipnik
Viola da Gamba: Mary Springfels, Lawrence Lipnik
Dulcian and Shawm: Alison Gangler
Music from Spain and England!
Spain and England, two world powers in the Renaissance, were great patrons of the arts, bequeathing gorgeous music, art, and poetry to the generations that came after them. As we celebrate the Semiquincentennial of the United States we’ll immerse ourselves in the music of Spain and England from the Middle Ages on, as well as music of the New World and the Netherlands. Follow the thread from the great Renaissance powers to the countries they colonized, and on to these countries as they gained independence.
Revel in the lyrical sounds of early music instruments as you share your musical gifts during a week-long intensive early music workshop. Enhance your skills in small classes taught by expert instructors with emphasis on improving technique and playing with ensembles. At Hidden Valley Music Seminars, An Institute of the Arts, nestled amongst oak and buckeye trees below majestic hillsides, enjoy a serene and inspiring place for playing music. For intermediate to advanced recorder and viola da gamba players. Recorder players must be able to play at least two sizes (at least one F instrument and one C instrument). The week #2 program, November 1, 2026, includes dulcian and shawm. The dulcian and shawm programs are open by audition. Please contact the workshop director at tishberlin@sbcglobal.net to arrange an online audition. Program registration is done through Road Scholar and closes 35 days before the start date.
Renee Babcock
(831) 236-3188
(800) 454-5768 - Road Scholar
info@hiddenvalleymusic.org and contact@roadscholar.org
https://www.roadscholar.org/6254
https://tibiaduo.com/
July 19-25, 2026
Mideast Early Music Workshop (ARS)
LaRoche University, Pittsburgh, PA
Faculty: Eric Haas, Stew Carter, Patty Halverson, Christine Rua, Gwyn Roberts, Anne Timberlake, Alastair Thompson, James Young and more!
Musik of the Northern Renaissance and Reformation
Revel in the joy of playing early music! Friendly, welcoming staff and students will make you feel right at home. Whether you are already an Early Music enthusiast or still exploring, you will encounter a week filled with inspiration and great music. Small consorts offer personalized coaching and our large ensembles are a thrill to play with!
Recorder, flute and Viol are welcome as primary instruments.
Secondary instruments include crumhorns, harps, sackbuts, percussion and more.
Karen Parsons
724 444 4784
EarlyMusicWeekMideast@gmail.com
www.EarlyMusicWeekMideast.org
June 28-July 4, 2026
Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC
Director: Jody Miller
Faculty: Gwyn Roberts, Anne Timberlake, Chris Rua, Jody Miller, Phil Hollar, Joan Kimball, Will Peebles, Barbara Weiss, Valerie Austin, Emily O'Brien
The backdrop of the Smoky Mountains provides an idyllic setting for a workshop that is both intensive and fun. With classes in Renaissance, Baroque, and contemporary music for recorder players, there are offerings to suit musicians of all levels and interests. In addition to four classes each day, there are nightly large-group playing sessions, concerts, evening dancing sessions, and so much more! Work-study awards are available.
This diverse workshop also offers classes in capped reeds, early brass, viola da gamba, folk music, early harp, and more! Come for the recorder experience, but leave with so much more!
Registration opens March 2026. Visit www.mountaincollegium.org to join our mailing list.
Mountain Collegium encourages you to apply for workstudy or for a scholarship through the American Recorder Society.
Contact: Jody Miller, 404-314-1891
info@mountaincollegium.org
www.mountaincollegium.org
June 14–28, 2026
Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
Director: Kenneth Slowik
Recorder faculty: Oberlin Baroque Ensemble and Guests; Recorder faculty includes Michael Lynn and Anne Timberlake
Sprezzatura and the Italian Baroque
The Baroque music workshop will mark its 54th year of preparing musicians to perform some of the great works on period instruments. Learn from faculty and resident artists and participate in master classes, recitals, and concerts to practice baroque techniques and gain a fuller appreciation of this unique musical genre.
Baroque music workshop will mark its 54th year of preparing musicians to perform some of the great works on period instruments. Learn from faculty and resident artists and participate in master classes, recitals, and concerts to practice baroque techniques and gain a fuller appreciation of this unique musical genre.
Recorder students will be able to select from two possible paths: Baroque Ensemble or Consort. Baroque Ensemble students will participate in mixed-instrument, coached chamber ensembles and will perform on the Saturday Student Recital. The Baroque Ensemble path is recommended only for advanced students, and involves daily coached consort sessions and performance. The Consort Program is recommended for students whose skills are intermediate and above.
Oberlin owns a fine collection of Renaissance and Baroque recorders which may be used in some ensembles.
Contact: Anna Hoffmann
440-775-8044
go.oberlin.edu/bpi
San Francisco Early Music Society
Baroque Workshop: June 16–22, 2025
Medieval/Renaissance Workshop: July 13–19, 2025
Recorder Workshop: July 20–26, 2025
Fill your days with recorder ensembles, technique classes, Renaissance consorts, recorder orchestra, masterclasses, concerts, lectures and more. Explore Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, contemporary and world music in an intimate setting with world-class faculty.
The above workshops are all 1-week workshops with day classes and evening presentations, held in Berkeley, CA. Room and Board info posted on sfems.org.
510-683-1674
workshops@sfems.org
https://www.sfems.org/workshops
June 7–13, 2026
Schreiner University, Kerrville, TX
Director: Danny Johnson
Administrator: Susan Richter
Faculty includes: Saskia Coolen, Mary Springfels, Jennifer Carpenter, Sydney ZumMallen, Carol Deihl (viols); Therese Honey, Héctor Alfonso Torres González, Danny Johnson (harp, lute, voice)
The Summer Texas Toot offers a one-week program of classes at all levels, focusing on Renaissance and Baroque music, but also ranging from Medieval to Celtic to 21st century. Expert instructors in recorder, viol, lute, harp, reeds, and voice will teach technique classes, coach one-on-a-part groups, and lead larger ensembles, both mixed and whole.
Danny Johnson
info@toot.org
toot.org/nwp/summer-toot-2026/
(512) 578-8040
www.toot.org
SFEMS Workshops