Lawrence Chamber Music Festival
Date
July 20 – August 1 2026
Early Decision 1 Deadline
If Lawrence is your first choice, apply by Nov. 1 to receive your admission decision by Dec. 1. Early Decision applicants also receive financial aid offers and select housing early, making senior year feel more settled.
A forward-looking chamber music festival.
The Lawrence Chamber Music Festival gathers together world-class artist faculty from the Lawrence faculty and from all over the world. 40 young artists work with LCMF faculty to present chamber music performances at diverse venues, including the prestigious Mile of Music Festival, where they collaborate with singer-songwriters to create original arrangements of new songs.
Applications for Summer 2027 opening November 1!
Save the date for the 2027 Lawrence Chamber Music Festival: July 24-August 8, 2027.
2026 Festival Schedule
All event details are subject to change. All events are free and open to the public.
Monday, July 20 — Festival Concert — Gibson Community Music Hall, 7 p.m.
Friday, July 24 — Festival Concert — Lawrence Memorial Chapel, 7 p.m.
Saturday, July 25 — Young Artist Concert — Lawrence Memorial Chapel, 7 p.m.
Sunday, July 26 — Young Artist Concert — Lawrence Memorial Chapel, 1 p.m.
Wednesday, July 29 — Young Artist Concert — Lawrence Memorial Chapel, 1 p.m.
Thursday, July 30 — Mile of Music Kickoff — Lawrence Memorial Chapel, 11 a.m.
Friday, July 31 — “Music in Motion”: An Intergenerational Concert Presented by Play Out, Mile of Music, and LCMF — Lawrence’s Harper Hall, 9 a.m.
Friday, July 31 — Mile of Music Young Artist Showcase — Hilton Paper Valley Ballroom, 11 a.m.
Friday, July 31 — Mile of Music Young Artist Showcase — Riverview Gardens, 2 p.m.
Saturday, August 1 — Mile of Music Young Artist Showcase — Copper Rock Coffee Co., 10:30 a.m.
Saturday, August 1 — Mile of Music Young Artist Showcase — Appleton Public Library, 2:30 p.m.
Click here for live stream information.
See you at the 2026 Lawrence Chamber Music Festival!
Applications for Summer 2027 opening November 1!
Applications to participate in the Young Artist program at the 2027 LCMF will be available soon. If you have interest in attending next year’s festival as a participant, please follow the link above to submit an interest inquiry form. For questions about applications, fellowships, scholarships, or for any other information please email chambermusicfestival@lawrence.edu.
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2026 Festival Faculty Artists
Michael Mizrahi, piano & LCMF Director
“Being a successful musician…involves a sense of adventure and curiosity…” – Mizrahi
Jean Carlo Ureña González, percussion
“Everyone comes in like an open canvas and I need to figure out what that canvas needs.” — Ureña González
Erin Lesser, flute
“I love the challenge of deciphering a new score, and the fact that every day is completely different.” — Lesser
Tim Albright, trombone
Tim has performed with various performers including the Metropolitan Opera, Jay-Z, Barbra Streisand, and the National.
Andy Hudson, clarinet
“Everything outside of what you typically do makes that thing you typically do richer and more interesting.” — Hudson
Caitlin Sullivan, cello
Sullivan has performed with The Knights and Decoda, recorded an album, and featured her work in TV and film.
Leo Sussman, flute
“Thinking critically about how to present works ensures impactful performances, and transforms your perspective.” — Sussman
Teagan Faran, violin, viola
“One of the easiest ways we can show something is living, through music, is by giving it a heartbeat.” — Faran
Collaboration Partner: Julia Blair
Blair is a singer-songwriter from Appleton, Wisconsin, whose music falls into the Neo-Soul genre. Her albums include Better Out Than In, and All My Important Things.
2025 Collaborator: Natural Satellite
Natural Satellite is a WAMI-award-winning duo from Menasha, Wisconsin.
2025 Collaborator: BODHI
Bridgeport, CT-based artist BODHI crafts hypnotic melodies and transportive soundscapes paired with an otherworldly voice.
2025 Collaborator: Whitney Mongé
Based in Nashville, Whitney Mongé is a singer-songwriter and guitarist whose music transcends conventional boundaries.
2025 Collaborator: PEGASIS
PEGASIS is a genre-less musical group from Green Bay, Wisconsin, whose albums include: One, Two, Tres and Four.
Collaborator: Julie Williams
Williams, a country music artist from Nashville, has received acknowledgment from CMT’s Next Women of Country. Her music features storytelling about growing up as a mixed-race child.
Collaborator: Ben Mulwana
Mulwana is a Ghana-born artist living in Kenosha, Wisconsin, whose music is described as Afro-soul rock that takes on a unique storytelling quality.
Brandon Ridenour, trumpet
“…making it fun for you and the people you are sharing it with—that is what performance is all about.” — Ridenour (Founders)
Ben Russell, violin
A violinist, vocalist and composer who has played to worldwide acclaim, Ben is a member of American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME) and co-creator of the songwriting collective Founders.
Mike Clayville, trombone
“My work often takes me beyond the concert hall and into the broader community.” — Clayville
Joe Connor, saxophone
“I help my students develop both a healthy approach to practice and a long-term relationship with their instrument.” — Connor
Brigit Pacher, bassoon
“I think it is absolutely wonderful to have different ideas of what success looks like out there.” — Pacher
Ruby Mac, Songwriter
Ruby Mac is an emerging pop and singer-songwriter from Rhode Island. She draws inspiration from the rich tapestry of life and experiences woven into the coastal landscapes of her upbringing.
Buddy Red, Songwriter
Buddy Red is an Atlanta-based blues vocalist and guitarist, celebrated for his soulful sound and captivating performances.
Ron Artis II, Songwriter
Ron is a multi-instrumentalist who grew up in Hawaii. This award-winning artist brings a unique soulful-honest-songwriting style to the stage.
Gold Standard, Songwriters
Gold Standard is a Wisconsin string band specializing in Americana and bluegrass music. Their new album “It’s time to light the Lights” is coming out soon.
Media from LCMF 2025
Why attend the Lawrence Chamber Music Festival
LCMF Director Michael Mizrahi introduces the Lawrence Chamber Music Festival.
Applications for Summer 2027 opening November 1!
Your generous donation is tax-deductible and helps sustain the Lawrence Chamber Music Festival’s unique programming. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please email chambermusicfestival@lawrence.edu.
Sponsors
Support for the Lawrence Chamber Music Festival includes grants from the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, Lawrence University, Riverview Gardens, 91.1 The Avenue, Eagle Performance Plastics, Harp Gallery, Wisconsin Public Radio, and Bergstrom Automotive.
About the Lawrence Conservatory of Music
The Lawrence Conservatory of Music prepares musicians to create a more thoughtful, meaningful, and beautiful world within:
- a motivated community that cultivates artistry and excellence through rigorous training,
- a diverse community that fosters intellectual growth through critical inquiry and scholarship
- a creative community that connects passion for music to social engagement and innovative thinking