Vilacello Winter Workshop 2027

5 day Program January 7th - 11th 2027

Early Bird Cost: $600 (Apply by November 1st)

Join Sheva Artist Bartholomew Fortino-Shields, Steinway Artist Hsing-ay Hsu, Wheaton College Conservatory Violin Professor Soh-Hyun Park Altino and Peabody Institute Piano Professor Shirley Yoo.

Reading, Philadelphia and New York City

Click on each picture for daily schedule:

Reading 1/7-9

Solo and chamber music one on one instruction, including daily masterclasses and performances at Alsace Lutheran Church.

Philadelphia 1/10

Including public masterclasses and performances at Steinway & Sons.

New York City 1/11

Including public masterclasses and performances at All Angel’s Church.

Apply by November 1st for the early bird tuition rate of $600. Tuition increases to $650 for applications received after November 1st.

FAQ:

Tuition includes full instruction from Thursday to Monday evenings, room and board for out of state students and free access to all Vilacello Festival Concerts. In addition, meals are included in the tuition price only in Reading for out of state students. Local students can choose to purchase their meals at the festival for $12 per meal or pack their own and bring it to the festival. Meals are not provided for any students in Philadelphia or New York City. Each participant will need to buy their own meal. The festival will go out to restaurants in Philadelphia and New York City for lunch and or dinner to enjoy one another’s company and continue to foster our festival community outside of Reading.

Getting to and from Philadelphia and New York City: The participants can choose to carpool and or take the same bus or train options with faculty and students from Reading. No lodging is provided by the festival in Philadelphia and New York City.

Alternative option 1: https://hotels.cloudbeds.com/reservation/6ztcxw

“NY Hostel pod housing option: New York Spirit Retreats, super high rating of 4.7 stars. $85 per night. Shared bathrooms, small bedroom pods, safe and lockable.” Students can take the train back to New York with Hsing-ay in the evening of January 10 from Philadelphia. “Train cost can be estimated at $50 one way. Projected train that everyone would take is the 8:05pm – 9:45pm. Train carryon needs to be less than 28 inches. Book early.”

Alternative option 2: Out of state students will come back to Reading after our Philadelphia event on Sunday for their last night with host families. On Monday after the festival ends in New York City, each participant is responsible for their own departure. If students need to come back to Reading, we will have carpool options and or take the same bus/train back. Out of state students should plan to fly out of New York City airports – LaGuardia Airport or John F. Kennedy International Airport. The final concert in NYC ends at 7:30 pm.

NEW Solo Showcase Concerts: We will have two solo showcase concerts. The first one will be in Philadelphia and the second in New York City. This is a merit based performance opportunity, which requires a video audition to be considered. Every student will get a chance to perform at the venues in Philadelphia and New York City in the studio classes and masterclasses, but only a select few will get to perform in the solo showcase concerts which follow faculty concerts.

How to apply for the solo showcase concerts: Please send a 5 to 8 minute piece on video to the email vilacellocontactus@gmail.com with composer and the full title (print ready).