July 5 - August 9, 2026
Seth Knopp, Artistic Director
Answers to FAQs
Where is Yellow Barn?
Yellow Barn is located in Putney, Vermont. Putney is 3.5 hours from New York City, and 2.5 hours from Boston.
How long is the program?
Yellow Barn is a five-week festival. The 2026 festival runs from July 5 to August 9.
What is the cost?
All participants receive a full fellowship, including room and board.
What are the audition requirements?
Applicants should prepare two works, or substantial movements from two different works, that make distinct technical and interpretive demands. Strings, winds, and vocal applicants must provide their own pianists according to repertoire needs.
Is a live audition required?
Live auditions are strongly encouraged. However, if you are unable to travel to a live audition location, video applications are acceptable.
Do Yellow Barn alumni need to audition?
After one year at Yellow Barn, alumni are asked to audition for a second summer. Musicians who participate in two summers at Yellow Barn are automatically invited for the following summer. After three summers, Yellow Barn alumni can request additional summers at any time. Such requests will be considered after all auditions have been heard.
What is the summer ensemble residency?
Pre-formed ensembles have the rare opportunity to explore new works and deepen their connection to familiar repertoire with guidance from Yellow Barn faculty. Performance opportunities for the ensemble, and the involvement of its individual members in projects outside the ensemble, vary according to the needs and interests of the group. Ensembles should be full-time groups who have been performing together for a minimum of two years, and who have the shared desire to establish themselves as a lasting entity. All instrumental combinations are considered.
Please note: If you are 20 years old or younger, please visit the page for our Young Artists Program.
2026 Application Deadlines
Application Deadlines for Individuals
Live auditions Europe & UK—January 4
Live auditions US & Canada—January 11
Video auditions—January 11
March 1—Results announced
Application Deadlines for Ensembles
December 12—Deadline for applying and submitting videos for a live audition
December 19—Results of round one announced
Round Two:
January-February—Live auditions for invited ensembles
March 1—Results of live auditions announced
Live Audition Schedule
Basel - January 11
London - January 13
US & Canada
New York City- January 16-17, 19-20, 22
New Haven - January 21 (YSM students only)
San Francisco - February 1
Los Angeles - February 2
Houston - February 3
Chicago - February 4
Boston - February 5-6
Montreal - February 7
Application Information
Application Fees (non-refundable and due with application)
$95 for individuals (fee increases by $10 after December 21 for Europe, or after December 28 for all other auditions); $120 for ensembles
About Acceptd
Yellow Barn has moved its online admissions process to Acceptd. Here’s why:
- Applicants can apply for a fee waiver, which we haven't been able to offer previously
- Applicants can change audition times themselves as often as needed
- Applicants do not have to collect letters of recommendation directly. Recommenders will use the Acceptd site to submit information.
- Applicants can switch programs without having to reenter application information
- Applicants can store information for future applications with any festival or school that uses the Acceptd platform.
If you have questions about how to apply for a fee waiver, or any other aspect of Acceptd, please contact Melody Lin, Director of Admissions, at melody@yellowbarn.org.
Live Audition Requirements
Applicants should prepare two works, or substantial movements from two different works, that make distinct technical and interpretive demands. Live auditions are typically 20 minutes in length but may vary from audition to audition.
Strings and Winds: Audition selections can include duo sonatas or concertos, but must be presented with piano parts or orchestral reductions. Applicants must provide their own pianists according to repertoire needs.
Vocalists: Applicants should prepare a program of at least 15 minutes in length, and must perform with their own pianists.
Live auditions are strongly encouraged. However, if you are unable to travel to a live audition location, video applications are acceptable. Applicants should submit a video recording of three works, or substantial movements from three works. For pieces with accompaniment, applicants must perform with their own pianists. Videos must be uncut and unedited.
2026 Yellow Barn Faculty
Violin
Curtis Macomber
Anthony Marwood
Matthew Truscott
Donald Weilerstein
Ying Xue
Viola
Jonathan Brown
Krzysztof Chorzelski
Kim Kashkashian*
Pauline Sachse
Cello
Natasha Brofsky
Luise Buchberger
Jean-Michel Fonteneau
Laurence Lesser*
Julia Lichten
John Myerscough
Double Bass
Sam Suggs
Piano
Alasdair Beatson
Gilbert Kalish
Seth Knopp
Vivian Hornik Weilerstein
Harp
Charles Overton
Winds
Daniel Bates, oboe
Alan Kay, clarinet
Stephen Stirling, French horn
Percussion
Eduardo Leandro
Accordion
James Crabb
Voice
William Sharp
Lucy Shelton
Composition
Stephen Coxe
Helena Tulve, Composer in Residence
Bodywork
Alison Mott
Sarah West
*guest faculty