Our Process
7 Weeks. 80 Musicians. 250 Works. Zero Deadlines.
“Marlboro is for people to make music, and through making music together, understand what it is to make music.” —Mitsuko Uchida
In today’s frenetic musical landscape—marked by relentless schedules, financial pressures, and the demand for constant visibility—Marlboro is a refuge for musicians. Here, they have the time and conditions to pursue what they find most meaningful and beautiful in music. Unlike almost any other musical environment, Marlboro groups begin rehearsals without a predetermined concert date or any pressure to perform. This replaces the need to ‘produce’ with the freedom to ‘explore.’ A work is only performed when the musicians feel they have achieved something special, and the music is ready to be heard. This shift in focus—from the product to the process—is the essence of music-making at Marlboro.
Each season, some 50 gifted young professionals are joined on our Vermont hilltop by 30 musicians with decades of experience. Many senior artists return year after year, not for prestige but for the opportunity to mentor, to listen, and to renew their own artistic lives. Emerging musicians arrive ready to learn—and are often transformed by the experience. None of the musicians at Marlboro are paid to perform, and they forgo fees and engagements elsewhere to attend.
How It Comes Together
The artists themselves choose the music that they explore each summer. In early spring, newly-invited participants are asked to list chamber works—classic and contemporary—that they would like to work on. Our Scheduling Department then begins the vital task of assigning repertoire and personnel for the many ensembles that will form. Typically, each group contains one or two senior and several emerging players. In this intergenerational exchange, the intent is that every musician experiences, and learns from, a variety of repertoire and colleagues of disparate backgrounds and musical approaches. Ultimately, however long they choose to explore a piece and whether or not they choose to perform, each group works to achieve a collective understanding—seeking each day to get a little closer to revealing the inner truth of the music and the intentions of its composer.
Community as a Catalyst
At Marlboro, the most profound musical insights often happen outside the rehearsal room—over a shared meal, a swim in the pond, or a quiet walk through the Vermont woods.
More than a retreat, Marlboro is a multi-generational home, with spouses, partners, and children integrated into the fabric of the community. Marlboro’s egalitarian spirit extends to daily life: everyone takes their turn waiting tables in the Dining Hall and participating in the chores that sustain our community. Such human connections are where the ‘Marlboro spirit’ is truly forged. By removing the pressures of the professional world and embracing the warmth of a supportive family, Marlboro creates an environment where musicians are empowered to take risks, to make mistakes, and ultimately, to discover something new.
