More than 2,000 leading musicians consider Marlboro to be among their most important artistic influences

Thousands of young musicians who spent formative summers at Marlboro have gone on to become members of leading ensembles, many of which formed at Marlboro; acclaimed recitalists; principal members of major orchestras; and respected teachers. They are sharing with students, colleagues, and audiences everywhere the artistic and life lessons they received on this peaceful Vermont hilltop.

In 1964, the Guarneri String Quartet became the first of many major chamber ensembles to form at Marlboro. Since then, many other artists who spent formative summers in Vermont would go on to form or join other ensembles that have changed the chamber music landscape. When the Guarneri was founded, Musical America’s Directory of the Performing Arts listed 113 chamber ensembles; today, that list contains some 650 groups. Marlboro is widely credited with playing a major role in this remarkable growth and in a similar increase in the number of chamber music concert series and festivals active today throughout the U.S.

Our Alumni

We invite you to browse our database of chamber music participants, spanning from the first festival summer in 1951 to today, as well as partial lists of ensemble members—past and present—orchestra principals, and music school faculty members who developed their artistry at Marlboro.

Participating Artists Since 1951

Artist name Instrument Participating year Performances
Raquel Adonaylo Soprano 1966, 1974, 1975, 1976 View performances
Laura Ahlbeck Oboe 1990 View performances
Pierre-Laurent Aimard Piano 1998 View performances
Valérie Aimard Cello 1995, 1996, 1997 View performances
Robert Aitken Flute 1959, 1961, 1968, 1994 View performances
Rieko Aizawa Piano 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993 View performances
Carl Albach Trumpet 1988 View performances
Rebecca Albers Viola 2005, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2025 View performances
Mary Alderdice Harpsichord 1972 View performances
John Aler Tenor 1980 View performances
Showing 11-20 of 2064
of 207 pages

“What happens at Marlboro resonates throughout the world… it is hard to find a prominent American musician who hasn’t spent at least one inspirational summer at Marlboro.”

Newsweek

“Players active today who were influenced by Marlboro are really too numerous to mention. Every major string quartet and orchestra in the world has one or more… Every third pianist, too, it seems… have found in their two months of hard-working respite in southern Vermont a central core of ideals to carry them through the rest of the year and quite likely the rest of their lives.”

John Wiser, Fanfare

“It would be difficult to overstate the centrality of [Marlboro artists] in American chamber music life. At virtually any chamber music concert today, at least one musician on the stage is likely to have studied with, been coached by, or performed in an ensemble with them.”

New York Times

“Out of Marlboro’s fertile soil, participants not only became more complete musicians but many crafted life-long chamber music careers.”

Arnold Steinhardt

From the Archives

Meet some of the legendary figures who helped to establish the spirit of Marlboro—true originals who inspired and influenced generations of young musicians with their musical insights and humanity. Through their performances, photographs, biographies, and the recollections of past participants and others, we hope to bring to life a sense of their substantial contributions to Marlboro and music, for which we are ever grateful.

  • From the Archives: Adolf Busch

    From the Archives:
    Adolf Busch

    Violinist, composer, and Marlboro co-founder Adolf Busch’s uncompromising humanity, devotion, and commitment to what he believed in—his example as a moral beacon in uniquely tumultuous times—has guided Marlboro from its earliest days.

  • From the Archives: Rudolf Serkin

    From the Archives:
    Rudolf Serkin

    In setting the standards and creating the structure for Marlboro, Rudolf Serkin opened new worlds for generations of exceptional young musicians. Throughout his life, he demonstrated that music is not merely a profession but a moral act that finds its highest expression in the service of others.

  • From the Archives:  Blanche Honegger Moyse

    From the Archives:
    Blanche Honegger Moyse

    A unique and beloved figure in Brattleboro’s cultural life, Marlboro co-founder Blanche Moyse gave us new perspectives on some of the most moving music ever written. The inspiring experience of exploring Bach’s music with her has had a lifelong impact on decades of Marlboro musicians.