Classical Chamber Music Retreat

August 19 - 23, 2026

Berkshire Music School
Pittsfield, MA 01201

The 2026 Classical Chamber Music Retreat will take place on the campus of Berkshire Music School, an 85 year old Berkshire’s institution. This retreat offers participants an intensive, fun, and supportive chamber music experience for amateur string players and pianists.

We will focus on the beauty of the string quartet and piano trio repertoire in an institution that has fostered the love of music since 1940.

Intermediate and advanced participants are welcome as individuals or as part of a pre-formed group. Either way, there is a place for you at this retreat!

Please note: A $25 registration fee is required at the time of application to cover the review of your video submissions. If you are accepted into the retreat, this $25 will be fully applied toward your tuition balance. In the event that our coaches determine the program is not right for your current level, your fee will be fully refunded. Clicking “Secure Your Spot” will bring up the registration form. Once completed, it will be added to your cart.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Tristan Manzolini at tmanzolini@berkshiremusicschool.org.

Introducing Your Coaches

Annabelle Hoffman : Cello
Artistic Director

Cellist Annabelle Hoffman has toured with the NY Philharmonic, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the Sinfonietta Salzburg, and the American Symphony Orchestra. She has participated in the Mostly Mozart Festival, Marlboro Festival, and Aspen Festival. On Broadway, Annabelle has performed in the pit orchestras of Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Carousel, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, Aladdin, War Paint, Sunset Boulevard, The Visit, and A Grand Night for Singing. In addition to performing, Annabelle also teaches and coaches chamber music. She has been on the faculty of The Calhoun School, the 92nd Street Y, Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music, and The Berkshire School of Music.

Laura Jean Goldberg : Violin

Violinist Laura Jean Goldberg is a seasoned chamber music player, solo artist, and teacher. A graduate of The Juilliard School, Goldberg is a member of the Chamber Music Faculty at Juilliard’s Precollege Division. A founding and current member of the Cassatt Quartet, she played with the Cassatt when they earned prizes at Fischoff, Coleman, and Banff Competitions, held residencies at Tanglewood, Caramoor, Juilliard, Yale, performed across the US and internationally. She performed as soloist with the BSO, the Wellesley Symphony, and Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra in New Hampshire. Goldberg is also a member of the Sullivan Quartet, the ArtsAhimsa Trio, curates concerts for the Dvorak American Heritage Association in New York City, and is founder-director of ArtsAhimsa Music for Peace which as performed at venues in the US, UK, and India. Goldberg studied with the Juilliard String Quartet, Felix Galimir, Eugene Lehner, Ben Zander, Nancy Cirillo, Lewis Kaplan, and Charles Castleman at the Castleman Quartet Program. She has worked with composers Matti Kovler, Henri Dutilleux, George Crumb, Julia Wolfe, Steven Mackey, Philip Glass, Gabriela Lena Frank, Behzad Ranjbaran, Dalit Warshaw, and Eric Ewazen. Goldberg is an ower and teacher at Belvior Terrace, a girl’s camp in Lenox MA that empowers young women through the arts, and she is a board member of Dvorak American Heritage Association in NYC.

Carlton Maaia II : Piano

Carlton Maaia II is the director of music at Saint Mark’s Church and the choir director at Temple Anshe Amunim, both in Pittsfield. Additionally, he works as a freelance pianist and organist. He has music-directed for the Berkshire Theatre Group, Barrington Stage Company’s “KidsAct!” program, Shaker Mountain Opera, Berkshire Concert Choir, and numerous college and high school programs in New York and Massachusetts.

A Pittsfield native, Carlton’s musical journey began with the study of organ, harmony, and counterpoint under the tutelage of Thomas P. Frost. He then studied organ performance with Haskell Thompson at the Oberlin Conservatory.

After serving as the music coordinator for Memorial United Methodist Church in White Plains, New York, Carlton embarked on a 14-year tenure as the music supervisor and arranger for “Vespers…and All That Jazz” at the Scarritt-Bennett Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

Carlton is honored to share his passion for piano playing and all things musical with the community at BMS.

Lisa Heffter : Viola

Violist, Lisa Heffter, has played viola in string quartets and chamber groups throughout the world. After graduating Julliard, she toured Europe with the French award winning Manfred String Quartet, played viola with the Elysium String Quartet premiering at Weill Recital Hall, and was the founder of the Bordeaux String Quartet sponsored by Rudin Management for decades of playing public NYC concerts. Heffter has performed as guest principal violist for the Beijing Chamber Ensemble, performed Takach’s viola solo for DCINY at Lincoln Center, and plays orchestra concerts in NYC with DCINY and Manhattan Symphony at Geffen Hall and Carnegie Hall. She taught string classes at The Calhoun School, but then opened up her own private studio, and now teaches and coaches chamber music. Heffter joined the Chamber Music Center at National Opera Center where she coaches chamber music and performs annually at Scorca Hall. Heffter’s summer festivals have included Tanglewood, Taos, SQP, and ArtsAhimsa. Heffter also composes: her website lisaheffter.com shows off some of her works produced by Broadways’ Sound Associates, Global Multi-Media Music, and Eleven B Studios.

Retreat Details

- Registration cost is $750, with early bird pricing available at $500 until May 1st thanks to an anonymous donor.
- Retreat cost includes complete programming, daily morning coffee and light bites, lunch, and opening night dinner.
- Does not include lodging.
- Registration deadline is May 1, 2026 for early bird special or June 1, 2026 for regular deadline.
- Online registration form can be completed once purchase is made to secure your spot.
Participants may arrange lodging on their own (recommendations found at the bottom of this page) or can opt to stay with a local host family. The cost for a host family is $400 and includes a room and breakfast or dinner.
- Assistance with transportation from the Albany-Rensselaer Amtrack station can be arranged.
- Transportation between lodging and BMS as well as other activities can be arranged.

Proposed Schedule

4:30 : Check In
5:00 - 7:00 : Meet and Greet Dinner
7:00 : Fun Orchestra Reading or Faculty Performance
9:30 am : Coffee and pastries, announcements, 2-minute student performance, Question of the Day, practice room sign-up, mini-lesson sign-up
10:00 am - 12:00 pm : Ensemble Rehearsal Session 1 with Coach
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm : Catered lunch, practice rooms available, free time
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm : Ensemble Rehearsal Session 2 with Coach
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm : Faculty Q&A, 15 minute mini-lessons
4:00 pm - 4:15 pm : Snack break
4:15 pm - 6:00 pm : Sight-reading groups, independent chamber music
Evenings : Explore the Berkshires!
9:00 am : Coffee, announcements
9:30 am - 11:00 am : Rehearsal before participant concert
11:00 am - 11:15 am : Coffee and cookies break
11:30 am - 1:00 pm : Participant Concert
1:00 pm : Farewell lunch