Join Decoda for our third annual Winter Retreat | March 2–8, 2027
at the historic Campus at Marlboro Music in Marlboro, Vermont.
This immersive experience is designed for amateur musicians with a serious commitment to chamber music and a passion for collaboration, mentorship, and artistic growth. Participants will receive daily coachings, play side-by-side with Decoda artists, and share in a week of intensive and joyful music making.
We can’t wait to return to the Campus at Marlboro Music to welcome both new and returning participants to this growing musical community!
New in 2027
Beethoven & beyond
The 2027 Decoda Winter Retreat will celebrate Beethoven at 200, marking the bicentenary of his death by tracing his extraordinary life and music and the ways his ideas continue to reverberate across generations. Each participant will explore a chamber work by Beethoven alongside a more contemporary work that speaks to it—through sound, structure, spirit, or shared questions. Rehearsals and coaching will be enriched by talks and conversations that open outward into history, philosophy, artistic legacy, and the enduring human impulses at the heart of this music.
Decoda faculty will also present a Beethoven-centered program in an intimate, tertulia-inspired dinner concert for participants and the wider community. The result will be a week of deep listening, discovery, and connection: an opportunity not simply to play Beethoven, but to encounter his music anew and hear how it continues to shape the musical world around us.
decoda Faculty
Additional faculty to be announced soon.
"I am thrilled to be working with our participants for a third year!
One of the most rewarding parts of this experience is seeing how our shared love of chamber music brings people together –
whether returning or joining us for the first time – to share, learn, and create lasting connections."
— Doori Na, Decoda violinist & Winter Retreat Leader
Application Deadlines
July 15, 2026 - Applications Open
November 1, 2026 - Early Bird Application Deadline ($65 application fee)
*Rolling application deadline - until capacity is reached. ($85 application fee after November 1)
*Note - Capacity is limited. Priority acceptance will be given to those who apply by November 1.
Notification of Acceptance: rolling and by December 1, 2026
Deadline for Confirming Participation & Deposit Due: December 15, 2026 (or upon acceptance after December 15)
Who Should Apply?
We welcome adult amateur instrumentalists with strong playing ability and a deep commitment to chamber music. This residency is ideal for those who are passionate, experienced, and eager to grow through collaboration and musical exploration.
We encourage applications from individual players as well as pre-formed ensembles.
Eligible Instruments: violin, viola, cello, bass, piano, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, and other instrumentalists interested in working with Decoda.
Required Skill Level:
Advanced amateur players with prior ensemble and performance experience.
Comfortable preparing repertoire independently and rehearsing at a high musical level.
What We Value:
A strong commitment to chamber music and collaborative music-making
Prior experience playing in ensembles
Interest in exploring a broad range of chamber repertoire, from traditional works to contemporary music
Openness to feedback and artistic growth
Curiosity, generosity, and a spirit of shared learning
If you have any questions about your eligibility or fit for the program, feel free to reach out — we’re happy to help (decodawinter@decodamusic.org)
Past Winter Retreat Highlights
