Top musicians from around the world are on the University of Delaware campus this summer performing and teaching young musicians in the fifth annual Master Players Festival and School (MPF), held July 24-Aug. 4, at the Roselle Center for the Arts on the Newark campus.

Presented by UD’s Master Players Concert Series, this intensive 12-day international festival is offering world-class concerts and exceptional interdisciplinary training for instrumental and vocal musicians ages 14 and up. Students younger than 14 are participating in the festival’s Little Master’s Division.

“This is the festival that puts UD on the map and raises the profile of our beloved University,” said Xiang Gao, UD Trustees Distinguished Professor of Music and Master Players producing artistic director. “The three main goals of this festival include making the University and the city of Newark a cultural destination in the summer months, introducing our beautiful University to quality future Blue Hens from around the world, and increasing the visibility of Master Players while we’re expanding to attract more audience members and supporters of this flagship presenter of the region.”

Participants learn from world-renowned faculty through lessons, master classes, chamber music coaching, orchestral studies, solo and chamber music competitions and attending concerts.

This year’s programs include the Paul Kantor Violin Workshop, Voice and Collaborative Piano, and World Music. MPF acclaimed faculty include Paul Kantor, renowned violinist and pedagogue from Rice University and former teacher of MPF director Xiang Gao; Virginia Weckstrom, pianist and member of the artist faculty at the Aspen Music Festival; Haixin Wu, associate concertmaster of the Detroit Symphony; Satoshi Okamoto, bassist from the New York Philharmonic; principal woodwind players from the National Symphony; and leading faculty from major conservatories and universities around the world.

Participants will hear leading musicians in concerts, share the stage with them in performances and network with their future teachers. International students may also opt to participate in MPF’s “American Musical Journey,” guided excursions to historical and cultural landmarks in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.  

Concert schedule

Public performances, some of them free, are scheduled on the following dates at the Roselle Center for the Arts:

• Friday, July 26: Festival Concert I—Festival Opening Gala, 7 p.m., Gore Recital Hall;
• Sunday, July 28: Festival Concert II, 7 p.m., Gore Recital Hall;
• Monday, July 29: MPF Solo Competition Winners Concert, 7 p.m., Gore Recital Hall (free);
• Tuesday, July 30: Festival Concert III, 7 p.m., Gore Recital Hall;
• Thursday, Aug. 1: Young Artists Concert I, 7 p.m., Gore Recital Hall (free);
• Friday, Aug. 2: Young Artists Concert II, Gore Recital Hall (free);
• Saturday, Aug. 3: Festival Concert IV, Gore Recital Hall; and
• Sunday, Aug. 4: MPF Farewell, Puglisi Orchestra Hall, 3 p.m.

Festival passes will be available for purchase at the door, cash or check only, before the Friday, July 26, concert at $40 for adults and $20 for students, a savings of 20% off the general public price. Festival pass holders have access to all festival concerts as well as exclusive reserved guaranteed seating until 10 minutes prior to curtain. Passes reserved via the online form will be available for purchase at the ticket table in the lobby until 10 minutes prior to curtain at the July 26 concert. Reserved passes will be released for walk-up purchase at that time.

Tickets for individual concerts will be available at the door before each concert, cash or check only. Click here and scroll to the concert of your choice to reserve tickets in advance. Reserved tickets that are not picked up will be released for sale to the public 10 minutes before curtain. Festival Concerts and the Farewell Concert are $5 for students and $10 for adults. All other concerts are free of charge. Master Players Festival Concert tickets will not be available through the REP Box Office.

For directions and parking information, click here.

Sponsors of Master Players Festival include the UD Department of Music, UD Community Music School, Courtyard by Marriot Newark-University of Delaware, China Music Foundation and David Bromberg Fine Violins LLC.

Master Players Concert Series ("Master Players") serves as the cultural ambassador for the University of Delaware. Producing Artistic Director Xiang Gao, international artist and Trustees Distinguished Professor of Music, brings a rich and wide array of world-class musicians to the UD campus and to underserved local communities. The series' hallmarks are its high artistic standards, the Delaware debuts of remarkable artists, and its diverse and distinctive programming. Master Players, with the UD Resident Ensemble Players (a professional theatre company), is proud to offer a large variety of public performances in our numerous University venues and throughout the region. Master Players is cosponsored by the UD Department of Music.