Open to individuals and preformed trios, quartets and quintets, the program offers concentrated coaching and performance opportunities for strings, woodwinds, brass, and piano. Enrollment is limited to fifty students. Upon arrival in Norfolk, students who are not part of a preformed group audition for ensemble placement. Several string quartets, two woodwind quintets, a brass quintet and mixed-instrument ensembles are formed. Ensembles rehearse and receive frequent coaching from the artist-faculty.
Coaches rotate throughout the summer.
Members of the artist-faculty are generally in residence for two weeks. In addition, visiting artists come to Norfolk for two or three days, giving master classes and additional coaching. Students thus receive instruction from three or more coaches, providing exposure to a wide variety of artistic interpretations, teaching methods and repertoire. Performances are scheduled twice or more weekly through the Young Artist Recital Series. Fellows also perform whenever possible on Festival concerts.