East Tennessee State Universitys Chamber Music Festival Expands to 44 Students, Highlights Faculty Masterclass Concert

This week, the Martin Center for the Arts on ETSU’s Johnson City campus became a global nexus for string players, welcoming 44 students from conservatories and universities around the world. Graduate and undergraduate quartets from the San Francisco Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, and University of North Carolina School of the Arts joined the festival, which has steadily grown since its 2019 inception.

Founded by William Shaub, concertmaster of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, and David Kovac, ETSU professor of violin and viola, the festival now boasts a robust roster of faculty and a repertoire that spans three centuries. Shaub and Kovac continue as artistic directors, steering a program that places participants into quartets, trios, sextets, and a student chamber orchestra.

The centerpiece of the week was the faculty concert, a masterclass‑style showcase that highlighted the ensemble’s versatility. It opened with Mozart’s Divertimento in B♭ major, K. 137, led by violinist Eva Dove. Critics noted the performance’s crisp articulation and tight ensemble cohesion.

Following Mozart, the faculty tackled Grieg’s Holberg Suite. Violinist Yu‑Fang Chen directed the work, and the string sound was punctuated by a cello solo and a virtuosic duet between Chen and violist Joshua Ulrich, a moment that drew particular applause.

The evening closed with a string‑orchestra arrangement of Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 8. William Shaub conducted the rendition, drawing out the quartet’s characteristic blend of pain, defiance, and fragile joy.

Throughout the week, students rehearsed under the guidance of a diverse faculty roster that includes violinists Tim Barrett, Eric Boruff, Marianna Brickle, Yu‑Fang Chen, Eva Dove, I‑Pei Lin, William Shaub, and Kyle Venlet; violists Kathryn Gawne, David Kovac, and Joshua Ulrich; cellists Ignacy Gaydamovich and Patrick Hopkins; and bassist Joseph Gaskins.

The festival’s structure offers both day‑student and resident‑camp options for string players ranging from intermediate to advanced levels. Participants work on specific repertoire with faculty coaches and culminate their experience in the student chamber orchestra.

The final day featured a student chamber orchestra concert followed by a marathon of chamber ensembles. The marathon included a Graduate Chamber Ensemble performing Corelli’s Concerto Grosso.

The Martin Center for the Arts, built in 2013, is celebrated for its acoustics and professional‑grade sound quality, providing an ideal setting for the festival’s performances.

ETSU’s Department of Music, classified as an R2 doctoral university, offers a range of programs, including a master’s degree in storytelling and an undergraduate program in bluegrass, old‑time, and country music. The chamber music festival aligns with the department’s mission to deliver practical, student‑focused training.

The festival’s expansion reflects a broader trend of universities bolstering specialized music programs to attract regional and international talent. By bringing together students from conservatories and universities, ETSU creates a collaborative environment that benefits both performers and faculty.

As the 2026 ETSU Chamber Music Festival concludes, the festival’s success is evident in its growing participant numbers and the high caliber of faculty and repertoire, underscoring the university’s commitment to fostering chamber music excellence and providing students with professional‑level performance opportunities.