Irvine Music Festival

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Irvine Music Festival

An immersive 2-week classical music program for passionate and dedicated young musicians ages 11+ as the safest mid-sized city in the U.S for 15 years in a row.

Irvine Music Festival (IMF) is a not-for-profit intensive summer classical music program designed for talented and serious string musicians of strings, winds, piano and voice, ages 12 and up. IMF takes place on the gorgeous and well-appointed facilities of Concordia University Irvine and is taught by a world class faculty. Specialty classes include renowned guest artist masterclasses, sessions on

new music, instrument care and maintenance, college guidance counseling, baroque vs. modern performance, strength and flexibility training, and more. IMF is located in Orange County, Southern California in the beautiful and pristine city of Irvine, which has been identified by the F.B.I. The festival culminates in a Grand Concert at Concordia University Irvine. Both merit- and need-based scholarships are available.

06/11/2026

Applications are in, chamber orchestra and chamber music repertoire are being finalized this weekend!

IMF2026 is nearly here!

06/02/2026

Back by demand! Applications for IMF 2026 are reopening through June 10.

This is your final chance to join us for two weeks of music, growth, and connection with an inspiring community of young musicians.

📍 Concordia University Irvine
🗓️ July 26 to August 8, 2026

Full immersive program and flexible part-time program available.

Spots are limited and filling fast.

Apply now at irvinemusicfestival.org

05/27/2026

Last year, our IMF2025 Emerging Young Artist Oooju Robinson brought something rare to our stage — virtuosity, genuine musicianship, and a spirit that lit up every room.

A graduate of Woodbridge High School (IUSD), Oooju now studies at the prestigious Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. We can’t wait to see where this journey takes him!🎶

05/25/2026

Charismatic leaders. Brilliant musicians. Inspiring role models.

Representing several of IUSD’s top-rated school music programs, they filled IMF with positive energy, generous mentorship, and incredible support for our young participants. Bravo to these outstanding young artists!

Join them at irvinemusicfestival.org

05/17/2026

It all started with him. Meet our Founder and Artistic Director, Iman Khosrowpour .

Conductor, violinist, and violist, Iman has led ensembles across Europe, including the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin Sinfonietta, and Leipzig Symphony Orchestra, and has appeared multiple times at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. He served as Conductor and Artistic Director of the Irvine Valley College Symphony Orchestra, and most recently led the Irvine Unified School District High School Honors Orchestra at Segerstrom Hall in 2025.

Beyond the podium, he is a passionate educator and mentor whose students have gone on to top institutions such as Princeton, Columbia, and Stanford, shaping the next generation of musicians in Southern California and beyond.

What started in 2015 as a bold idea has grown into the Irvine Music Festival we know today, now in its 11th season, bringing together an inspiring community of young artists and world class faculty each summer.

We’re incredibly proud to be led by his vision and energy.

Apply today at irvinemusicfestival.org

05/15/2026

You asked, we listened—deadline extended! 🎉

We’ve received some wonderful applications and would love to see yours too!

New deadline: May 30 (scholarship consideration included)

Apply today at irvinemusicfestival.org

05/12/2026

Introducing members of our piano faculty: Nathan Lewis and Phillip Matsuura.

Nathan Lewis is a pianist, violinist, and educator based in Orange County. A graduate of the Colburn School of Music and UC Irvine, he has performed extensively as a collaborative pianist and brings a wide-ranging background in solo performance, musicology, and chamber music. He teaches at the Spotlight School of Music, working with pianists and instrumentalists across disciplines, and is dedicated to fostering a holistic approach to music education.

Phillip Matsuura is a pianist and collaborator with an active career across chamber music, vocal coaching, and ballet piano. He has performed with musicians from leading orchestras including the LA Phil and has worked with major institutions such as American Ballet Theatre and the Bolshoi Ballet. He is also active in historically informed performance as a harpsichordist and organist, and holds degrees from USC, Northwestern University, and Oberlin College.

From solo playing to collaboration, our pianists support every aspect of music-making at IMF.

Apply now at irvinemusicfestival.org

05/10/2026

Introducing our violin faculty members: Jaclyn Kim , Luke Santonastaso , and Eriko Tsuji .

Jaclyn Kim is a violinist and educator based in Southern California. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in violin performance from California State University, Long Beach, where she was awarded the Bob Cole Conservatory Endowed Scholarship and served as concertmaster. She has toured internationally and performs with the Redlands Symphony Orchestra and Oceanside String Quartet. She maintains an active private studio and teaches with the Long Beach Harmony Project.

Luke Santonastaso is a versatile violinist and educator based in Orange County, California. He serves as Principal Second Violin of the Santa Cruz Symphony and performs with ensembles including the New West Symphony and Sarasota Opera Orchestra, with additional appearances across orchestras on the West Coast. He has been a fellow at the National Repertory Orchestra and National Orchestral Institute, and is dedicated to mentoring students through his private studio and youth programs.

Eriko Tsuji earned her master’s degree in violin performance from UCLA and has over a decade of teaching experience. She serves as Director of the Community Youth Orchestra of Southern California Academy, where she works with students of all levels. As a performer, she is a prizewinner of the Gail Newby Concerto Competition, a finalist in the Chesapeake Chamber and Coleman Chamber Music Competitions, and has participated in the Banff Centre chamber music residency program.

Ready to make some music together?

Apply now at irvinemusicfestival.org

05/09/2026

Introducing members of our piano faculty: Dr. Xiting Yang and Keika Mori .

Xiting Yang is an expressive soloist and collaborative pianist who has performed at Carnegie Hall and major concert series across the United States. A prizewinner of numerous international competitions, she is also an active adjudicator and the creator of BACKSTAGE: The Life Behind the Music, an interview series exploring the lives and careers of professional musicians. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of Piano at the University of Arkansas and is the founder of the Florence Price International Piano Competition.

Keika Mori is an award-winning pianist and collaborative artist who has performed internationally across the United States, Japan, and Italy. A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, she has been recognized in competitions including the Tureck International Bach Competition and Yonkers Philharmonic Concerto Competition. She has appeared as a soloist with orchestras in New York and performs regularly as a collaborative pianist across New York and Southern California. A dedicated educator, she teaches students on both the West and East Coasts.

Join a supportive community of music this summer.

Apply now at irvinemusicfestival.org

05/07/2026

Introducing our faculty members: violinist/violist Sorah Myung and violist Hui-Ling Hsu .

Sorah Myung is a versatile soloist, chamber musician, and educator who serves on the faculty at Irvine Valley College and Vanguard University. She performs regularly with the Pacific Symphony and San Diego Symphony and is an active presence in Southern California’s music community as a clinician, adjudicator, and outreach leader, working closely with young musicians across Orange County.

Hui-Ling Hsu is a distinguished violist and educator who has performed at festivals including the Idyllwild Summer Music Festival and Texas Music Festival. A prizewinner of the Taipei Viola Competition, she is a dedicated teacher whose students have earned top honors in competitions and ensembles including ASTA, NAfME All-National Orchestra, and Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Learn from artists who shape the next generation.

Applications close soon! Apply now at irvinemusicfestival.org.

Address

Irvine, CA
92620

Website

http://www.irvinemusicfestival.org/

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