Inspiring Audiences and Artists for Fifty-Six Years.
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Mark Kosower's Cello Master Class opens with dinner at 6:00 p.m. on Monday May 25, 2026 and closes at 12:00 p.m. after a farewell brunch on Saturday May 30, 2026.
Hidden Valley's master classes are immersive, week-long learning intensives for advanced players. Master class participants enjoy not only opportunities for learning & advancement but create relationships within the musical community that can last a lifetime. It is a testament to our exceptional teaching faculty and the caliber of students that many Hidden Valley master class participants have gone on to hold important positions in major orchestras and universities around the world.
All master class students and teaching faculty live on campus during the master class and spend meals and free time together. All master class students are housed in our Waddell Center Residence Hall (double occupancy rooms). Facility and lodging information, pictures, and a campus map can all be found under the 'Visit Us' tab.
This session features:
- Solo performance classes with piano accompaniment
- Orchestral excerpts/audition preparation
- Recital by Mark Kosower
- Score study/preparation
The pianist for the class is Melivia Raharjo, collaborative pianist at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.
A modern player with a "signature sound" and distinctive style of playing, Mark Kosower embodies the concept of the complete musician performing regularly as concerto soloist with symphony orchestras, in solo recitals, and as a much sought after chamber musician. During the 2024-25 season he performs concertos by Beethoven, Dutilleux, Dvorak, Ginastera, Gulda, and Tchaikovsky with orchestras such as The Cleveland Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, the Puerto Rico Symphony, and the Pasadena Symphony. He is Principal Cello of the Cleveland Orchestra and a scholar and teacher of cello.
Mr. Kosower works with students in lessons and master classes around the world. In 2024-25 he visits the New World Symphony fellows, Carnegie Hall's NYO-USA program, the Music Institute of Chicago, Taipei Music Academy and Festival, Colorado College's Summer Music Festival, the National Music Center of Costa Rica, and Rutgers University. He has also taught at the Pacific Music Festival, the Shanghai Orchestra Academy, and the Baccareli Institute of São Paulo in previous years.
Mark Kosower's was Conservatory Faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music from 2010-19, Solo Cellist of the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra in Germany from 2006 - 2010, and Professor of Cello and Chamber Music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music from 2005 - 2007.
All new participant applications should be supported by 2 letters of recommendation, please email letters of recommendation to info@hiddenvalleymusic.org. In some cases audition video or mp3 may be requested. All applications will be processed on receipt and after application fee is received. Applicants are accepted on a rolling basis and will be notified by email. To apply for the class click on Apply on the column to the right.
A non-refundable deposit payment of $300.00 is due upon acceptance. Balance is due 10 days before the opening date of class.
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact (831) 659-3115 or email info@hiddenvalleymusic.org.
Wednesday Mary 27, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. Each master class includes a concert, open to the public, featuring the master teacher performing a wide array of repertoire highlighting their instrument. For those not in the master class, tickets to this performance may be purchased. Concert info & tickets.
In the video below Mark Kosower plays Faure's Aprés un Rêve at Christ and St. Stephens Church, NYC for The Omega Ensemble on the occasion of the first joint appearance of Mark Kosower and Axel Strauss.