General Information

Where will I eat?

Most participants take their meals in the Scripps cafeteria.  Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served daily.  Meals are included in the room and board fees for the workshop. Alternatively, the quaint college town of Claremont is a 15-minute walk from campus and offers a range of coffee shops and restaurants. 

Where will I sleep?

Most participants stay on campus in the Scripps dorms.  We will also try our best to accommodate special requests for room type (e.g., putting cellists on the ground floor). 

Do I have to live on campus?

No, you do not need to live on campus.  Participants can opt to commute from off campus.  For those interested, they can buy a meal card and eat in the Scripps cafeteria even if staying off campus.

Given the requirement for all participants to have a COVID-19 vaccination, what if I cannot get a vaccine before the workshop?

Any deposits received will be fully refunded for anyone who makes a good-faith effort to be vaccinated but is unable to do so.

Can I still attend the workshop if I have an allergy or health condition that prevents me from getting a COVID-19 vaccine?

To protect the health and safety of all participants, we are not allowing any exceptions to the vaccination requirement. We look forward to welcoming you back to the workshop next year.

What happens if the state or local government shuts down again and the workshop has to cancel?

We are monitoring state and local directives, as well as public health guidance, to stay informed on how to protect the health and safety of our participants. If we have to cancel the workshop, we will provide refunds, less a $100 nonrefundable deposit that will be used to partially compensate our wonderful coaches.

May wind players participate in the workshop?

Yes they may. There may be a requirement for COVID-19 rapid tests, depending on current conditions.

Is the workshop making any changes to the schedule, accommodations, or dining arrangements to promote social distancing given the COVID-19 pandemic?

Yes, we will comply with Scripps requirements which may or may not include eating meals outside, and wearing masks while indoors. All participants and coaches are required to be vaccinated and boosted.

Do I need to bring my own stand and stand light?

Bringing your own stand is optional.  Scripps does provide nice, sturdy stands for our use and we also have several wire stands which participants can borrow while here.  That said, many participants do bring a stand just in case they find themselves playing in a corner of campus without one.  A stand light is not required either, but is a good idea.

Do I need to bring sheet music?

If you are coming in a pre-formed group which has selected its music prior to the workshop, then please bring your own parts and a score.  If you are coming as an individual player, your assigned group may select music and bring your own parts. As part of our celebration of Women Composers for the 2022 workshop, we are encouraging groups to spend at least 2 days working on a piece written by a woman. Coaches can assist in music selection from our large library of sheet music for participants to use while they are here, including all the standard repertoire and many hidden gems.  We encourage participants to explore and make use of the library during the week. You can peruse the SoCal library catalog from this page: SoCal Library

How will I know which piece I’m playing each day?

All groups are free to choose their repertoire for the week, and group captains should notify the workshop of the chosen repertoire about a month ahead of the workshop start date to assist in planning the daily schedule. This applies to all groups, including those formed from individual applicants, who should communicate with their group ahead of time to choose repertoire. During the workshop, a daily schedule listing groups, their piece for the day, and their coach for the day, are emailed to participants early in the morning.  Hard copies are also available outside our music library. Note that evening freelancing is completely unrestricted; players can form a group with anyone and play anything they like. 

I am a cellist, flying in from out of town.  Do I need to bring my own cello?

We may have a limited supply of cellos to loan to musicians coming from out of town.  Please inquire after acceptance in order to coordinate.

I am new to the workshop and don’t know anyone.  How will I make friends?

SCCMW is a very friendly environment, and new participants usually find it easy to meet people. There will be time spent with your preformed group on Monday sufficient to get to know each other. Other great places to make friends are meals and in the hallways of the dorms.

How much downtime is there?

The only sessions in which participation is mandatory are the daily assignment sessions and mini-master classes.  This is between 9 am – 5pm each day, including a lunch break.  If you would like to play more, there are optional freelancing sessions in the evening. 

How many participants and coaches attend each year?

The workshop is targeting to have 26 groups, approximately 104 participants.  We have approximately 10-14 coaches each year.  Each coach is assigned 2 groups for the day, and coaches switch groups each day.

Can I attend if I live outside California? Outside the United States? 

Yes, of course!  We welcome musicians from all states and countries. 

How do I get to Scripps campus?

Driving:  Many of our participants who live in California drive.  Free, covered parking is available on the Scripps campus.

Flying:  If you are flying in, we strongly recommend booking flights to the Ontario Airport (ONT). Transportation from LAX can take much longer, especially on a shared shuttle. Uber or cab fare from Ontario is about $25.  

For participants arriving at LAX, a much cheaper method — and potentially quicker too! — is to take the LAX Flyaway to Union Station and from there the Metrolink train to Claremont; the station is about a mile from campus.  Make sure to coordinate the schedules carefully. 

If you are interested in sharing a ride, please post a request on our Facebook page “I live for the SoCal Chamber Music Workshop.”

Can I bring my family?

In the past, we have had participants occasionally bring spouses and small children.

Do I need to attend for the full week?  Can I only come for two or three days?

All instrumental participants should attend the full week, with few exceptions.