Chamber

Music School

Coachings | Masterclasses | Performances | Mentorship

HOUSTON’S SCHOOL FOR CHAMBER MUSIC EDUCATION

The Opus 1 Chamber Music School was founded in 2021 by Drs. Marisa Ishikawa and Matt Lammers. Opus 1 is a community of students, parents, and artists where students feel safe, welcomed, and challenged. Our student-driven mission keeps us devoted to providing a personalized, college-level education experience. At Opus 1, our goal is to help our students develop skills to thrive in music and as future leaders of their communities.

Chamber music is music for a small ensemble (usually one musician per part) without a conductor. These ensembles include string trios, quartets, and quintets and piano trios, quartets, and quintets. Chamber music requires each ensemble member to be skilled on their instrument, as well as in active listening, clear and respectful communication, problem solving, and observation. With these chamber music skills, our students become stronger soloists, orchestral musicians, and young adults.

Opus 1 is committed to providing students with an accessible and personalized chamber music education. Our faculty consists of doctoral level educators and active performers. Students have access to six chamber music and solo masterclasses per year, taught by world-renowned educators and performers. Students are placed thoughtfully into ensembles on the basis of compatibility: playing level, personality, and age. In addition, our mentorship program gives high school students the opportunity to become role models for our youngest students and explore the art of teaching. Our financial aid policy ensures that anyone who wants to learn chamber music is welcome.

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THE OPUS 1

EXPERIENCE

At Opus 1, our year is split into trimesters: Fall, Winter, and Spring. The experience within each trimester includes:

  • Eight one-hour coachings with an Opus 1 faculty member.

  • Independent rehearsal time.

  • A chamber music masterclass led by a visiting, world-renowned teacher and performer.

  • An instrument specific masterclass led by a visiting, world-renowned teacher and performer.

  • Formal end-of-trimester concert performance.

Students may augment their chamber music education by participating in the Opus 1 Preparatory Program, becoming a high-school mentor, by participating in Opus 1 social events. Additionally, students receive long-term mentorship and support from the Opus 1 faculty and have access to leadership and service opportunities that qualify for volunteer and community service hours.

Opus 1’s youth program currently serves students ages 9-18 studying the following instruments.

  • Violin

  • Viola

  • Cello

  • Bass

  • Piano

Opus 1 also serves Houston’s adult amateur string players and pianists, ages 18 and beyond. For more information, check our our Adult Chamber Music Program page.

To learn more about our application guidelines, click the link below:

Apply

  • For the two years that I was a part of it, Opus 1 every Saturday would be one of the things I looked forward to most in the week. It was where I learned the core skills of musical collaboration that I didn't get anywhere else, and it was where I met many incredible friends and musical peers, with some of the friendships still enduring and strengthening. Some of the most fun and exciting repertoire I learned during those years were with my Opus 1 chamber group, and through hearing other groups I was exposed to a wealth of inspiring repertoire I had not known of before. Dr. Lammers and Dr. Ishikawa were some of my most valued mentors during those years and I still cherish and draw on what they taught me about musicianship and a musical life. Opus 1 was the perfect counterpart to my solo piano studies, one of my favorite places to interact with fellow musicians during my secluded homeschool life, and among all the parts of the pre-college musical community in Houston that I came in contact with, this was where I felt the most unfettered environment of love towards music-making at its most exciting. I am forever grateful for all the knowledge and joy that Opus 1 gave me during my last two years of high school and which I carry with me beyond.

    ~ Vicky Cai, Opus 1 Alumni

  • Opus 1 was among the most valuable experiences I had from its founding as I navigated high school. It was a safe space I could come to at the end of each week and wholly enjoy creating music with wonderful people.

    ~Meiling Yang, Opus 1 Alumni

  • Dr. Lammers and Dr. Ishikawa are extremely dedicated to their students and strive to provide an atmosphere where everyone grows and develops beyond their potential. Opus 1 not only gave me an outlet to perform and practice in high school, but also helped prepare me for conservatory and summer festival chamber music.

    ~ Lucy Hamilton, Opus 1 Alumni

  • This was my daughters' first chamber music experience and they learned so much about how to play musically with others. The program challenged them to grow as musicians. The coaching they received was invaluable and we highly recommend this program to others!

    Opus 1 Parent

  • I have been an adult member of OPUS since the inception. My ability is an intermediate beginner student as I started learning the cello nearly 8 years ago as my retirement gig. There are limited number of opportunities for older adults to join in musical organizations such as chamber music or community orchestra in the Houston area. There are research studies demonstrating the benefits of music and the brain for both children and adults. With OPUS 1, adult musicians, such as myself, benefit in learning new skills and maintaining community and social activities. Activities such as learning a new instrument, playing with a group of musicians improves, thwarts, or reduces cognitive decline. I appreciate that OPUS 1 allows me the opportunity to connect with liked minded adults in a nurturing an enjoyable environment. I also think my skill level as improved in my areas with plenty of opportunities for further growth. Thanks Drs. Ishikawa and Lammers for the opportunity to play chamber music.

    ~ Karen Kenny, Current Opus 1 Adult Student

FAQs

  • Coachings take place Saturdays throughout the day at Chapelwood United Methodist Church. Each group is assigned a one-hour coaching block, followed by a 30-60 minute rehearsal block (duration determined by level of chamber music experience and age).

  • At Opus 1, we know how important it is for students to be a part of a group that not only plays well together, but enjoys spending time together. We know this because some of our closest friends were made through chamber music!

    Each trimester, we invest much time and thought into assembling our groups based on compatibility: level, age, personality, and availability. We also value student input and encourage students to communicate personnel requests, which we will do our best to honor if possible.

    In the event that a suitable group is unavailable, you will be placed on a wait list. If you have enrolled on a full-year basis, a tuition refund will be provided for the wait-listed trimester.

  • Each trimester consists of eleven weeks: ten weeks of available coaching time and an end-of-trimester recital. At the beginning of each trimester, students will have the opportunity to indicate their availability for each of the ten proposed coachings. From the ten available coaching weeks, the eight coachings with the highest number of attendees will be confirmed. If a student is absent for one of the eight coachings chosen by Opus 1, that will constitute an excused absence.

  • Due to the nature of a chamber ensemble (only one person per part), it is important that every member be present at as many coachings as possible. At Opus 1, students are allowed one excused absence per trimester. If a student needs to be absent beyond their one excused absence, they are responsible for scheduling a make-up coaching with their group members and coach in advance of the missed coaching.

    Exceptions to our attendance policy include uncontrollable conflicts, such as college auditions, and In the case of an unforeseen emergency absence, such as a family emergency or illness. Students must submit an absence request in writing to an Opus 1 director. An absence resulting from uncontrollable circumstances does not count towards a student’s one allotted excused absence, and every effort will be made to make-up the coachings.

  • Chamber music masterclasses and trimester performances are required events for all Opus 1 students. If a student is unable to attend a chamber music masterclass, they must communicate their reasons for missing in writing to an Opus 1 Director, and the absence will be recorded as their one excused absence. If a student wishes to make-up for this absence, they may watch the masterclass video recordings and submit a written assignment detailing their observations and what they learned from each group.