Official Jury Partner
Developing extraordinary musicians. Inspiring a lifetime of music.
About YCM
Founded in 2008 by violist and educator Susan Bates, Young Chamber Musicians (YCM) is a nationally recognized chamber music training program based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
YCM brings together exceptional pre-college string players and pianists for intensive coaching, masterclasses with distinguished artists, and public performances. Through its longstanding collaboration with Music at Kohl Mansion, students learn alongside accomplished professional musicians and gain an appreciation for chamber music that extends far beyond their student years.
YCM's philosophy is simple: Learning through Listening and Performing.
Excellence with a lasting impact
Notable alumni
YCM alumni have continued their musical journeys in leading orchestras, professional chamber ensembles, conservatories, universities, and careers beyond music.
A four-season YCM alumnus who joined the San Francisco Symphony in 2024. His Quartet Luminera won the Silver Medal in the Senior String Division at the 2023 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.
YCM alumnus and co-founder of the Dolphins Quartet at Juilliard. The quartet has earned recognition at national chamber music competitions, including the 2026 Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition.
YCM alumnus who continued his musical studies at Juilliard and has appeared at prominent chamber music programs, including Yellow Barn and Music@Menlo.
YCM alumna and member of the Fischoff Gold Medal-winning Aveta Trio (2021). She has subsequently performed at the San Francisco International Piano Festival.
Member of YCM's Fervida Trio, winner of the 2019 Fischoff Junior Division Gold Medal and Pasadena Chamber Music Competition Gold Medal.
YCM alumna who has appeared at the San Francisco International Piano Festival, including a performance with fellow alumna Sarah Yuan.
Award-Winning YCM Ensembles
YCM students have earned national recognition in some of America's most prestigious chamber music competitions.
Euisun Hong, violin; Jacob Rockower, piano; Huisun Hong, cello.
Euisun Hong and Kayla Lee, violins; Hyesun Hong, viola; Fiona Huang, cello.
Faculty & Longtime Coaches
YCM students study with outstanding chamber musicians through ongoing faculty coaching.
Susan Bates — Founder and Artistic Director. Recipient of Chamber Music America's Award for Excellence in Chamber Music Training and the California Music Center's 2025 Arts Champion Award.
Eric Chin — Founding violinist of the Telegraph Quartet and longtime YCM coach. The Telegraph Quartet won the 2014 Fischoff Grand Prize and 2016 Naumburg Chamber Music Award.
Jeffrey LaDeur — Concert pianist, YCM Piano Coordinator, and founder of the San Francisco International Piano Festival.
Debra Fong — Violinist and longtime chamber music educator.
Christopher Costanza — Cellist and chamber music educator.
Masterclasses
YCM students have had the opportunity to participate in masterclasses with distinguished chamber ensembles and musicians, gaining insights and guidance from leading performers.
Why YCM? Why the University Chamber Cup?
YCM's mission has never been solely to train professional musicians.
While some graduates pursue conservatory studies and professional performance careers, many others attend universities and build careers in science, technology, medicine, business, and other fields—while retaining a deep love of music.
That is an equally important part of YCM's legacy.
Studying chamber music develops more than musical technique. It teaches students how to listen, collaborate, communicate, and create something meaningful with others. It also fosters an appreciation of classical music that can last a lifetime.
YCM's graduates become the musicians, collaborators, concertgoers, advocates, and supporters who sustain chamber music throughout their lives.
The transition to college can make it difficult for accomplished young musicians to sustain the chamber music experiences that shaped their earlier years.
The University Chamber Cup is designed to help bridge that gap.
The University Chamber Cup seeks to extend that experience into college, giving accomplished young musicians a reason to continue rehearsing, performing, and building musical communities. It creates a new opportunity for YCM alumni—and thousands of musicians like them—to continue growing musically.
It also offers a way for alumni to reconnect with the chamber music community that helped shape them.
A thriving future for classical music depends on more than producing outstanding professional performers.
It depends on cultivating people who love the music, play it throughout their lives, attend concerts, introduce friends and families to performances, and support the arts in their communities.
The University Chamber Cup carries that belief into the college years: encouraging more young people not only to appreciate chamber music, but to remain active participants in it.
Learn more about Young Chamber Musicians
Visit youngchambermusicians.org to explore YCM's programs, performances, faculty, and opportunities for young musicians.