About
Palo Alto School of Chamber Music offers chamber music programs that include Allegro Ensemble, small Chamber Groups, a Summer Camp, private lessons, and year-round coaching sessions in chamber music. Students play in trios, quartets, or quintets that are matched according to age and experience level, and they participate in concerts. The program welcomes strings, woodwinds, and pianists of all ages and abilities, and teaches a varied repertoire along with music theory, music history, stage presence, and rehearsal techniques.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: A week-long summer program
The Palo Alto School of Chamber Music began offering a chamber music program in the summer of 2015, which has developed into year-round coaching sessions and concerts, and Claudia Bloom has been the Director since 2015. Its mission is to create opportunities for musicians of all ages to express themselves, work as a team, try out new ideas, develop critical thinking, and learn how to collaborate successfully. The leadership team includes Director Claudia Bloom (violin), Lucinda Breed Lenicheck (cello), Virginia Smedberg (violin and viola), and Stella Bonilla (conductor and violin). Director Claudia Bloom holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees, received the Karl Kraeuter Award for Outstanding Achievement in Chamber Music, has performed internationally in chamber ensembles, and has held positions with the Ciompi Quartet, Zurich Symphony Orchestra, Opera San Jose, and Redwood Symphony Orchestra. Lucinda Breed Lenicheck has played Principal Cello with Opera San Jose for 32 years, has taught at several colleges and universities, and has a background that includes The Banff School, Tanglewood, the Spoleto Festival, and Stanford BA and MA degrees. Virginia Smedberg holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in violin performance, has played in Bay Area orchestras for over 40 years, performed with the Manzanita Piano Quartet for over 20 years, directed youth string ensembles, and teaches privately as well as with the Palo Alto School of Chamber Music. Stella Bonilla holds a DMA and MM in Conducting and a BM in Violin Performance, has more than 20 years of violin teaching experience with Suzuki and Mark O'Connor certifications, has directed several youth and school orchestras, and performs in orchestras and ensembles including a Klezmer ensemble and the tango group Orchestra Tipica Domo. The program has been featured in the Palo Alto Weekly in an article titled “Palo Alto School of Chamber Music nurtures small ensembles with collaborative spirit.”
Last updated March 17, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: A week-long summer program
The Palo Alto School of Chamber Music began offering a chamber music program in the summer of 2015, which has developed into year-round coaching sessions and concerts, and Claudia Bloom has been the Director since 2015. Its mission is to create opportunities for musicians of all ages to express themselves, work as a team, try out new ideas, develop critical thinking, and learn how to collaborate successfully. The leadership team includes Director Claudia Bloom (violin), Lucinda Breed Lenicheck (cello), Virginia Smedberg (violin and viola), and Stella Bonilla (conductor and violin). Director Claudia Bloom holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees, received the Karl Kraeuter Award for Outstanding Achievement in Chamber Music, has performed internationally in chamber ensembles, and has held positions with the Ciompi Quartet, Zurich Symphony Orchestra, Opera San Jose, and Redwood Symphony Orchestra. Lucinda Breed Lenicheck has played Principal Cello with Opera San Jose for 32 years, has taught at several colleges and universities, and has a background that includes The Banff School, Tanglewood, the Spoleto Festival, and Stanford BA and MA degrees. Virginia Smedberg holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in violin performance, has played in Bay Area orchestras for over 40 years, performed with the Manzanita Piano Quartet for over 20 years, directed youth string ensembles, and teaches privately as well as with the Palo Alto School of Chamber Music. Stella Bonilla holds a DMA and MM in Conducting and a BM in Violin Performance, has more than 20 years of violin teaching experience with Suzuki and Mark O'Connor certifications, has directed several youth and school orchestras, and performs in orchestras and ensembles including a Klezmer ensemble and the tango group Orchestra Tipica Domo. The program has been featured in the Palo Alto Weekly in an article titled “Palo Alto School of Chamber Music nurtures small ensembles with collaborative spirit.”
Last updated March 17, 2026.
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