By BÄRLI NUGENT

"The music world—and audiences everywhere—have finally caught on to a well-kept secret of composers and performers alike: The music we call 'chamber music' contains some of the most inspired, exciting, and probing music ever written. That, combined with the challenge it holds—learning to communicate with, listen to, and convince one's colleagues—makes chamber music the best learning experience and the most fun! It is so gratifying that Juilliard students have the opportunities (and enthusiasm) to explore this great literature and enrich their musical beings."

ChamberFest 2004 Paul Hall Monday-Wednesday, Jan. 12-14, 8 p.m. Wednesdays at One Alice Tully Hall Wednesday, Jan. 14, 1 p.m. Alice Tully Hall Friday, Jan. 16, 8 p.m. Juilliard Theater Saturday, Jan. 17, 8 p.m. For ticket information, please see the calendar.

Truer words were never spoken—and they were uttered by no less than Joseph Kalichstein, at the celebration marking his appointment to the newly established Edwin S. and Nancy A. Marks Chair in Chamber Music Studies at Juilliard.

That spirit of commitment to intensive work and exploration in chamber music is best exemplified by the ChamberFest experience. Students accepted into the program return from their winter break one week early. Each group rehearses in their own fifth-floor studio and receives two hours of coaching a day for a week. Performances take place the following week, at the beginning of spring semester.

This year, those performances will be in Paul Hall on January 12, 13, and 14 at 8 p.m. Alice Tully Hall is the site for the ChamberFest concerts on January 14 at 1 p.m. and January 16 at 8 p.m. ChamberFest closes on January 17 with an 8 p.m. concert in the Juilliard Theater.

The repertoire will include traditional masterpieces and less well-known pieces, such as the Beethoven String Quartet, Op. 132; Dvorak String Quintet; Shostakovich Piano Quintet; Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht; Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time; a piano trio by Mendelssohn; Beethoven folk songs for tenor, violin, cello and piano; Morning Music for Brass Quintet by David Sampson; and Viola, viola by George Benjamin, among others.

Past coaches have included Joseph Kalichstein, Itzhak Perlman, Michael Tree, Charles Neidich, Toby Appel, Samuel Rhodes, Baruch Arnon, Mark Gould, Curtis Macomber, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Gyorgy Sandor, Peter Serkin, Lewis Kaplan, Bruce Brubaker, Stephen Clapp, and Carol Wincenc.

A past student participant wrote, "ChamberFest was one of my favorite weeks at Juilliard, ever. The opportunity to really focus on chamber music was unique and much needed. This program was incredibly well organized and an ideal experience for me. I can't wait for next year's ChamberFest!" She doesn't have to wait any longer.

Bärli Nugent is assistant dean and director of chamber music.