Starling-DeLay Symposium

Program Dates: June 23-27, 2025
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The Starling-DeLay Symposium on Violin Studies is dedicated to fostering the legacy of the late renowned teacher Dorothy DeLay. A biennial event, the Symposium takes place at Juilliard and features a distinguished roster of artist-faculty performing recitals, leading master classes, and teaching workshops designed to refine pedagogical skills with a mind-body connection that takes background, social, and mental factors into account.

A source of support and empowerment to her students, Dorothy DeLay took a holistic approach to her teaching and viewed the artist as a whole person rather than just a performer. By nurturing and encouraging each of her students’ individuality, she cultivated a community of thinkers who continue to embody and pass on her philosophy and teachings to the next generation. In emulating this philosophy at the Symposium, many of the participating faculty and performers were mentored by DeLay. 

The next Symposium will take place from Monday, June 23 - Friday, June 27, 2025. The online application will be available beginning on December 1, 2024.

2025 Guest Artists, Faculty, and Student Artists to be announced.

View the 2023 Symposium schedule and program booklet.

General Information

Participation is offered at one of two levels: Participant or Student Artist

Participants accepted into the symposium will observe all master classes and recitals as well as participate in the workshops. Participants are encouraged to bring their instruments for use in the workshops. Preference is given to applicants who are professional violinists or violists, teachers, and postgraduate or college students. Minors (younger than 18) may only be admitted on a space-available basis and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is also accepted as a participant. No audition is required to apply as a Participant.

Student Artists are selected as performing students for the symposium. Up to 12 student violinists are accepted to perform in public master classes for the artist-faculty and in public recitals in Paul Hall. Student artists may also observe other symposium events as time allows. There is no tuition fee for student artists.

To audition for the Student Artists program, applicants must submit:

1. Two letters of recommendation (one must be from the applicant's current primary teacher);
2. Video audition consisting of the following repertoire: 
   • one movement from an unaccompanied sonata or partita by Bach
   • a movement from any concerto in the standard repertoire
   • one Paganini caprice
   • one virtuosic show piece (by Sarasate, Wieniawski, Kreisler, etc.)
   • A piece of your choice: We encourage you to include a work by a composer from historically underrepresented gender, racial, ethnic, and cultural heritages. Please see Music by Black Composers: An Introductory Resource for some suggested works.

Submitted recordings should be recent and unedited. Preference is given to students currently enrolled in a pre-college, Bachelor's or Master's degree program.

Application Deadline and Fees

The application for the 2025 Symposium will be available beginning December 1, 2024.

Participants:

• Application Deadline: April 15, 2025
• Application Fee: $60
• Participant Tuition: $575
• Notification of Acceptance: Participants will be notified of acceptance on a rolling basis, beginning January 2025.

Student Artists:

• Application Fee: $75
• Application Deadline: February 1, 2025

Symposium attendees may book a room in our reserved hotel block (details to be announced soon) or choose to arrange their own housing. Minors younger than 18, including Student Artists, must room with a parent or guardian.

Meal plans will not be provided during the Symposium. Food is available for purchase on campus at the Juilliard Cafeteria and at numerous restaurants in the Lincoln Center area.

For more information please e-mail [email protected].

Brian Lewis, Artistic Director
Catherine Cho, Artistic Advisor
Anna Royzman, Administrative Director
Eric Oatts, Program Manager

The biennial Starling-DeLay Symposium, dedicated to the art of violin teaching and performance, is hosted by The Juilliard School as part of the Starling-DeLay Symposium of Violin Studies and made possible by the generous support of the Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation.