The 15th annual Weekend Retreat will be September 18-21, 2025. Each chamber ensemble will enjoy a weekend of camaraderie and inspired music making with professional coaches in the Cascade foothills just outside Leavenworth, WA, a 2- to 3-hour drive from Seattle. The Icicle Creek Center for the Arts is a picturesque retreat with a performance hall, practice huts and cabins. For this popular event, each ensemble chooses its own music selection and works together through the weekend coaching sessions, culminating in a final participant performance on Sunday afternoon. The Retreat starts Thursday evening with a reception and socializing, an initial rehearsal without a coach, then informal ad-hoc playing. Intensive coaching begins Friday morning and continues through Sunday morning. There is plenty of time for ad-hoc ensembles to form and play together. Participants attend a Saturday evening performance given by our coaches. Departure is immediately after the Sunday participant performance. This retreat is for amateur adult violin, viola, cello, bass, and piano players of intermediate to advanced skill level. We accept pre-formed quartets, quintets, and sextets, but there are often opportunities to place individual musicians. A limited number of piano ensembles will be accepted. Tuition includes meals starting Friday morning, snacks during breaks, and coaching fees.