Kinhaven Music School offers a unique and transformative experience for musicians of all ages. Kinhaven’s purpose is to inspire and transform people through immersion in high-level chamber, orchestral, piano, and choral music. Our mission is to nurture each student’s unique talent by offering joyous and rigorous musical development and performance opportunities in a noncompetitive, collaborative environment. And our vision is to be a national model of music-centered education that inspires the growth of the whole person.
Kinhaven was founded in 1952 by David and Dorothy Dushkin, visionary music educators who believed in the power of ensemble playing and shared musical experiences. They transformed their Vermont barn into a summer haven for young musicians, emphasizing chamber music and fostering a lifelong love of music in
their students. In 2004, director Jerry Bidlack retired after nearly 30 years at the helm, and Nancy Bidlack took over as director of Junior and Senior Sessions. In 2011, Anthony Mazzocchi and Deborah Buck became executive directors, and Kinhaven continues to thrive under their leadership today.
Over the decades, Kinhaven has continued to grow and innovate programs for musicians of all ages and skill levels. We added the Junior Session for younger musicians in 1990, the Adult Chamber Music Workshop in 1993, the Piano Workshop in 1994, and the Young Artist Seminar for emerging professionals in 2015. In 2024, Kinhaven partnered with Burr and Burton Academy to offer a Semester Program for high school students.
To accommodate this growth and ensure a safe, comfortable, and inspiring environment for all, Kinhaven has invested heavily in improving its facilities and infrastructure. In 2024 Kinhaven launched a capital campaign to fund, among other projects, the expansion and upgrade of the Concert Hall. We are proud to be accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA), which means that Kinhaven has verifiably met over 200 health and safety standards to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students.
“Our dream [was] that children of similar musical interests, removed for seven weeks from the compromises and conflicts undermining their gifts, can actually live with music and greatly profit thereby.”
– David Dushkin, 1971
We remain committed to our core values of creativity, shared learning, mutual support, friendship, community, and diversity, and we are guided by a strategic plan that ensures Kinhaven will continue to flourish for generations to come.