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Virtuoso Program

Study, live, and play with passion.

VP Performers on stage

San Domenico’s internationally recognized Virtuoso Program (VP) is designed for high school students who are developing their potential as professional string musicians and wish to dedicate themselves to a rigorous academic and musical curriculum. Day and boarding options are available for students from across the Bay Area and around the world. 

VP Performers on stage

 

Intensive Pre-College Musical and Academic Study

Our supportive environment, dedicated music faculty, and state-of-the-art conservatory facilities foster an ideal environment for serious musicians in a college-preparatory setting. VP students spend at least seven hours each week in string orchestra, sectionals, chamber coachings, and piano-collaborative solo rehearsals. Students perform throughout the year and in a variety of venues as soloists, members of a chamber ensemble, and in the Orchestra da Camera. At the heart of the Virtuoso Program is our exceptional faculty, whose distinguished members are professional musicians with reputations as experts in music pedagogy. The Program’s highly selective enrollment ensures that faculty members can work closely with students to guide them through the challenges of advanced repertoire and technique, while also providing extensive individual mentoring and support to help students navigate educational and career decisions.

“I cannot express how grateful I am to be able to include music in my life with my violin every day. I am so passionate about violin and being able to participate in a program so fully committed to my music is indescribable.” Bella

Upcoming Performances

Each year the Virtuoso Program presents numerous public performances, providing students with opportunities to challenge themselves while sharing their music with a wide range of audiences.

Regular annual performances include Vivaldi at San Domenico, a beloved traditional season opener now approaching its 50th year; our Fall and Spring Chamber Music Concerts, featuring masterworks of small-ensemble repertoire; adjudicated solo recitals, and the Spring Orchestra Concert, which may see Virtuoso Program alumni return to the stage to join our students in a variety of Classical and more contemporary works for string ensemble. Join us, as well, for many additional performances and school-wide events held throughout the year.

Vivaldi at San Domenico 2025 photo credit @czviolin

Photo credit @czviolin

Save the Date!

Virtuoso Program Presents
Vivaldi at San Domenico
Sunday October 25, 2026

Hall of the Arts

Download a Brochure

First page of the PDF file: VirtuosoProgramDigitalBrochure

Musical Selections

Mozart: Allegro Divertimento in D Major, KV 136 for String Orchestra Movement I. Allegro.

Mozart: Allegro Divertimento in D Major, KV 136, for String Orchestra Movement II. Andante.

Mozart: Allegro Divertimento in D Major, KV 136, for String Orchestra Movement III. Presto.

Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings, Op. 48 Movement I. Pezzo in forma di Sonatina.

Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings, Op. 48 Movement II. Waltze.

Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings, Op. 48 Movement III. Elegie.

Mendelssohn: two movements from the Octet, Op. 30, arranged for String Orchestra.

“I admire the bravery not only of the musicians as they continually approach each new piece with beginner’s mind, but also the coaches, conductor, and teachers as they confidently raise these musicians to meet challenges with conviction.” Katharine, mother of Eden

VP Performers on stage

 

World-Class Music Facilities

San Domenico’s expansive 515-acre campus is nestled in a beautiful valley surrounded by the rolling hills of San Anselmo, California.

On campus, students have daily access to our Music Conservatory with private practice rooms, rehearsal spaces, and the 300-seat Hall of the Arts, acoustically designed specifically for Virtuoso Program performances.

With our close proximity to San Francisco—just 30 minutes via the Golden Gate Bridge—many students choose to complement their robust VP studies with additional weekend study at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music or participate in other high-caliber programs, such as the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra.

VP two cellos in rehearsal

 

Merit Scholarship

Students accepted to the Virtuoso Program may be eligible to receive merit scholarship funding. This remarkable opportunity not only provides an education of excellence for all deserving students, it also preserves the impeccable quality of the Virtuoso Program by freeing it to only consider students who demonstrate a talent and a commitment to their education and music.

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Preparation for the Future

VP students consistently matriculate to and receive merit scholarships from the best-rated colleges and conservatories in the nation, a testament to the particular combination of instruction and experience they receive in the Virtuoso Program. Despite increasingly competitive college admissions, prestigious schools continue to accept Virtuoso Program graduates, because our students have a reputation for being intelligent, talented, and driven to succeed. Virtuoso Program graduates contribute to their community as professional and amateur performers, music educators, music therapists, and active patrons of the arts.

“As my daughter moved through her four years at San Domenico, I became increasingly grateful for the nurturing and attentive environment provided to her by the school, and especially the Virtuoso Program. She has been encouraged, supported, held to a high standard and given opportunities for leadership that have helped her grow into a more capable and confident young woman.” Craig, father of Jessamyn

Join Us

The Virtuoso Program provides superior music instruction to talented high school string players (violin, viola, cello and bass) who wish to dedicate themselves to an intense pre-college course of music and academic study. 

In addition to meeting San Domenico's academic admission standards, applicants to the Virtuoso Program are carefully screened for their musical potential and readiness to undertake intensive music study. The Program welcomes applications of string musicians who have achieved a technical level sufficient to perform standard solo concerto repertoire—which assumes 4-8 years of private study prior to high school. 

For more information on application and audition requirements, please contact Director of Music Rob DeNunzio at (415) 258-1921 or rdenunzio@sandomenico.org.

VP Faculty

At the heart of the Virtuoso Program is our exceptional music faculty, whose distinguished members are accomplished professional musicians from around the Bay Area. Students enjoy the privilege of studying closely under and being mentored by our faculty, as well as benefit from masterclasses with frequently visiting guest artists.

Fiona Cunninghame-Murray

Music Conservatory Teacher

Rob DeNunzio

Director of Music and Music Conservatory

Miles Graber

Virtuoso Program Piano Accompanist

Sergei Riabtchenko

VP Cello Specialist

Alexandra Simpson

Virtuoso Program Music Director