Classical and Contemporary Music

A weekend of glorious music on Star Island!
If listening to Bach, Mozart, Saint-Saëns, or Gershwin (and the occasional seagull or splash of a wave) in a relaxed island setting is your thing… If September after Labor Day, with the continued warmth of summer—and a few days without TV or cooking meals—sounds good. If conversations about music, lectures on local history, and quiet reading time on a porch rocker overlooking the sea bring you peace and joy, then Star Island’s Chamber Music Conference is right for you.

Chamber Music on Star offers a thoughtfully curated weekend of music, performed in unique venues: an ancient candlelit chapel atop a hill, the historic 19th-century Oceanic hotel lobby, and the charming ‘Pink Parlor’ drawing room with spectacular ocean views. Our professional musicians return year after year, drawn by the island’s distinctive atmosphere. They don’t just perform—they connect with us, sharing stories about their music and lives over meals or informal conversations on the porch.

Over the weekend, you will enjoy three main concerts, from Friday evening to Sunday, and have other opportunities to hear and play music, plus explore the island’s many activities. There is time for morning exercise, a birding walk, or a dip in the ocean. You can play tennis, enjoy boating, or simply relax during happy hour before dinner. We share the Island with groups like the Isles of Shoals Historic and Research Association (ISHRA), whose fascinating lectures are open to us. Quiet moments rocking on the porch and beautiful ocean sunsets complete this full and rewarding weekend. For those who wish, your visit can be extended a day.

Chamber Music on Star’s musicians are led by Paul Rosenbloom, Music Director, piano, and include Philip Boulanger, cello; Rob Hayden, clarinet; EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks, violin; Gillian Gallagher, viola; and Gregory Tompkins, violin.

New this year, we are delighted to welcome flutist, Karen Van Dyke, who will lead Star Flutes, an intensive musical retreat for flutists to explore music written and arranged for flute choir. The Star Flutes choir will present a special concert of their work during the conference.

And, for the second year in a row, we are inviting musicians, from beginner to experienced players, to bring their instruments (and/or voices) and get together with others in pickup chamber music groups.

Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or are joining us for the first time, we welcome you to the 11th Season of Chamber Music on Star. Join us on beautiful Star Island for unforgettable music and much more!

Although there is no separate children’s programming, the Chamber Music program welcomes children of all ages under the supervision of their parents/guardians.

Janis Bestul Ossmann, Bill Ossmann and Michele Carreiro, 2025 Conference Chairs
Paul Rosenbloom, Music Director

Jill Brody, John and Irene Bush, Chairs Emeritus

If you have questions, please contact our Registrar, Janis Bestul Ossmann, at registrar.cmos@gmail.com, and visit our website at https://chambermusiconstar.org.

Program Fee

$135/person

Room & Board

The rates below are per person for the full length of the conference.

3-night Option

Standard Shared: $552 | Standard Single: $729

Motel Shared: $671 | Motel Single: $965 

2-night Option

Standard Shared: $408 | Standard Single: $542

Motel Shared: $496  | Motel Single: $702 

Financial Aid

Visit Star Island’s financial grants webpage for information.

Boat Schedule

3-night Option

Departure from Portsmouth September 5th TBD

Departure from Star Island September 8th TBD

2-night Option

Departure from Portsmouth September 5th TBD

Departure from Star Island September 7th TBD

Questions?

Contact Registrar, Janice Bestul Ossmann at registrar.cmos@gmail.com