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About Adamant Music School
"We are a wonderful, small, unpretentious, cooperative, supportive school for pianists. This is all we want to be." - Edwine Behre, Founding Teacher
Our Mission
Adamant is a non-competitive, multi-generational music festival located in the Green Mountains of Vermont, where aspiring pianists ranging in age from high school through adulthood gather each summer to study the art of the piano with an internationally renowned faculty.
Our Vision
We seek to create a close-knit and supportive community of performers, auditors, and music lovers of all types. We also support the broader music community throughout the year by making our facilities and resources available to other music organizations who come to Adamant to be inspired by the beauty of our natural surroundings.
Our History
The Adamant Music School was founded in 1942 by Edwine Behre, a pianist and teacher from New York. Along with her friends, Alice Mary Kimball and Harry Godfrey, she established a colony where pianists came to study the piano, to share in their passion for music, and live in a closeknit community. The school grew to include teachers such as Emma Dressler and Frieda Rosenblatt in the early years.
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Over the decades, through the generosity of Frank Suchomel, the school expanded its property holdings.to include 25 practice studios located in the woods with vintage grand pianos, as well as six residences to house our participants and faculty. Our faculty has also expanded to include some of the most outstanding artists throughout the world, including Menahem Pressler, Anna Genuishene and Kevin Kenner. Today, Adamant attracts talented performers and auditors from all over the world to study the art of piano andshare in the joy of music-making.
Board of Directors
Martin Heikel
President
Jeremy Klein
Treasurer
Amy Mattinat
Director
Andrew Christiansen
Director
Daniel Nimetz
Director
Dolores Bacon
Director
Mark Jaffe
Director
Victoria Von Arx
Director
Vivian Chang
Program Director
Susan Ellinger
Program Coordinator
Jenna Ryan
Operations Manager
Administrative Staff
What Makes Adamant Unique
Intimate Setting
With just 20 - 24 pianists per session, every student receives personal attention from world-class faculty.
Intergenerational
Pre-college teens study alongside conservatory students, professionals, and adult amateurs - learning from each other.
Nature & Focus
Our secluded Vermont campus provides the perfect environment for deep artistic work, free from distraction.
Community
Shared meals, concerts, and conversations create bonds that last long after the summer ends.
Campus Map
Explore our 40-acre campus in the hills of Adamant, Vermont.
