Recent PACO News

PACO Camp & Presto PACO 2025 A Big Success!

August 7, 2025 - We kicked off the 2025-26 season with a week long chamber program for our youngest students, ages 8-13.  This camp includes current and incming PACO students as well as students in the community who want to try out chamber music in a supportive setting.  Presto PACO camp had 9 chamber groups working with esteemed faculty and fellows at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Palo Alto M-F from 9-3:30pm.  The week culminated in a showcase concert on Friday afternoon showing off all of the students’ hard work.  They sang with a choir director, had fun,  and took a dive into learning how to play chamber music together with the help of camp staff.  It was a fantastic week for all.

For our older PACO students, PACO camp offers a week long sleepaway immersive experience.  This year's PACO camp featured 77 students across 19 chamber ensembles with 19 coaches, including our esteemed conductors and faculty; Eugene Sor, Ben Simon, Natasha Makhijani, Jory Fankuchen, Sanson Van Loom, Wendy Clymer and Ariana Kim! Every day, the students had 5 hours of chamber music rehearsal, choir, orchestra, camp activities and all the marshmallows they could eat.  It was an incredible week of learning, growing and celebrating our successes culminating in a faculty concert, the Student Chamber Concerts and our PACO camp finale featuring our Festival Choir and Orchestra.  

Nestled beneath the towering redwoods, PACO Camp is always more than just a musical retreat; it is an alchemy of powerful moments,  growth, and a living testament to what can be achieved when given the space, unconditional support and dedicated time. 

Whether it is the hikes, the simple joy of being together, the bonds of friendship, the  mentorship of our  faculty and fellows, the overwhelming ovations at their chamber concerts or the rare gift of slowing down to truly be present – each element contributes to building a reservoir of strength, resilience, and inner fortitude for each student in attendance. These aren't just memories; they are foundational experiences designed to equip them as they navigate into the 2025-26 season.

PACO camp is a transformative experience for students, faculty and fellows alike.