Thank you for your interest in
The Walden School
Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR) 2026
The Walden School Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR), for adult musical professionals, teachers, students and amateurs (ages 18+), is a 9 day retreat with diverse programming, including seminars, workshops, composers forums, concerts, chorus, and more. This year’s retreat dates are June 13-21, 2026, in Dublin, New Hampshire.
Application materials for summer 2026 will become available in mid-October.
In the meantime, you can contact us at applicants@waldenschool.org or at (415) 587-8157 with questions about the program or admissions process.
You can also stay in touch with Walden by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and hear music from past Walden programs on our Bandcamp page.
How to Apply
In addition to short answer questions about you, your interests, and your musical background, the following items will be requested on the application. We recommend reviewing these requirements, preparing them in advance, and then completing the application.
Applicant Essay: Please write a 2-3 paragraph (ca. 250 – 500 words) personal statement describing why you are interested in attending the Creative Musicians Retreat at The Walden School and any goals or intentions you may have for the summer. Please describe your musical background, including your education/training and experience as a composer, performer, improviser, choral singer, conductor and/or teacher. You will paste your essay into the online application.
CV, résumé, and/or biography (optional for returning applicants). There is a place to upload these in the online application.
Supplementary Materials: on the online application, there is a place to upload 1-3 scores, audio recordings, or videos of your work as a creative artist. You may also provide links to your YouTube channel, SoundCloud, Vimeo, BandCamp, etc.
Application Fee (non-refundable) If this fee presents a significant financial barrier to your application, please contact us at applicants@waldenschool.org to ask for a fee waiver.
Financial Aid
Review of financial aid applications will begin no earlier than February 1, 2026, and awards will be made on a rolling basis. If you apply for financial aid, you do not need to make a deposit or pay tuition until you receive your award decision.
To apply for financial aid, you will need documentation of income in the form of 2025 tax returns, or a combination of 2024 tax returns and end-of-year pay stubs from 2025. If anyone can claim you as a dependent for tax purposes, you will also need to include the same tax documents for that person.
Learn about the Creative Musicians Retreat (CMR):
CMR Frequently Asked Questions