“ The Bethany Beach Cellofest is a place to improve your playing, without having to prove yourself.” — Dr. Brenda Neece
What would it feel like to spend a week studying the cello seriously — without auditions, seating pressure, or the need to prove yourself?
In this special short episode of the Cello Museum Podcast, I am joined by my friend and colleague Erica Lessie for a behind-the-scenes conversation about the Bethany Beach Cellofest.
Together, we talk about why we created the Cellofest, why it takes place in Bethany Beach, Delaware, and the kind of experience weI are building: serious cello study, time by the sea, and a welcoming community where adult cellists can grow at their own pace.
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A Supportive Cello Retreat by the Sea
The Bethany Beach Cellofest is a supportive, non-competitive summer retreat for adult cellists. Participants come for a week of classes, private lessons, ensemble playing, a masterclass, wellness sessions, and community — all within walking distance of the beach.
One of the questions people often ask is whether they will have to play their cellos on the beach.
The answer is no.
The cellos stay safely indoors, away from the sand, in the air-conditioned space at St. Martha’s Episcopal Church. The beach is part of the rhythm and atmosphere of the week: a place for walking, breathing, reflecting, resting, and reconnecting.
Bethany Beach Cellofest Participants at St. Martha’s Episcopal Church
Inspired by Cellomania
Part of the inspiration for the Bethany Beach Cellofest came from Cellomania, the cello camp founded by Martha Gerschefski.
Erica and I remember the intensity, excellence, and community of that experience: reading Bach together, working on technique, playing in cello ensemble, and learning in a focused but joyful environment.
The Bethany Beach Cellofest grew from that spirit, but with a different emphasis. I wanted to take the seriousness and excellence of that model and create something accessible for adult cellists who may not have made the cello their full-time profession.
The goal is not to make the work easier or less meaningful. The goal is to remove the pressure of competition.
Improve, Not Prove
At the heart of the Cellofest is a simple idea:
You are there to improve, not prove yourself.
There are no auditions. There is no first-chair pressure. Instead, we meet participants awhere they are and encourage them to grow from there.
This is similar to martial arts retreats I have attended, where beginners and more advanced practitioners can work side by side. Everyone practices the same forms, but each person works at their own level — from learning the basic shape to refining the smallest details.
That same philosophy shapes the Cellofest. The work is serious, but the atmosphere is supportive.
Suites by the Sea
The 2026 theme is Suites by the Sea.
During the week, participants will work on Bach’s First Cello Suite and Rudolf Matz’s Lights and Shadows, along with technique classes, ensemble music, and sound production.
The week also includes two private lessons: one near the beginning of the retreat to help participants get started, and another toward the end of the week to help them reflect on their progress and make a plan for what comes next.
Participants also have the opportunity to take part in a masterclass held by Jennifer Kloetzel, ensemble rehearsals, an optional student recital, and a Sunday morning coffee concert at St. Martha’s.
Wellness on the Beach
Each day begins, for early risers, with optional wellness sessions on the beach.
These sessions include breathing, meditation, stretching, and gentle movement designed especially for cellists. The focus is on helping the body and mind prepare for playing: releasing tension, supporting the shoulders and arms, and developing tools that can help with performance nerves.
Bethany Beach Cellofest Wellness Session on the Beach
For me, the connection between movement and cello playing is natural. Martial arts and music are both lifelong practices. Neither one is ever truly finished. There is always more to explore.
At Cellofest, however, the week is not about deadlines. Performance opportunities are available, but they are optional. The emphasis is on learning, reflecting, and growing in a low-pressure environment.
Who Is the Bethany Beach Cellofest For?
The Bethany Beach Cellofest is designed especially for adult cellists.
It is not a competitive environment, and it is not intended for those looking for auditions, ranking, or first-chair placement. It is for cellists who want to study seriously, build confidence, improve technique, explore repertoire, and spend time with others who love the cello.
The retreat is especially well suited to beginners, intermediate players, and advanced adult learners who want a supportive place to work on their playing. Participants who have tried Bach’s first suite, or who would like to learn it in more detail, will find plenty to explore. Those interested in learnin Matz’s Lights and Shadows as well as improving, scales, arpeggios, vibrato, third position, ensemble playing, and sound production will also have focused opportunities to grow.
Enrollment is intentionally small, with a cap of 12 participants for 2026. This keeps the student-teacher ratio low and helps create the intimate, encouraging community at the heart of the retreat.
Why Bethany Beach?
For me, Bethany Beach and the cello have been connected since childhood. The same year I started playing the cello, my parents got a place in Bethany Beach. As a young cellist, I remember looking around the area for cellos and cello music and not finding much. When my cello teacher, Mrs. Kidd, later visited the beach, it made a lasting impression.
Those memories helped inspire the Cellofest.
Bethany Beach is not just a backdrop for the retreat. It is part of the experience. The calm of the ocean, the morning light, the walks between sessions, and even the possibility of seeing dolphins from the beach all help create an atmosphere where learning can happen without pressure.
As Erica says in the episode, Bethany Beach has “a good vibe.” It is a good place to be.
Bethany Beach Cellofest Faculty: Jennifer Kloetzel, Erica Lessie, and Brenda Neece
Learning Through Joy
One of the guiding ideas behind the Cellofest is that people often learn more deeply when they are enjoying the process.
In my own teaching, one of my favorite things has been to “trick” students into learning — helping them become so engaged that they do not quite realize how much they have absorbed. That is the atmosphere at Cellofest: focused, serious, and meaningful, but also warm, human, and encouraging.
There is work. There is technique. There is Bach. There is Matz. There is ensemble playing. But there is also time to breathe, walk on the beach, talk with other cellists, rest, and remember why you wanted to play the cello in the first place.
Join Us in Bethany Beach
Bethany Beach Cellofest 2026 runs August 9–16 in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Faculty include Jennifer Kloetzel, Erica Lessie, and Dr. Brenda Neece. The week includes classes, private lessons, ensemble playing, a masterclass, wellness sessions, optional social activities, and free public events. Spaces are limited.
Learn more and register here.
With Thanks to Our Community Partners & Supporters
The Bethany Beach Cellofest is made possible through the generosity of organizations, donors, volunteers, and community members who believe in the power of music, education, and connection.
We are grateful to our co-presenter, the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation, and to St. Martha’s Episcopal Church for its generous hospitality and support.
We also gratefully acknowledge the Town of Bethany Beach and Stephanie Tsantes for their support of the 2026 Bethany Beach Cellofest.
Together, our supporters help bring cello music to Bethany Beach and beyond through free public performances, adult music education, and community outreach programs.
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🤖 The Cello Museum AI Assistant helped with this podcast episode and show notes.
