Where Music, Nature, and Flow Converge: The Unforgettable Chamber Music Week

From February 1-8, 2025, escape with us at Rancho La Puerta for the 8th Annual Chamber Music Festival, a week filled with extraordinary performances by some of the world’s finest musicians. Set in the beauty of The Ranch, this festival offers daily concerts, intimate talks with the artists, behind-the-scenes access to rehearsals, and unexpected “random acts of music” throughout the day. We sat down with the festival’s Artistic Director, Monique Mead, to learn more about this special event. Monique shared how the relaxed, welcoming atmosphere of Rancho La Puerta enhances the connection between musicians and guests, making this a truly unique and inspiring experience for both chamber music enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

What makes this week so unique?

Poets often say it best, so let me preface my comments with this verse from “Let the Last Thing Be Song” by Hannah Fries: 

A tone traveling through space has no referent,

and yet we infer, 

and yet it finds its way between our cells

and shakes us.

There are moments when music–or even a single tone–can penetrate to the very core of your being. We never forget these moments because they change us; they connect us with the essence of who we truly are and bring us fully into being present. They allow us to access a state of flow, or peak human experience. 

But it doesn’t happen every time we listen to music. More often than not, music gets lost in the chaos of sounds around us. Even when we attend a concert with the intent of listening to a great performance, we can find ourselves distracted by the discomfort of the seats, audience noises, and the inescapable chatter of our own minds, all of which prevent us from reaching that flow state.

In my class, “Mental Training for Peak Performance,” at Carnegie Mellon University, we study Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of flow to understand how to create the circumstances that allow us to enter that state rather than leaving it up to good fortune. To summarize his brilliant book in one sentence, I would say: Chamber Music Week at Rancho La Puerta. 

During this magical week, a trifecta of key factors combine to create ideal conditions for musical flow: a relaxed environment, world-class musicianship, and unified purpose. 

These elements benefit not only the listener but also the performers: The Miro Quartet recently shared that some of their finest performances have happened at The Ranch because the level of relaxation it provided allowed them to be in more flow with each other. Considering the stress factors for touring musicians who perform around 100 concerts per year, you can appreciate the value of that statement.

What excites you about the musicians performing here?

I’ll confess to being exceptionally selective when inviting musicians to perform at Rancho La Puerta because being a world-class musician is just one piece of the puzzle. To create the magic of Chamber Music Week, I choose artists with engaging personalities, generous hearts, and adventurous spirits. (If they love hiking, yoga, or vegetarian cuisine, that’s a bonus.)

I love bringing top artists together who might otherwise not cross paths and seeing how the Ranch setting sparks new synergies. This year I wanted to include vocal chamber music, and in a rare stroke of luck, I was able to secure The King’s Singers, a Grammy and Emmy Award-winning a capella group from London, as they kick off their 3-week North American tour. Our instrumental chamber music will feature returning star pianist Jon Kimura Parker, violist Aloysia Friedmann, innovative violin/guitar duo ArcoStrum, cello prodigy Amelia Zitoun. A giddiness comes over me when I begin to cook up concert programs with this spectacular roster of artists, and I imagine Chef Reyna feels the same way when her basket fills up with embarrassment of riches from Salvador’s garden at peak harvest.

Who is this week for?

This week is designed for people who dream of enjoying world-class performances in the comfort of their living room. In Oaktree, you can sit so close that you hear the musicians breathe, or you can lie on a cushioned bench in the back and allow the music to wash over you. From the stage, you’ll hear musicians share their humor and stories that open new ways to experience the music, and when the concert is over, the artists are there to engage with you.

Chamber music is highly collaborative. How do you foster community and unity among the musicians and the Ranch community?

The collaborative ethos of Chamber Music Week extends beyond the performances. This week is designed to offer experiences for engagement on multiple levels. In collaboration with festival artists, I’ll host daily musical talks exploring how to listen to classical music and open up for questions about “decoding the concert program” or exploring “violin hickeys and other curiosities about musicians.”

We also collaborate with the great muse, Mother Nature.  Set against the backdrop of The Ranch at the golden hour, our Music Stroll allows you to take a mindful walk as you follow your ears to locate individual musicians playing in harmony with the sounds of nature. The experience culminates in joyful song with The King’s Singers at the Villas Pool. Nature also accompanies us on hikes to the organic gardens, where a sumptuous breakfast and uplifting concert unfold in the pink morning light of Mt. Kuchuuma.

In the confluence of nature, music, good food, and a relaxed environment, there is no need to “create” community; it is an inevitable byproduct that flows naturally.

What do you hope the audience will take away from this year’s performances?

I’d like them to walk away with an experience that they will have great difficulty describing to anyone who was not there, just as I have difficulty finding words to capture the essence of what happens to you when body, mind, and spirit come into harmony.  This festival is not about entertainment; it’s about transformation. 

What inspires you as an Artistic Director, and how do you keep your programming fresh and exciting each year?

Every year, I’m inspired by the thrill of seeing the season unfold in ways better than I could have imagined. I’m inspired by surprises that arise from innovative artists, the excitement of the guests, the wholehearted support of the staff, and the creative charge I feel from this paradisiacal place. Being in this setting puts me in a state of flow and fills me with a rush of ideas that open my eyes to new possibilities for the coming season. 

Learn more about the amazing musicians that will be with us the week of February 1.