Summer Study Partners

About:

The Ascent International Summer Festivals are unique festivals for the serious string student. Beginning in 2025, all programs will take place on the idyllic campus of Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, OH. Ascent goes beyond the practice room to nurture the growth of musicians aged 13 to 30 in all aspects.
Each week, participants have private lessons, technique and studio classes, chamber coachings, and orchestral excerpt training, in addition to performance and outreach opportunities. With Ascent’s emphasis on holistic and comprehensive musical development, participants also take part in enrichment seminars including audition preparation, career development, and musician health. With four hours of solo practice each day in addition to chamber rehearsals and coachings, your summer at Ascent will help you to grow as a musician. Pre-formed ensembles are welcome to apply for the chamber music festival– each member must complete an individual application and list the other members of their ensemble in the essay portion of the application.

In your time at Ascent, you’ll work with exceptional faculty who represent some of the finest institutions in the country, including Juilliard, Peabody, Cleveland Institute of Music, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and CCM, and Eastman School of Music. The Grammy winning Catalyst Quartet serves as Quartet-in-Residence for the festival. Each participant is assigned to a faculty cohort based on their preference indicated in the application, and has lessons with each faculty member of the cohort.

In your essay, please note which cohort you would like to join.

About:

The Boston University Tanglewood Institute is designed to help you become as dynamic and versatile a musician as possible. You’ll hone your craft in a small group setting, focusing on the fundamentals of technique and musicianship. Through masterclasses, lessons, and academic classes with new friends, you’ll have an unforgettable summer.

Through BUTI’s relationship with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, students have the opportunity to learn and grow through intensive programming in the presence of some of the world’s greatest music professionals and teachers. BUTI’s faculty include members of some of the country’s finest orchestras and chamber ensembles, and many teach at prestigious conservatories and universities. BUTI students can attend almost all of the BSO’s and Tanglewood Music Center’s concerts each summer. Many of BUTI’s alumni have gone on to prolific performing careers with ensembles including the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra.

The two-week workshops offer focused instrument-specific training, personalized guidance, chamber music exploration, masterclasses, and performance opportunities, all within a supportive environment. Perfect for students looking to enhance their skills and gain valuable experience.

The Young Artists Programs provide intensive conservatory-style training to prepare aspiring musicians for their musical journey. Students participate in powerful large ensemble performances and refine their chamber music skills while receiving individual lessons from world-class faculty. This 3 to 6-week program focuses on high-quality training, master classes, academic preparation, and readiness for college and professional music careers.

You can expect a transformational summer of music making and growth, stepping outside your comfort zone to challenge yourself, broaden your perspective, and forge bonds that last a lifetime. BUTI is also committed to supplementing your studies with resources including health and wellness, practice tips, and academic advancement in topics such as music theory.

About:

Brevard Music Center is one of the country’s premier summer training programs and music festivals. Each summer, the next generation of musicians from around the world work with a distinguished faculty from major symphonies, universities, and conservatories. The performing ensembles include three symphony orchestras, wind ensemble, opera orchestra, a new music ensemble, and chamber music groups.

A powerful sense of community is a hallmark of Brevard. Through a rigorous yet empowering program of instruction and professional performance, you’ll be able to practice your craft and develop your skills, gaining experience that will prepare you for the next steps of your career. In addition to orchestral rehearsals, faculty and guest artist masterclasses, technique and orchestral repertoire classes, mock auditions, and specialized electives are available that will supplement your study. An annual concerto competition is also open to all students.

Both high school and college division violinists may also audition for the Concertmaster Studio, where they will have the opportunity to study with some of the world’s greatest concertmasters. Students will receive weekly private lessons and orchestral leadership training.

Over 600 students attend Brevard each summer, creating an incredible peer network and lasting relationships. Outside of musical studies, students go on off-campus outings including hiking, rafting, and waterfall trips, enjoy fire pits and swimming, and spend time in downtown Brevard.

About:

The Chamber Music Intensive at the Cleveland Institute of Music is a week-long seminar offering high school, college and pre-professional string players and pre-formed groups the opportunity to make great strides in the art of string chamber music. The program is co-directed by CIM chamber music faculty members Todd Phillips, violin, and Si-Yan Darren Li, cello, and this year’s special guest faculty Catherine Cho, violin, and Wesley Collins, viola.

This summer, the Chamber Music Intensive will be held in person June 20-29, 2025 and will include:

• Assignment to a string quartet or quintet
• Daily chamber coachings with faculty artists
• Masterclasses on solo repertoire
• Participation in a culminating concert on June 28, with performances by all participating groups
• Rehearsal and performance in a conductor-less chamber orchestra work led by Todd Phillips

About:

The Credo Festival presents students an unparalleled opportunity to perform, work, and learn in a legendary setting – Chicago’s Symphony Center.

Credo’s unique amalgam of music, faith, and service (Develop the Gift, Acknowledge the Source, and Respond in Service) creates close mentoring relationships which transform lives and launch satisfying careers.

We invite you to experience the abundant passion, joy, and intensity of Credo this summer.

Credo consists of two tracks:

Orchestral students (age 18-26) will experience a focused week of professional preparation of Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 under the direction of David Chan (Metropolitan Opera concertmaster). Each section will be led by a titled player from a major American orchestra. Every day will present numerous formal and informal opportunities for close musical and personal mentorship with acclaimed faculty.

Credo’s String Intensive will challenge and nurture string players 12-20 through an exhilarating curriculum of chamber music, chamber orchestra, master classes, career development, and musicianship.

Students who attend Credo are typically leaders in their local settings. At Credo they encounter a curriculum designed to complement their fine local training, get to know leading performers and pedagogues at a personal level, perform side-by-side with peers from around the country, and encounter life-changing instrumental and musical pedagogy.

About:

A four-week rigorous program, Green Mountain is a program that focuses on solo development and chamber music. Each day provides four hours of individual practice and chamber music rehearsals along with lessons, coachings, masterclasses, and workshops. This immersive musical experience makes a significant impact on students’ level of performance. Chamber music is at the heart of Green Mountain, and each group is organized with care to provide the best experience exploring chamber repertoire. Players and personalities are matched so that each musician can enjoy the process of musical growth.

Built into the student experience are opportunities to explore the Vermont outdoors. Highlights include strawberry picking, hiking, and exploration of the beaches of Lake Champlain. At Green Mountain, you’ll forge relationships with your chamber ensemble and peers, including communicating with your ensemble before the Festival starts to choose your piece, with guidance from your coach and the Artistic Director.

Green Mountain’s faculty hail from prominent universities and orchestras and have dynamic performing careers, both in the United States and abroad. They are committed to helping students to develop as both musicians and advocates for their art. Student outreach performances take place in non-traditional venues throughout the area and region, instilling music into the community.

About:

Greenwood Music Camp offers a unique experience for high level chamber music playing in a warm, non-competitive environment. All students participate in chamber music, orchestra and chorus, and they are challenged and encouraged to work hard to discover the great reward of intensive, well-focused learning.

Students in Senior Camp have a new chamber music assignment each week, which they perform on weekly concerts. Composers recently featured include Jessie Montgomery, Johannes Brahms, Amy Beach, Valerie Coleman, Ludwig van Beethoven, Reena Esmail and Dmitri Shostakovich. The students also perform weekly community service by providing music for the local church in Cummington, MA.

Students are involved everyday in fun, community-building activities like soccer and frisbee games, charades, a talent show, a scavenger hunt, dances, and a trip to the Cummington Fair. The 80-acre Greenwood campus has a pool, a soccer field, tennis and basketball courts, a pollinator garden, and multiple ping pong tables.

About:

Interlochen Center for the Arts is a global destination for artists and arts enthusiasts with a mission to inspire people worldwide through excellence in the arts and education. With a dedication to creating a community centered around the arts that transcends backgrounds and beliefs, Interlochen’s summer programs allow young artists to transform artistically and personally.

Because Interlochen has multiple areas of study, students have many different ensemble opportunities. Students in the advanced string quartet program have daily coachings and seminars, weekly private lessons, and masterclasses with guest artists and quartets-in-residence. You’ll experience the joy of learning, bonding and performing with your quartet, building trust, leadership, and personal accountability. Students also participate in orchestral ensembles, building musical relationships with many peers.

Students in the solo intensive programs study the full breadth and depth of their instruments. In addition to preparing solo literature for performances, students collaborate in small ensemble groups and play with full orchestras. The orchestral program allows students to tackle professional-level repertoire under the direction of world-renowned conductors. By training with professional conductors and talented students, students have fun getting better at doing what they love. Students build technique, performance, and audition abilities, unlocking their potential and bolstering their confidence.

Interlochen’s superb faculty bring real-life experience and laser-focused attention to support your development and help you to breakthrough to the next level. Many have toured the world in prestigious ensembles, held professorships at top-rated universities and conservatories, and have made their mark as orchestra players and soloists. Through mentorship and artistic excellence, they inspire the next generation of artists.

About:

The Kinhaven Music School is a unique residential summer music camp in the rolling green hills of Weston, Vermont. With an emphasis on a collaborative, non-competitive environment, Kinhaven’s spirit inspires spontaneous music making, musical growth, and lasting friendships. Musicians who study at Kinhaven can immerse themselves in music in idyllic Vermont. In addition to non-musical activities, afternoons offer practice hours for those who wish for a more intensive experience.

90 young musicians gather at Kinhaven for six-weeks of study in the senior session. In addition to private lessons and spontaneous music making, musicians will focus on chamber music, chamber orchestra, symphony orchestra, and large ensembles. A robust arts and activities program includes opportunities away from your instrument as well. Musicians spend evenings in symphonic rehearsals, exploring the classical symphonic repertoire. Seatings are non-competitive and rotate each week.

The junior session brings together 70 middle school-age musicians for two weeks. These young musicians will play in chamber groups and explore orchestral repertoire selected by Kinhaven’s dedicated faculty. Each piece is selected to challenge and delight! Students also receive at least one private lesson per week and can meet with their teachers to review their progress, prepare repertoire, and learn effective practice habits.

The young artist seminar is an intensive program that focuses on chamber repertoire. Daily coachings, master classes, and studio classes are highlights of the seminar, where each group will focus on one work. The week culminates in outreach concerts in Southern Vermont as well as at Kinahven’s hall. Performances by conductorless chamber orchestra are also featured!

Kinhaven’s faculty represent fine colleges, conservatories, and symphonies from around the country, and offer mentorship in addition to musical direction. All are graudates of major conservatories and are active performers and teachers.

New friends, expert instructors who care, home-cooked food, beautiful countryside, and an atmosphere of genuine sharing and support will result in a magical summer experience of musical growth.

About:

Luzerne Music Center invites more than 150 talented musicians from all over the world to its campus each summer. Each day is filled with musical activities, with time dedicated to recreational activities as well! Focusing on a comprehensive musical experience, students have chamber music, orchestra rehearsals, theory classes, and lessons in addition to concerts and group classes. The schedule is designed to be musically immersive and enriching.

Faculty at Luzerne have dynamic performing and teaching careers, and are committed to student growth and musical flourishing. In addition to technical and musical development, many also prioritize developing practice skills, goal setting, and posture. Everyone at Luzerne shares a vision to learn, foster, and grow a musical voice.

Junior session students can attend a two- or four-week program that designed to help them achieve a greater musical foundation. The senior-session is four weeks of musical demanding studies. In the final week, The Philadelphia Orchestra is in residence to give masterclasses, lead sectionals, and coach small ensembles. Extended programs are also available for advanced students.

Learning through watching and listening is also a highlight at Luzerne. Each week presents two chamber music concerts featuring Luzerne Faculty and world-renowned guest artists. Off-campus trips to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center are also arranged, where students can watch ensembles such as the New York City Ballet and The Philadelphia Orchestra.

While musical training fills most of the day, time is also made for outdoor activities and recreation, including kayaking, sailing, and a softball game against the Philadelphia Orchestra Firebirds at the end of the senior session.

About:

Madeline Island Chamber Music is one of the most illustrious places for chamber music study. Its concentration on chamber music provides the opportunity to learn and cultivate skills to exemplify the most desirable characteristics for today’s workforce—creativity, leadership, responsibility, discipline, problem-solving, a spirit of collaboration, and a sense of community.

Chamber Music for Winds is a two-week summer winds chamber music program on the retreat-like setting of Madeline Island. Students will have daily chamber music rehearsals and coaching, and private lessons with WindSync for the first week, along with Tara Helen O’Connor, Keisuke Ikuma, Alan Kay, Gina Cuffari, and David Byrd-Marrow for the second week. Performance opportunities, master classes, and faculty presentations round out an intensive study of woodwind chamber music repertoire.

Chamber Music for Strings provides three weeks of intensive study and performance of string chamber music repertoire. Each summer, 32 talented young musicians are grouped according to age and ability and immersed in the curriculum, with daily coaching and twice-weekly private lessons from resident quartets and individual faculty. Each week brings a different ensemble-in-residence and individual faculty members to Madeline Island Chamber Music, giving students a breadth of input from renowned chamber musicians.

Fellowship String Quartet is our premier program providing full scholarship for five weeks of intensive study and performance of string chamber music repertoire. Each summer, 16 talented college-level musicians receive daily coaching and twice-weekly private lessons from resident quartets and individual faculty. In addition to receiving a full scholarship to attend, Fellowship String Quartet participants work on multiple chamber music assignments, present community engagement activities, and collaborate with Artist-Faculty during weeks 4-5 in additional chamber music repertoire.

About:

In 1944, Ivan Galamian founded the Meadowmount School of Music for young musicians of violin, viola and cello training for professional careers in music. Meadowmount remains true to Mr. Galamian’s vision of a school with “a special spirit that is conducive to total concentration on excellence in musical performance,” a place to study with internationally-renowned faculty and enjoy the camaraderie of other young musicians from around the world. 

Meadowmount accepts approximately 180 students, ages 10 to 30, through a video audition process focused on solo and chamber music material. Students have generous opportunities for focused individual practice, individual training with their primary faculty member, attend studio and technique classes, enjoy chamber music coachings and rehearsals with their assigned chamber group, and attend masterclasses and special performances given by faculty and guest artists. Students are selected to perform in on-campus concerts, livestreams, and various off-campus concerts throughout the program. 

In order to achieve the anticipated level of progress, a strong willingness to work together, the commitment to individual practice, and a high degree of social maturity, emotional intelligence, and professionalism is expected of each student. 

About:

The University of Maryland’s National Orchestral Institute + Festival brings together aspiring orchestral musicians from across the country for a month of dynamic music-making and professional exploration.

Orchestral Fellows at NOI+F experience a month of intensive rehearsals, intimate masterclasses, insightful seminars and electrifying performances as part of the Grammy-nominated NOI Philharmonic. Participants work closely with faculty drawn from leading North American symphony orchestras and conservatories. Conductors, rotating on a weekly basis, are visionaries on the podium and offer many decades of orchestral wisdom and leadership. NOI+F orchestral fellows are also active in our community engaging with new audiences and performing in non-traditional venues. Combining the demands of chamber music with the precision of large-scale symphonic repertoire, orchestral fellows participate in NOI+F’s Conductorless Orchestra. This special artistic exploration (nationally-unique to NOI+F) allows students to craft their own interpretation of a symphonic piece.

Faculty represent ensembles including the Atlanta Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Houston Symphony, National Symphony, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony and many others as well as conservatories including the Colburn School, the Eastman School of Music, Rice University, and Indiana University.

All NOI+F Orchestral Fellowship recipients receive a full scholarship for their tuition to the festival. Application and room and board fees are the responsibility of each fellow. All who are 18 or older by May 29, 2024 may apply. The typical age range for NOI+F is 18 – 30.

About:

The National Repertory Orchestra is a preeminent intensive summer music festival developing diverse, thoughtful and socially conscious musicians through experiential learning.  Young musicians from around the world meet in Breckenridge, Colorado, each summer for 8 intensive weeks of orchestral study under the baton of Music Director Michael Stern and world-renowned guest conductors.

The NRO offers more repertoire than any other festival, with multiple full programs performed each week of the festival. With programing ranging from the cornerstones of western classical music to the most prolific, new voices of our day, NRO musicians explore a wide breadth of music each summer. Alumni can be found in virtually every professional orchestra in the country. NRO musicians enjoy free tuition and housing each summer, in addition to solo opportunities and stipends offered for food and travel.

The National Repertory Orchestra firmly believes music is for everyone and takes great pride in our ability to provide the community with free musical events. Recognizing that, for symphony orchestras to survive and thrive, musicians must be advocates for classical music, the NRO is dedicated to community engagement. During the summer fellowship, NRO musicians take part in the NRO’s community engagement program, which prepares musicians for an active role in the communities they serve.

Each summer, the NRO performs more than 32 free community engagement events throughout Summit County and beyond, breaking barriers between education, performance and community to develop 21st century musicians!

About:

​The National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute is an intensive four-week program focusing on musical development and the skills needed to become a true citizen artist in the 21st century. The program takes place at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and provides performance opportunities, private lessons, chamber music coachings, side-by-side orchestra rehearsals, and masterclasses and workshops. This holistic approach to musical development ensures that students perform at the highest level and are prepared to serve their communities through music.

NSOSMI’s faculty are musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra, one of the preeminent ensembles in the country. In addition to individual and ensemble study, students attend NSO rehearsals and performances and are also exposed to internationally renowned conductors, soloists, and musicians.

Each student accepted into the program attends SMI on a tuition-free scholarship, which includes all activity, instruction, housing, and local transportation. This scholarship does not include round-trip transportation to and from Washington, DC, or the cost of food.

With a focus on supporting the needs of 21st-century students and cultivating the skills of 21st-century artists, The Kennedy Center’s pre-professional artist training programs are committed to nurturing the emerging visionaries who are the future change-makers and culture-shapers. National Symphony Orchestra Education strives to raise up the coming generation of music professionals in an orchestral world with equity and inclusion, racial and gender diversity, and assurances of safety and belonging.

About:

Each summer, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute brings together the brightest young players from across the country to form the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America. Following a multi-week training residency with leading professional orchestra musicians, these remarkable teenagers embark on a tour to some of the great music capitals of the world while serving as dynamic music ambassadors.

The members of NYO-USA rehearse at Purchase for several weeks ahead of the tour. Purchase has outstanding rehearsal, performance, and residential facilities, including a highly regarded performing arts center that is the center of musical activities during the residency. The residency includes sectional and full orchestra rehearsals, workshops designed to complement the repertoire, and social/recreational activities.

Carnegie Hall also offers apprenticeships to students in roles beyond instrumental positions in NYO-USA to explore key aspects of the orchestral field. Apprenticeship opportunities offered are in orchestra librarianship, orchestra management, and apprentice composers. These apprenticeships are designed for members to become immersed in aspects of the orchestral world beyond performance. 

NYO-USA’s faculty represent some of the finest orchestras in the country, including the Cleveland Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

About:

NYO2 is an intensive program that allows young artists to immerse themselves in their craft, learning alongside peers from some of the most esteemed professionals in the field. The program is in residence at Purchase College, SUNY, 30 miles north of New York City. The program concludes with a performance in Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage.

NYO2 reflects the exceptional diversity of the US and cultivates the musicianship, intellectual curiosity, and technical ability of its participants. During the New World Center residency, NYO2 students work with New World Fellows, building relationships with the artists who are the next generation of the finest orchestras in the world. Running in conjunction with NYO-USA, NYO2’s students are able to play and learn alongside a wide range of extraordinarily talented peers.

NYO2’s faculty come from some of the finest ensembles in the country, including The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra. Many also teach at top conservatories. Students at NYO2 represent the future of the country’s orchestral traditions and have a summer of transformational musical experiences surrounded by exemplary faculty and peers.

About:

The NEC Summer Orchestra Institute is an intensive program emphasizing immersive musical experiences. A focus on concentration, practice and performance techniques, interpretation, phrasing, and musicianship is also prioritized. Students also develop communication and leadership skills through their musical collaborations, learning the joy of music making while developing lasting friendships.

The SOI experience emphasizes intensive musical preparation, with special focus on concentration, practice and performance techniques, interpretation, phrasing, and general musicianship. Students will also develop communication and leadership skills through their musical collaborations, learning the joy of music making while developing lasting friendships. 

About:

Summers at New England Music Camp are magical! Each session, 180 students from all across the country join together on the beautiful 40-acre lakefront campus for an enriching experience of music, fun, and friendship. The program at NEMC is designed to give students ages 9-18 the opportunity to immerse themselves in music while still enjoying the fun and friendship of summer.

NEMC’s Core Session is a four-week music intensive designed to fit your interests and needs! Students ages 12-18 can choose from a wide selection of classes and ensembles including Band, Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, and Choir.  In addition, many students participate in small chamber ensembles, studio classes, and music theory.

NEMC’s Chamber Music Intensive is a two-week summer workshop for advanced high school musicians and rising college freshmen and sophomores. Students are immersed in the world of chamber music through musical collaboration and community-building. Participants focus on two to three pieces in the chamber music literature working alongside our dynamic faculty with a focus on instrumental skill development, score reading, the art of active listening, navigating group dynamics, and the development of leadership skills.

NEMC Prelude Camp is a two-week sleep-away camp that welcomes upper elementary and middle school string, woodwind, brass and percussion players to an orchestra & band ensemble experience. Specifically designed for students entering grades 4-9 (ages 9-13), this camp will bring fun and excitement to playing in a group! Each morning, campers will rehearse in orchestra & band ensembles, as well as participate in small group lessons, music theory classes, and sight reading sessions to enhance their playing skills. In the afternoons and evenings, campers will participate in traditional recreational activities to enjoy the lake-front campus of NEMC. The session culminates with a final concert performance at the Bowl in the Pines.

About:

Ravinia Festival®, North America’s oldest music festival, stands today as its most musically diverse, presenting a large variety of different events throughout the summer. These concerts run the gamut from Yo-Yo Ma to John Legend to the annual summer residency of the nation’s finest orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. 

Founded in 1988 in honor of Lois M. Steans, the Ravinia Steans Music Institute is an international destination for young professional classical pianists and string players, classical singers, and jazz musicians devoted to uniquely honing and advancing their talents as collaborative artists. 

Since opening its doors, RSMI has offered private coaching, master classes, and performance opportunities to over 1,600 exceptional musicians, many of whom have cultivated highly visible and successful careers in performance, leadership, and music education. 

RSMI’s Program for Piano & Strings concentrates on interpretation and small-group collaboration through the practice and performance of classical sonata and chamber repertoire. Up to 29 violinists, violists, cellists, and pianists gather for five weeks of immersive and intensive rehearsals and coachings with a rotating roster of some of the world’s finest artists and pedagogues. 

The Common Application for Summer Study is accepting applications for the Program for Strings only.  

About:

Each summer, the Sewanee Summer Music Festival builds an inclusive community designed to offer students the chance to learn and grow together with wonderful colleagues from across the world. In residence on the spectacular campus of the University of the South, Sewanee is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts colleges and has over 13,000 acres of hiking, biking, and breathtaking mountain views.

Sewanee’s faculty come from leading orchestras, chamber ensembles, conservatories, and university programs, spending the summer performing, teaching, and inspiring the next generation. Leading conductors from across the world who are passionate about music and educating new musical leaders guide students through diverse musically and technically demanding orchestral literature.

The Sewanee Summer Music Festival offers two distinct, high level, serious orchestral experiences: The Cumberland Orchestra and The Sewanee Symphony. The Festival Artistic Director, along with guest conductors and the artistic leadership team, selects a range of musically and technically demanding literature for each orchestra to perform. Each ensemble is held in the highest artistic and musical standards possible, rehearsing six times per week and collaborating with faculty soloists. The orchestras are comprised of both pre-college and college participants, allowing for opportunities for mentorship and to build relationships with peers.

In addition to rehearsals, students participate in sectionals and masterclasses, allowing for in-depth study of orchestral literature and opportunities to learn directly from experts in the field. Performances take place throughout the campus and in the surrounding community.

About:

Enrich your harp learning over the summer with SFCM’s Harp Immersive for students aged 12-19. Hone your musical skills and connect with other young harpists. During this five-day program, each harpist has solo, master class, and harp ensemble performance opportunities. Harpists get to jumpstart their performance goals with lessons and morning practice intensives followed by afternoons filled with harp ensemble, eurhythmics, and special workshops such as improvisation, practice skills, managing performance nerves, and more. Come join us this summer, collaborate with your harpist peers, and get your harp playing in tip-top shape! 

Sign up soon! Lever and Pedal Harps are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

About:

Focused on increasing representation in classical music and celebrating excellence, Sphinx programs serve beginner students, gifted young artists, seasoned classical music professionals, cultural entrepreneurs, and artistic administrators.

Sphinx Performance Academy (SPA) is a full-scholarship intensive summer chamber music and solo performance program. In 2025, SPA will be hosted by the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, The Juilliard School, and the University of Colorado in Boulder. SPA transforms lives by providing private lessons, masterclasses, recitals, career enrichment sessions, and mentorship.

All accepted applicants for the Sphinx Performance Academy will receive a full scholarship to the program, including room and board. Students are responsible for transportation to and from the program. Ground transportation to and from the airport is provided for students flying without an adult parent or guardian. 

About:

​We are pleased to announce the 2025 Summer Music Program at VIA Academy, a completely free two-week program designed for young musicians from remote and underrepresented communities in classical music in grades 9-12. Founded in partnership with the New World Symphony in 2020, this will be our sixth season.

The program offers both virtual and in-person participation, featuring a diverse group of teaching and guest artists from prestigious ensembles such as the St. Louis Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, Dallas Opera, and Nashville Symphony.

Our curriculum is tailored for string, woodwind, and brass instrumentalists, with a focus on individual lessons, mentorship, entrepreneurial skills, finding financial support, college preparation, career pathways, and health & wellness. Our mission focuses on empowering musicians from remote and underrepresented communities. Each student will have one-on-one discussions with faculty about their musical goals and aspirations.

The program consists of a virtual first week, followed by a week in Miami, FL, at the New World Center. Here, students will further develop their instrumental skills, engage in chamber music, and explore future opportunities in music.

For more information and to apply, please visit our website. We look forward to welcoming you to this enriching musical experience!