Summer Study Partners

About:

The Ascent International Cello & Chamber Music Festivals are two unique festivals for the serious string student. The Chamber Music Festival takes place over three weeks on the idyllic campus of Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, OH. The one-week Cello Festival takes place on the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music’s campus. An opportunity for outstanding string players and pianists ages 14-30 to study solo and chamber music repertoire in an intensive setting, Ascent focuses on developing the musician as a whole.

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 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 generations of musicians from around the world perform alongside a distinguished faculty from major symphonies, universities, and conservatories. Guest artists perform as soloists with the Symphony and often present masterclasses that.

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, masterclasses, technique and orchestral repertoire classes, mock auditions/audition preparation, and specialized electives are available will supplement your study. College division students are also able to perform with the Janiec Opera Company. Woodwind and brass students will be able to take breathing classes as well as participate in clinics on instrument care and repair. 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 500 students attend Brevard each summer, creating an incredible peer network and lasting relationships. All program participants are assigned to chamber ensembles with performance opportunities throughout the summer. Outside of study, students go on off-campus outings including hiking, rafting, and waterfall trips, have barbecues and fire pits, and spend time in downtown Brevard.

About:

Credo Music offers challenging and rewarding musical training opportunities, taught by some of the finest faculty in the classical music field. Credo’s unique combination of music, faith, and service serves as the template for meaningful faculty/student experiences, including side-by-side performances, audition seminars, master classes, and personal mentorship.

This summer, Credo Music celebrates its 25th anniversary season with the Credo National Festival at the Chicago Symphony Center. Students will be taught by titled professionals from major American orchestras including the Atlanta Symphony, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Pittsburgh Symphony.

String, woodwind, and brass students ages 18-26 will be selected to play Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 under the direction of Maestro David Chan (MET Opera, Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music). Each section will be led by a titled player from a major American Orchestra. The week will be a stimulating mix of professional preparation (side-by-side rehearsal and performance, master classes, mock auditions) and personal mentorship.

String students ages 12-19 will follow a stimulating curriculum of chamber music, master classes, career development, and musicianship. String intensive students will interact with faculty members of the Mahler Project, and have the opportunity to rehearse and perform  Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings, under the direction of Credo Artistic Director Peter Slowik (Oberlin Conservatory).

About:

Credo Music offers challenging and rewarding musical training opportunities, taught by some of the finest faculty in the classical music field. Credo’s unique combination of music, faith, and service serves as the template for meaningful faculty/student experiences, including side-by-side performances, audition seminars, master classes, and personal mentorship.

Credo Music City Festivals bring the joy, excitement, passion, and achievement of Credo—right in your own backyard! If you live in Boston or St. Louis, are in 6-12th grade, and play at a Suzuki Book 4 or above, this could be the camp for you.

Each day at Credo Boston includes an innovative and fun musicianship class by Credo Artistic Director Peter Slowik, profiled by theStrad magazine as “a man of limitless energy and purpose – he mentors high achievers who make their mark in top positions the world over.”  Slowik will lead students on level-appropriate encounters with conducting, music theory, musical style, and practicing tips. 

Credo St. Louis will offer the same hallmarks as the parent Credo National Festival: Commitment to public service, within the intersection of faith and music. Faculty members are outstanding St. Louis music professionals who are eager to mentor Credo students at the very rewarding and personal intersection of music and faith. 

Each student is cherished at Credo. The environment nourishes the most accomplished pre-conservatory students as well as those participating in their first serious summer music festival.

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 one-week summer woodwind quintet program on the retreat-like setting of Madeline Island. Students will have private lessons along with daily chamber music rehearsals and coaching from Windscape, the 2024 Ensemble-in-Residence. Performance opportunities, masterclasses, and faculty presentations round out a week of intensive study of woodwind quintet 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:

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. Musical off-campus trips are scheduled throughout the two-week session.

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 11-14 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 9-14), 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:

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:

VIA Academy is pleased to share with you information about our 2023 Summer Program, a free summer music education program. VIA Academy was born in 2020 out of partnership with the New World Symphony and we are excited for our fourth season. The two week program includes virtual and in-person participation along with an incredible list of teaching artists and guest artists that will help mentor young aspiring musicians towards their future goals. Our faculty represents some of the finest performing ensembles including the St. Louis Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, North Carolina Symphony, New World Symphony, Dallas Opera, and Nashville Symphony among others.

Standing for Virtual Inclusion Artists, VIA seeks to engage musicians from communities remote and underrepresented in classical music through individual lessons, mentorship and group classes. The two week-long program is tailored to string, woodwind and brass instrumentalists (grades 9-12) and taught by our teaching artist faculty and guest artists. VIA’s curriculum is tailored for each student through one-on-one discussions about goals and aspirations with VIA’s teaching artists. In addition to a virtual first week, all students will culminate in Miami, FL at the New World Center (home of the New World Symphony) during the second week of the program for further opportunities in advancing instrumental skills, chamber music, and future path development.