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2024 SUMMER SCHOOL & FESTIVAL: JUNE 8 - AUGUST 4
Full-Scholarship Summer Training & Performance Program in Santa Barbara, CA

2024 application season is closed


PROGRAMS OF STUDY & ENROLLMENT POSITIONS:

All fellows and studio artists attend on full-scholarship: FREE tuition, accommodations, and meals.

  • Instrumental (95 fellows) 
  • Solo Piano (6 fellows)  
  • Collaborative Piano (9 fellows)  
  • Lehrer Vocal Institute
    • Voice (20 fellows + 8 studio artists) 
    • Vocal Piano (6 fellows + 1 studio artist)
    • Directing Fellow (1 fellow) 

AGE REQUIREMENTS: 

  • Minimum age for enrollment: 18
  • Maximum age for enrollment: 34 (28 for strings players)

Ready for a life-changing summer?

The Music Academy is among the world's top summer programs for extraordinary classically-trained musicians ages 18-34, preparing them for a 21st-century career and developing artists of impact. At its ocean-side campus in Santa Barbara, the Academy provides the opportunity for world-class training, individualized instruction, and frequent performances under the guidance of more than 50 internationally renowned teaching artists and guest conductors. Enrolled fellows enjoy dynamic opportunities to support both the on and off-stage experience, developing tools needed to be not just great musicians, but great leaders. All just steps from the beach.

In addition, fellows participate in performance competitions awarding cash prizes, and enjoy personal growth through dynamic wellness and community engagement programs plus career development seminars.

The Music Academy Summer Festival is a highlight of the Southern California arts community, presenting over 120 public events over eight weeks, and attended by nearly 40,000 audience members. The Music Academy proudly welcomes everyone from across all cultures and backgrounds to experience the transformative power of music.

CORE CURRICULUM TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES:

  • Weekly private lessons
  • Weekly public masterclasses and/or studio classes
  • Orchestra
  • Chamber Music including String Quartet Seminar led by the Takacs Quartet
  • Solo Recitals
  • String Leadership Program led by Glenn Dicterow
  • Fully-staged opera: Bizet's Carmen
  • Lehrer Vocal Institute opera scenes, chamber music, contemporary music, creative project, and song project
  • Lehrer Vocal Institute Studio Artists: three-week intensive opera chorus residency Weeks 3-5 (June 23-July 15). Participate in chorus of Carmen, plus a curated public performance just for studio artists, lessons, weekly coachings and studio classes. Nine studio artists are selected during the audition process (in addition to the 27 Lehrer Vocal Institute fellows who participate in the full eight-week program).
3 Performance Competitions: winners receive $5,000 cash prize  
  • Marilyn Horne Song Competition for Voice and Vocal Piano Fellows
  • Duo Competition for Instrumental and Collaborative Piano Fellows 
  • Solo Piano Competition
Co-Curricular Opportunities
  • Wellness Program: Alexander Technique, personal counseling, and performance medicine
  • Community Engagement: fellows and audiences socialize throughout the summer via the "Compeer Program"
  • Innovation:
    • Entrepreneurship and career development seminars with industry leaders
    • Alumni Enterprise Awards: cash grants for alumni awardees presenting trailblazing endeavors in classical music and beyond

APPLICATION DEADLINES: all deadlines at 11:59 PM Pacific (2024 applications now closed)

  • Lehrer Vocal Institute: October 15, 2023 (applications now closed)
  • Collaborative Piano Program: January 15, 2024 (applications now closed)
  • Instrumental Program: February 1, 2024 (applications now closed)
  • Solo Piano Program: February 1, 2024 (applications now closed)

AUDITION PROCESS:

  • Solo Piano: Video Upload auditions
  • Instrumental: Video Upload auditions
  • Collaborative Piano: Live and Virtual auditions 
  • Lehrer Vocal Institute:
    • Voice & Vocal Piano: Pre-screening Recording Round followed by Invitation-Only Live Final Round 
    • Directing Fellow: Pre-screening Round followed by Invitation-Only Virtual Interview Final Round

APPLICATION & AUDITION REPERTOIRE:
Select your program/studio in the application menu to the left to view the audition repertoire and begin your application.

Application Fee: $50 (non-refundable)
Application fee assistance available for those with financial hardship. Contact admissions@musicacademy.org

FESTIVAL DATES: JUNE 8 - AUGUST 4, 2024

*The following fellows arrive early for Pre-Season Training:

  • String Quartet Seminar fellows arrive Monday, June 3
  • Percussion/Timpani fellows arrive Wednesday, June 5
  • Vocal Piano fellows arrive Wednesday, June 5


To receive email announcements regarding the 2024 Summer Festival GET ON THE LIST !

For more information, email admissions@musicacademy.org or visit musicacademy.org/admissions


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