FOOSA Festival: Fresno Summer Orchestra Academy
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Daily lessons. World-class faculty. Challenging repertoire. Concerts in two major concert halls. Four student recitals. Concerto competition. And more. This is FOOSA, the Fresno Summer Academy Orchestra. We can't wait to hear you!
Our two-week summer intensive is geared toward serious players who want to commit themselves to a rigorous daily workout involving orchestra rehearsals, daily lessons, master classes, individual practice, a professional orchestral recording session, and plenty of performance opportunities, including a concerto competition.
Learn more about three unique programs: FOOSA PHILHARMONIC, FOOSA SYMPHONY, and FOOSA CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
FOOSA PHILHARMONIC PROGRAM
Conductor, Thomas Loewenheim
Repertoire: Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, Schoenberg's Pélleas und Mélisande
FOOSA WEBSITE
- Our FOOSA Philharmonic is a pre-professional orchestra that allows advanced musicians of graduate school, college, and high school age* to enjoy a side-by-side performance experience with our outstanding faculty members.
*A select number of exceptionally advanced younger pre-college students may be offered spots in the FOOSA Philharmonic. Eligibility will be decided on the basis of submitted audition videos and teacher recommendations.
Audition Requirements:
Please visit our webpage for audition requirements for each instrument. FOOSA PHILHARMONIC AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Tuition and fees
Audition fee: $75
Tuition: $1975
Dorm: $600
Total Tuition + audition = $2050
Total Tuition + registration + dorm = $2650
Non-refundable registration (if accepted): $250
FOOSA SYMPHONY PROGRAM
Conductor, Charles Latshaw
Standard Orchestral Repertoire
FOOSA WEBSITE
NEW! We are thrilled to announce the FOOSA Symphony, a brand new offering for 2025. This exciting program is designed for serious middle, high school and college musicians who are eager to expand their orchestral experience. The FOOSA Symphony will provide participants with the chance to engage with standard orchestral repertoire while also exploring chamber music.
The FOOSA Symphony will incorporate a full range of orchestral instruments, including winds, brass, harp, and percussion. Musicians will not only play in an orchestra, but they will also enjoy chamber music opportunities. They will perform side by side with faculty members, gaining valuable mentorship and insight.
The program culminates with an exciting concert at the Fresno State Concert Hall, showcasing the talents and hard work of the FOOSA Symphony. This new initiative promises to offer unparalleled growth for participants, both as performers and as mentors in the musical community.
- Audition Requirements:
Major or Minor scale of your choice
Two contrasting pieces or movements (no more than 10 minutes)
Audition material does not have to be accompanied
Tuition and fees
Audition fee: $75
Tuition: $950
Dorm (if applicable): $600
Total tuition + audition = $1025
Total tuition + audition + dorm = $1625
Non-refundable registration (if accepted): $250
YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR APPPLICATION ON OR BEFORE THE MARCH 15, 2025 DEADLINE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FELLOWSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Instrumentation:
Instrumentation needs: violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute/piccolo, oboe/English horn, clarinet/bass clarinet/e-flat clarinet, bassoon/contra, horn, trumpet, trombone/bass trombone, tuba, timpani, percussion, and harp. Rolling admissions will continue until we have filled all available positions.
We will make our selections based on applications received by March 15, 2025. If we need additional instrumentation, rolling admissions will continue until positions are filled.
Fellowships for college and graduate students:
ONLY COLLEGE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS, or COLLEGE GRADUATES, ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A LIMITED NUMBER OF FOOSA FELLOWSHIPS. These special positions are intended for advanced players with excellent recommendations, compelling audition videos, and an interest in teaching. Fellows will serve as mentors to the younger players in our FOOSA Chamber Orchestra. You must apply by the MARCH 15th DEADLINE and include a letter of recommendation from your major teacher or a similarly authoritative source to be considered for a fellowship. Fellowship students receive full scholarship.
Tuition Assistance:
Need-based tuition assistance is available to anyone who meets the MARCH 15th APPLICATION DEADLINE and submits a completed TUITION ASSISTANCE FORM and all required additional materials. Please do not submit a partially completed form, or a form minus accompanying materials. We cannot accept incomplete applications. Tuition assistance forms should only be submitted after your acceptance into the program. All tuition forms must be submitted by April 4, 2025.
Audition videos
You will need to record a video in which you perform whatever is listed on our audition requirements page as required for your instrument. No professional videography is needed. A video recorded with a smartphone or computer will be good enough. Accompaniment is acceptable on solos, but by no means required.
Note: For the FOOSA Philharmonic and Symphony, we will accept players of the following orchestral instruments: violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute (piccolo), oboe/EH, clarinet (E-flat, A, bass in addition to B-flat), bassoon (contra bassoon), French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, percussion, and harp. No piano at this time.
*Those who play doubling instruments will find instructions for those instruments as well. If you have any trouble uploading videos, or have additional questions, just contact us at cmarchese@yoofresno.org.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION and AUDITION REQUIREMENTS, PLEASE SEE OUR FOOSA PHIL/Symph FAQ PAGE.
FOOSA FESTIVAL, MORE INFORMATION
The FOOSA Festival takes place on the Fresno State campus.
Important deadlines: FOOSA Philharmonic and FOOSA Symphony
- March 15: Audition deadline
- March 25: Acceptance announcements are sent
- April 4: Tuition assistance applications are due (if applicable)
- April 11: Notices to students of scholarship awards/tuition assistance
- April 18: Non-refundable registration fee $250 due
- May 15: Tuition balance is due
- June 14: Travel day/dorms open
- June 15: Opening Day: seating auditions and reception
All applications are due on or before March 15, 2025 (11:59pm PST). If any positions are left unfilled at that point, we will employ a rolling deadline until all positions are filled.
If you have questions about your application, please get in touch with us directly at cmarchese@yoofresno.org or via phone at (559) 512-1726 to discuss how we can best help you.
For technical questions, please visit the Acceptd Help Desk.