Blair’s precollege program has produced a few outstanding and competitive students, but it is not the same level of program that I am thinking about. There are lots of pretty good precollege programs all around the country. There are only a few that are really top notch. Here’s a general round-up based on our experiences:
Juilliard Pre-college – great program, all ages, full day Saturday program, very competitive, all instruments. Range of skill is high to extremely high. It’s a very large program, though, so you may not have as much individualized attention or opportunities. May not be able to study with college-level faculty. Long history of producing top students. Some students just fly in or take train in for the weekend.
Colburn Academy – small program, high school only, activities mostly weekend and evenings. Smaller, more individualized program. All instruments, very competitive. I’m pretty sure all the students live there or close by. Newer program, so not as much history, but its grads are doing very well.
Music Institute of Chicago Academy – strings and piano only, 12+, very small (<30). My son attended here. Very individualized and nurturing but still competitive for admission. Most people come for specific violin or cello faculty. Kids drive/fly in from the whole midwest. All day Saturday plus at least one other day for lesson. Grads are doing really well, winning/placing in tons of major international competitions etc.
Curtis Early Entry – auditioning early for Curtis. Must meet repertoire and playing standards for college admission regardless of age. Kids attend middle/high school and live off campus until they have graduated or reached age 18. Kids are slowly integrated into various aspects of the program based on age. Truly a prodigy program for those who enter very early (11-15); less so for those who are 16-17. Extremely competitive.
CIM Academy – this program has changed in the last year or two, so I am not entirely sure how it is working currently. It used to be a half day program every day of the week for a small group of very advanced high schoolers but it looks like it has expanded. Some of the chamber groups from the older program were excellent, but I am not entirely sure how it is being run now.
NEC Prep – this is different in that there is not a separate advanced or Academy program. You have to piece together the different components of the program (theory, orchestra, chamber music, lessons, etc.). Having said that, there is access to the top teachers and classes if your child qualifies. Program entry is non-competitive, but spots in top orchestras and with top teachers is.
There are numerous other arts schools and prep programs that are decent quality but not as competitive. For boarding there is Walnut Hill (with NEC), Interlochen, NC School of Arts, and Idyllwild. There are several other decent programs in NY (Manhattan, Mannes, Kaufman), and scattered good programs around like Temple/PYO, San Francisco Conservatory Prep, etc. But these are either less competitive or don’t have the same separate program as some of the others above.