New Training Orchestra - With fellowship starting Fall 2015 in NYC

<p>A new training orchestra, tuition free, and with a fellowship for three years is starting in fall of 2015. It will reward an MM to the participants (but it doesn't matter if one has postgraduate degrees already.) It will have curatorial components, as well and a required Capstone project. <a href="http://www.longy.edu/academics/graduate-degrees-and-programs/programs/training-orchestra/training-orchestra-degree-program/"&gt;http://www.longy.edu/academics/graduate-degrees-and-programs/programs/training-orchestra/training-orchestra-degree-program/&lt;/a> It is run by Longy and Bard College.</p>

<p>It looks to me like an exciting option either after undergrad or post grad studies, or in the early stages of a professional career.</p>

<p>Thanks for the info SpiritManager! What a great opportunity. </p>

<p>Looks pretty neat! I am still trying to understand the relationship between Bard and Longy, other than financial. If Bard’s Annandale campus has a conservatory, and Longy /is/ a conservatory, what’s the scoop?</p>

<p>Spirit Manager, do you have the info on the new educational program offered by the NY Philharmonic, in the same article? I liked the article’s point that a school was offering an orchestra and an orchestra was offering school :)</p>

<p>Found the article: <a href=“Bard College and New York Philharmonic in New Ventures - The New York Times”>http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/30/arts/music/bard-college-and-new-york-philharmonic-in-new-ventures.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>@listenmissy - I don’t understand the relationship myself between the two institutions. I think it’s a work in progress, although there has been some cross-fertilization in terms of performances.</p>

<p>@‌ SpiritManager Ah, interesting. So do they travel back and forth, the NY gang and the MA folks?</p>

<p>@listenmissy - yes, Longy has performed at Bard, and Bard Conservatory Orchestra at Longy. And the Vocal Arts Program has included works by some of the composers at Longy. There may have been side by sides, as well, for huge orchestral works - can’t remember. It’s still a very new relationship and I think they’re figuring it out.</p>

<p>Oh, and some conservatory students have gone on to get an MAT for music at Longy.</p>

<p>I was referring also to the NY Phiharmonic’s new Global Academy, featured along with the Bard/Longy initiative in the NY Times article. The Philharmonic was the orchestra starting a school, to Bard’s school starting an orchestra.</p>

<p>Here is an excerpt:</p>

<p>"… the New York Philharmonic announced the next phase of its plans to expand its educational activities.</p>

<p>The orchestra said that it would start the New York Philharmonic Global Academy, an umbrella group to build on the partnerships that it began this year with the Shanghai Orchestra Academy and the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, Calif., with plans to add more partners to the program by the end of the year."</p>

<p>Thanks for the information. I have forwarded it on to S as something to look at after he completes his MM next year. I noticed that it is modeled on the New World Symphony in Miami. Several graduates of MM or AD programs at S’s school have gone to NWS and, from there, into a solid orchestra. If it ends up like NWS, it could be a great opportunity or even better.</p>

<p>Very interesting! Will be watching it.</p>

<p>Forwarded it to S as well–and will be keeping an eye on it also. First application deadline is Dec 1. I am thinking though that since it is a 3 year M.M. program there may not be any openings again for 3 years, unless someone drops out. </p>

<p>That’s a good point. (Although presumably students will be auditioning for and winning jobs so there is probably going to be some attrition.) Also-- will they just generally fill the class every three years to fill out the orchestra?</p>

<p>I also wonder how much the fellowship actually is, and what the time commitment is, as well. Lots of questions, for sure.</p>

<p>Yes, I wish their website had an ‘FAQ’ section. I’m surprised I hadn’t heard about the program before–the news must have been out and I missed it–but here it is just a month before applications are due and it’s the first mention of it I’ve seen.</p>

<p>@Clarimom, it’s a brand-new program, which is why it’s the first you’ve seen. The website does have a little bit of info if you click on “Apply” - <a href=“http://www.longy.edu/academics/graduate-degrees-and-programs/programs/training-orchestra/training-orchestra-admissions”>http://www.longy.edu/academics/graduate-degrees-and-programs/programs/training-orchestra/training-orchestra-admissions&lt;/a&gt; but @SpiritManager, no, they don’t list how much the fellowship is. One would hope it is enough to cover shared housing in NYC, since they say that for the NYC component, musicians are responsible for their own housing. I also thought it was interesting that, if you qualify but don’t get into the program due to seating restrictions, you get a fast track for consideration for Longy’s traditional MM.</p>

<p>Well, yes, I know it’s brand new. I meant I’m just surprised that there wasn’t a lot of marketing of the program before, since applications are due in less than a month and it’s the first any of us have even heard of the program. I had perused the whole website, but it doesn’t answer many of the questions I have.</p>

<p>Longy has undergone significant changes in the last 7 years: locally it competes with BU, NEC, Boston Conservatory and Berklee, all of who have bigger campuses, new or upgraded facilities, and dorms. The faculty underwent a huge turnover (and then unionized), and their board eliminated the preparatory division a year ago to make more room at the college level (an unpopular decision) and expanded financial aid. Given where their campus is located, there’s no room to expand, since Harvard and Lesley own most of the real estate in that area. </p>

<p>They established an El Sistema Side by Side program with Bard and upgraded Pickman Hall recently. Longy’s clearly hoping that with the creation of this orchestral program, they can attract musicians closer to Bard’s quality.</p>

<p>@Clarimom‌, it looks from their info that they want people to call with questions. If I had to guess I’d say that there is likely plenty in flux, and that it would be better to get information directly. I agree though, that’s not very helpful for those who might want to apply—on the other hand, anyone applying to grad programs should have their ducks in order by now; while it would be newly publicized, I’d suspect this has been bruited about at least among the folks at Longy and Bard… I will be interested to see how it goes.</p>