<p>Hello! Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with the following summer festivals - Pacific Music Festival in Japan, National Repertory Orchestra, and the Music Academy of the West. </p>
<p>I'm going to be applying for next summer, and I'll only be 19 in my auditions... those programs all have top age limits of 28 so I'm slightly concerned in that respect about potentially attending a festival with a lot of older students.</p>
<p>Cosmos- My son has not had any experience with those three specifically, but has won numerous fellowships to high level festivals. His experience is that he's seen 16-17 year olds through doctoral candidates in their mid to late 20's playing at the same festival. Now admittedly, the lower age range is not the norm, and these players have held their own with many older students. I believe my son won his earliest festival fellowship </p>
<p>NRO and MAW are nationally known, extremely intense programs consistently drawing some of the best faculty and best young artists in the country. I believe both are full ride programs, participants only responsible for travel. I have no knowledge at all of the Pacific Music Festival. NRO is focused slightly more on orchestral rep; MAW provides a bit more small ensemble and chamber rep. If chamber music is your desire, these are not necessarily the best programs for that experience. </p>
<p>The mix of students varies greatly from year to year, and from festival to festival. Some participants are repeaters, known quanitities; MAW has a two time limit, I can't speak for the other programs. At some programs, a good number of the participants are already students of a faculty member... it seems like faculty are given a certain number of admits. (This comment is based on our experiences through son's participation and a few direct "I want you, can you do it requests?" my son has had from faculty he's worked with serving at festivals.)</p>
<p>The competition for festival programs on the whole is at a high level, but varies widely by instrument and the specific faculty on program. I would treat the audition with the same intensity one would have to prepare a college audition. Begin practicing the requirements as early as possible (preferably with your studio teacher's input) and try and submit your tape or schedule the audition as early as possible if local. Again, our experience is that my son had more success by submitting earlier than later.</p>
<p>binx's son had a MAW fellowship this summer. Some of her comments are here: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=358868&page=4%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=358868&page=4</a></p>
<p>Perhaps BassDad through his daughter's experiences as a bassist has some instrument specific insights.</p>
<p>Hi,<br>
Thank you so much for your reply. I have already begun preparing the rep for the auditions & I'll definitely give them the best shot I can! I'll try to submitt my applications as early as possible, too... Thanks for the advice!</p>
<p>Ages were varied. One of the 6 horn players was 26. The others were right around my son's age (he is 21). I think 2 were a year older, and 1 was a year younger, and 1 was his age. Cosmos, I can't remember your instrument. (Or is it voice?) I know there were plenty of folks both older and younger than my S. But I think most were close to his age. I think you'd fit in age-wise just fine.</p>
<p>In rerreading my post above, there actually is a line missing.</p>
<p>I originally wrote: <i believe="" my="" son="" won="" his="" earliest="" festival="" fellowship=""></i></p><i believe="" my="" son="" won="" his="" earliest="" festival="" fellowship="">
<p>It should have read: I believe my son won his earliest festival fellowship at 18, though it may have been 19. </p>
<p>Sorry about that.</p>
<p>binx, I'm pretty sure Cosmos is a double bassist.</p>
</i>
<p>Yes, I'm a double bass player. Thanks for your input though. I think I'll give all those festivals a try. All I have to lose are application fees.</p>