<p>Hi all, </p>
<p>What are your application plans for this summer? </p>
<p>I'm doing NRO, Lucerne, Music Academy, Aspen, and Banff.</p>
<p>My D just auditioned for Operafestival di Roma. Any personal feedback from participants? The professor at the local college who works that festival asked her to audition. She is 17 so I am just wondering if it is a good fit.</p>
<p>After spending every single summer in various jazz programs since the age of 11 and, hopefully, gaining acceptance into a college jazz program he likes, my son is going to… (get ready for it…)</p>
<p>Do nothing. But rock n’ roll all over the city with his “other” band. And sleep in.</p>
<p>And I’m with him all the way.</p>
<p>DD is looking at the The Assisi Music Festival in Italy. Anyone with any experience or info for there?</p>
<p>Just linking to the '09 thread for those who might wish to reference it <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/594473-summer-programs-2009-its-time-year-again.html?highlight=summer[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/594473-summer-programs-2009-its-time-year-again.html?highlight=summer</a></p>
<p>So far son is looking at Music Academy of the West, Kneisel Hall and Yellow Barn. Any reflections from direct experience would be welcome!</p>
<p>^ I think BINX’s son did 2 different summers at MAW. I have attended their concerts and have been floored by the fantastic talent represented there. Very well managed, great teachers and the setting couldn’t be more wonderful.</p>
<p>I looked at the muisc Academy of the West but it says if they are <18 years old they need to stay with their parents off campus for the two months?</p>
<p>Our son is looking at Yellow Barn, as well as Tanglewood (chamber and/or orchestra), or at least auditioning for them. As far as Yellow Barn, a friend of our son has been going there for the past several years, and it is very, very difficult to get into, but seems like hog heaven for serious musicians. The high school program has 25 people, and for violin I think it is 7. That is daunting enough, but the program is such that generally once you are in the program, you pretty much automatically can attend subsequent years, unless you are found to be something of a screwup or something…so it means there are a lot less then 25 slots being auditioned for, and they audition all over the country. </p>
<p>On the other hand, according to this person, it is a serious musicians dream, that they are in something like 3 different groups and it is intense/intensive. She had been at other summer festivals and felt they didn’t have the structure or the experience Yellow Barn provided…so in other words, it sounds like a serious music students environment:)</p>
<p>Futureholds: Most all of the MAW students are university age or older. (With the exception of the occasional prodigy)</p>
<p>stringfollies - All very high caliber applicants for violin at the programs you mention. College level Yellow Barn acceptance is harder than high school level Yellow Barn program- which is still a tough admit.</p>
<p>Futureholds - Don’t know your instrument. The violin level is very high. I’ve known younger violinists who are Curtis bound or who have already won major competitions for the 15 - 22 year old age group. </p>
<p>Good luck to all!</p>
<p>Sent my Aspen application today and audition request for NRO. Not too confident about Aspen; it looks like they’ve cut down the faculty this year. Only two full-time bass faculty this year…</p>
<p>Son will definitely apply to Orford (loved it last summer), Banff, Domaine Forget, Colorado College Music Fest; possibly Kneisel Hall. A few years ago, he was an alternate for Yellow Barn Young Artists but no spot opened up. This year, he is too old for Yellow Barn YA but probably not ready for the big guys Yellow Barn.</p>
<p>We strongly recommend Walden School, a 5 week summer program in Dublin NH, located in view of Mt. Monadnock.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.waldenschool.org/[/url]”>http://www.waldenschool.org/</a></p>
<p>Walden is a little different in its emphasis on creativity and composition. Many gifted instrumentalists attend, and there are opportunities to play the compositional works of other students in weekly forums and a final forum that is attended by the public. Visiting ensembles every week, and visiting composers, round out the program.</p>
<p>Daily classes include theory, solfege, musicianship; private composition lessons; elective classes in anything from electronic/computer music, film scoring, jazz, contemporary composers, unusual notation practices, extended techniques and orchestration, and so on.</p>
<p>Just bringing this back up to the top. </p>
<p>Finished most of my apps, just have to finish off one more this week, and another by mid-March. </p>
<p>How is this summer looking for all of you?</p>
<p>My daughter was an alternate for the younger Yellow Barn a few years ago, but nothing opened up. This year she falls in between the age categories for both, so she sent in two applications, although she is afraid she will be out-classed in her audition for the older YB. But I talked her into doing the live audition because it’s a week before her NEC audition and it will be another chance to play before a panel. She also sent in an application to the NAC program in Canada, which we have heard good, but vague reports about, to MAW, Kneisel Hall, and Sarasota (which starts very early.) And to Heifetz, where she went last year and really loved. But Heifetz is very expensive and we’re probably not going to be able to afford it. Also to the 1st session of Aspen despite all the admonitions that they prefer full-session applicants. She was accepted to Aspen 2 years ago, but we didn’t send her (we thought it too expensive and far away.) Last year she was rejected, probably because she changed her teacher choice, following her own teacher’s instructions, to someone whose studio is essentially closed). So I guess we’ll see what happens. Without knowing at this point what scholarships she might have for college, we’re anxious about the idea of another expensive summer program. And if I recall correctly, the summer programs begin to pressure you for a deposit before announcements for college financial aid come about…</p>
<p>Last year, we were right where you are now, glassharmonica, not knowing whether or not we could afford summer programs because we had not idea what would happen in the fall. She ended up at Round Top last summer, which was only $600. This year, she is applying to NRO, Schleswig Holstein, Sarasota, Keshet Eilon and Kent-Blossom. She didn’t feel her chances were good for MAW, Kneisel Hall or Yellow Barn this year, so didn’t apply, but certainly will for next year.</p>
<p>My D is looking for councilor work at music camps. She’d like to find one where she can use her musical skills, not just be a “childherd”. She’s applying to New York Summer Music Festival and French Woods. She has an in with New England Music Camp, but their Web site specifically says that they’re not interested in the music skills of their councilors. If anybody has a suggestion in the Mid-Atlantic to Northeast area, we’d appreciate hearing about it.</p>
<p>Greenwood in Cummington Ma is great for councilors. They all are assigned to play in chamber pieces with the “campers” each week as well as playing in the orchestra.</p>
<p>Thanks flute1298 but it looks like Greenwood is instrumentalists only. My kid is a mezzo-soprano.</p>