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PLAYERS WANTED!
The 2022 Summer Institute will take place from June 24 – August 7, 2022.
The Institute’s 2022 Program is open to outstanding string players who generally range in age from 9 to 30. Younger students are assigned to the Junior Division, and those generally 15 and older to the Senior Division. The program will feature both in-person and virtual options to meet the needs of our exceptional students. No matter the format, you can anticipate an immersive and transformative summer music experience in the hallmark Heifetz style, and its 25-year record of leadership and innovation in high-level musical instruction, Communication Training, personal coaching and mentoring, and industry-leading multimedia production.
The intensive six-week summer program for gifted violin, viola, and cello students is held on the campus of Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, Virginia – in the heart of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. In addition to the main program, the Institute also offers the prestigious Chamber Music Seminar and a two-week Double Bass Studio & Workshop.
Starting in 2022 the Institute will have one unified application for students of all ages. Depending on the applicant’s date of birth, you will be eligible for the following options:
Junior Division:
Open to students 15 and under only
Junior Division participants will have the option to attend for either a three-week session (recommend for students 12 and under) or for the full six-week program.
Senior Division:
Six-week program open to students ages 13 and over. Senior Division participants are eligible to apply for the Chamber Music Seminar
*The double bass program is two weeks in length. Both Junior and Senior Divisions are open to double bass applicants.
**Students between the ages of 13 and 15 may choose between applying for the Junior or Senior Division.
The application deadline is January 30, 2022
The Summer Program
“A great performer may dazzle us with their technique, but it is when they open their heart that the stage really comes alive. Daniel Heifetz founded the Heifetz Institute for young artists to learn how to find and tap into their own musical passion, and learn how to bring that passion to the stage. I am excited to add what I can to this marvelous history and I look forward to all the great music we will share together.” – Nicholas Kitchen, Artistic Director
IN-PERSON, ONLINE, & WORLDWIDE
In response to the pandemic, the Heifetz Institute was the first major summer music program to pivot to an online setting, committed to preserving its training and programmatic activities. In 2020, students and faculty across 14 time zones participated in a fully virtual program, which provided a meaningful and intense musical learning experience and even opportunities for chamber music collaboration. In 2021, the Institute safely conducted a hybrid program in which students studied and performed in-person for several weeks, with the reminder either online from home or in quarantine on campus. Such measures allowed us to navigate the summer program without a single positive COVID case among our community of students, faculty, and staff. Regardless of circumstances, you may confidently anticipate a robust and rewarding summer learning and performance experience from the Heifetz Institute in 2022. For details on the 2020 Virtual Institute, which closely followed the rhythms and routines of the in-person experience, see here.
Health & Safety
All attendees of the 2022 summer program, including students, faculty, and staff, must agree to adhere to all health and safety protocols and
requirements established by the Heifetz Institute, Mary Baldwin University, and the Commonwealth of Virginia for safe in-person study, as described in the Institute’s Student Handbook, a copy of which will be provided before arrival, and which may be updated as circumstances warrant. All participants must provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, or have a pre-approved exemption, prior to arrival on campus in order to participate in person at the 2022 Heifetz International Music Institute.
The Institute’s 2022 summer program is open to outstanding string players who generally range in age between 15—30 (Senior Division), and ages 9—15 (Junior Division, formerly HeifetzPEG). The program includes:
- Two one-hour private lessons per week
- One studio performance class per week
- Enhanced and intensified chamber music component, featuring two coachings per week
- Our signature Heifetz Performance & Communication Training modules,
- Individual practice, performance, and career counseling sessions with professional consultants
- One-on-one concerts via video livestream to patient and resident populations of local healthcare networks isolated due to the pandemic
- Seminars, masterclasses, lectures, fine instrument exhibitions, and audition opportunities, including From The Top
- Days of Play! Organized hikes, field trips, and outings for Heifetz students to explore the natural beauty and local attractions of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley
- Industry-leading HD audio and video productions, including live streams, studio recordings, and concert videos on the Heifetz Institute’s popular YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook pages.
- Participate in and shape the Heifetz Institute’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion initiatives – LEARN MORE
- For online students, highly-developed methods, processes, and access to lessons, classroom and studio instruction, and even chamber music collaborations across distances that are both artistically valid and faithful to the Institute’s communicative mission.
Daily public concert performance opportunities per week, including:
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- Stars of Tomorrow concerts twice per week
- Chamber Music Showcases
- Fridays in the Playhouse: Free afternoon concerts at the American Shakespeare Center’s iconic Blackfriars Playhouse
- Heifetz Sunday Matinee concerts
- Friday night Celebrity Series concerts featuring Heifetz faculty and select students
- Saturday night multi-genre Heifetz Hootenannies
- Private house concerts and outreach performances in area churches, libraries, and civic events
The Heifetz Performance and Communication Training method was developed to guide musicians to discover their full creative potential and express their individuality not only through technically and intellectually robust music making, but also through emotional and even physical engagement with the music they play. It strives to empower young performers to perfect their artistry by developing their physical, mental, and emotional range, and also provides a great opportunity to forge powerful interactions with fellow Heifetz students.
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DRAMA Heifetz Communication Training Coordinator Daniel Pettrow returns to lead this popular segment, where you will discover the “trade secrets” of dramatic communication, and how you can unlock that understanding to bring more dramatic power and meaning to your onstage performances.
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MOVEMENT Gesture, posture, motion – they all communicate. Harness the power of what meets the eye to enhance what meets the ear. Led by Annabella Lenzu, a dancer, choreographer, and teacher with more than 25 years’ experience working in Argentina, Chile, Italy, and the USA.
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YOGA FOR MUSICIANS Integrate what you learn on the yoga mat with your musical studies with violinists and yogis Melissa White and Elena Urioste, whose Intermission Sessions have been healing and helping musicians nationwide.
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SPEAKING IN PUBLIC Your opportunity to connect with your audience begins the moment you set foot on stage. Learn to carry yourself and to speak skillfully to engage your audience before you play a note.
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FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION Explore and expand your unique expressive potential with two powerhouse communicators: Brooklyn-based choreographer and director John Heginbotham and actor/director John Gregorio
The Heifetz Institute is held on the campus of Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, Virginia. Nestled in the Shenandoah Valley between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, Staunton is known for its historic and culturally vibrant downtown and stunning natural beauty. Staunton regularly appears on “Top 10” lists of the nation’s best main streets and small cities in such publications as Vogue, Travel & Leisure, USA Today, and Architectural Digest.
NEW FOR 2022
TAPE & LISTEN
Watching and listening to your own performances leads to a better connection to and understanding of your musical and expressive intentions. Immediately following the dress rehearsals that precede every performance on the Heifetz stage, students will have the opportunity to view a high-quality video playback of their own performance in a private-studio setting. Under the personal guidance of Artistic Director Nicholas Kitchen, you’ll experience your own performance from the audience’s perspective in a supportive environment, and will learn to focus that crucial period between the rehearsal and the concert to organize your efforts and achieve your artistic goals.
PRACTICE TECHNIQUES & BEHAVIORAL ANALYTICS
Behavior consultant and learning architect Adam Hockman is dedicated to helping musicians develop successful practice and performance strategies. He will lead regular sessions intended to help you make significant strides in your growth as a musician and human being, including:
- Listening to Yourself Play
- The Next 6 Months – What Success Looks Like
- Practicing to Perform
- Building and Breaking Habits for a Productive Life
- Measuring Practice Techniques that Make a Difference
Application Fees
The newly reduced application fee is $110, not included in the tuition rate. The application deadline for the 2022 Heifetz Institute will be January 31, 2022. Applications received after that deadline will be considered only on a case-by-case basis. Apply by December 31, 2021 and receive a 20% discount on your application fee. As part of our commitment to equity and inclusiveness, we are now offering an Application Fee Assistance processes so that applicants may request a partial waiver on their application fee.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
The Heifetz Institute will award a minimum of 28 full scholarships to 12 Chamber Music Seminar Fellows and 16 String Scholars. There will be additional audition requirements for these awards. All applicants are eligible for Heifetz merit and tuition assistance awards of up to $2,500. To apply for need-based assistance, please fill out the Financial Aid form in the online application and supply supporting documents We also recommend that you investigate grant and scholarship opportunities within your community (schools, religious groups, arts or civic organizations, community foundations, and private donors) for alternate sources of financial aid.
General Audition Guidelines
Applicants are required to submit recent videos to the Heifetz International Music Institute (see below for the specific requirements for the program in which you are interested). As for whether or not a piece is sufficiently “virtuosic,” we’ll be happy to answer your specific questions at admissions@heifetzinstitute.org. But first keep in mind that we want to be impressed, so think about the pieces that will make the greatest impression on our selection committee.
- Please be sure your audition videos are clearly titled (e.g. John Smith, violin – Bach: Violin Partita No. 2, III. Sarabande)
- Audition videos must clearly display the hands and face of the applicant at all times during the performance, and be taken from one single-camera perspective.
- No video or audio edits of the performance are permitted, and edited performances will not be accepted. Standard editing of applause and truncating and/or excerpting a single movement from longer pieces is acceptable.
- Each audition submission must be uploaded separately and clearly labeled with the name of the applicant performer and of the piece.
- Piano accompaniment: We do not require prospective students to audition with a collaborative pianist. That being said, the goal for your audition should be to achieve the most compelling and artistic performance possible. Most students find that performing an audition with a pianist brings them closer to that goal.
- Videos may be submitted as links to YouTube, Vimeo, or other easily accessible site, or may be uploaded directly to the Heifetz Institute’s application portal. Please make sure that any links are working and do not require a password to access.
- If you wish to upload a video from a live concert that was professionally recorded and does not meet the above conditions, or if you have any other questions, please contact us at admissions@heifetzinstitute.org.
- If you have not attended the Heifetz Institute before, you will also be asked to upload a letter(s) of recommendation from your teacher(s).
Audition Requirements for Heifetz 2022
- Senior Division (all instruments)
- Junior Division (all instruments)
- String Scholar Fellowship
- Chamber Music Fellowship
- Double Bass
- One movement of Bach from the Sonatas and Partitas or the Cello Suites BWV 1001-1012
- One virtuoso work for solo instrument OR with piano accompaniment (some Sonatas can fulfill this requirement)
- One significant Concerto movement (Violists – see specifications below)
Specific concerto requirements for violists:
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- First movement with cadenza of the D Major Concerti by Carl Stamitz or Franz Anton Hoffmeister
- First or second movement of the William Walton Viola Concerto
- First movement, or second and third movements, of the Bela Bartok Viola Concerto
- Any movement of Paul Hindemith’s Der Schwanendreher
- One movement of Bach from the Sonatas and Partitas or the Cello Suites BWV 1001-1012
- One virtuoso work for solo instrument or with piano accompaniment OR one significant Concerto movement (see Viola specifications)
Specific concerto requirements for violists:
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- First movement with cadenza of the D Major Concerti by Carl Stamitz or Franz Anton Hoffmeister
- First or second movement of the William Walton Viola Concerto
- First movement, or second and third movements, of the Bela Bartok Viola Concerto
- Any movement of Paul Hindemith’s Der Schwanendreher
To be considered for a String Scholar Fellowship (which provides tuition-free enrollment), applicants must follow the guidelines for the Senior Division, as well as the following:
- A work reflecting some important part of the applicant’s identity as an artist. This could be a work by a traditional composer who occupies a particularly important part of the applicant’s artistic identity, or might be a work by a lesser-known or less-represented composer that has been important to the applicant’s artistry. An additional option is for the applicant to learn and record a work by the Composer-in-Residence at Heifetz 2022 – Adolphus Hailstork (we will supply the music for the applicant to learn and record).
To be considered for a Chamber Music Fellowship (which provides tuition-free enrollment), applicants must submit the following:
1. One movement of Bach from the Sonatas and Partitas or the Cello Suites BWV 1001-1012. For a pianist in a group, the Bach requirement should be one Prelude and Fugue from the WTC Book I or II)
2. One virtuoso work for solo instrument or with piano accompaniment OR One significant Concerto movement (see Viola specifications)
3. A work reflecting some important part of the applicant’s identity as a chamber music artist (note -this may or may not be chamber music). This could be a work by a traditional composer who occupies a particularly important part of the applicant’s artistic identity, or might be a work by a lesser-known or less-represented composer that has been important to the applicant’s artistry. These recordings can include chamber music collaborators, but the applicant does not have to submit a chamber music recording; merely something that shows the applicant’s aptitude related to chamber music. An additional option is for the applicant to learn and record a work by the Composer-in-Residence at Heifetz 2022 – Adolphus Hailstork (we will supply the music for the applicant to learn and record).
For an ensemble to apply for Chamber Music Fellowships, they must submit AS A GROUP:
- Three contrasting movements
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- One by Haydn, Mozart or early Beethoven
- One from what may be called the Romantic period (middle Beethoven through Debussy and Ravel)
- One from the modern era Bartók and Shostakovich to the present
*If the group is not accepted but the individuals still wish to be considered, they must submit the requirements for the Senior Division.
- A movement from one of the six cello suites by J.S. Bach (optional repeats)
- A movement of a standard concerto or sonata, demonstrating both artistry and virtuosity (accompaniment preferred)
- Two contrasting orchestral excerpts of your choice.
Tuition (In-Person Programs)
6-Week Program: In-Person
(Junior & Senior Division)
TUITION, ROOM & BOARD: $6,000
- Twice-a-week private lessons, and/or classroom instruction and coachings with studio teachers
- Access to all other Institute instruction, Communication Training classes, master classes, group studio class, guaranteed rehearsal time with pianists, etc.
- Room & Board, including air-conditioned single- or double-occupancy dorm rooms, dedicated practice rooms, dining facilities, and parking permits on the Mary Baldwin University campus in Staunton, VA
STUDENT ACTIVITIES & TRANSPORTATION: $250
- Guaranteed transportation to and from IAD, CHO, or SHD airports and STA or CVS train stations
- Transportation to and from student activity locations
TECHNOLOGY AND PHOTOCOPYING/MUSIC LIBRARY/LICENSING FEE: $100
- Access to campus-wide wireless internet (Must have U.S. cell phone number)
- Access to the Heifetz Institute music library and photocopying privileges, including payment of compulsory license fees to music publication agencies
- Access to Heifetz Institute software and peripherals, including page-turning pedals.
MEDICAL SERVICES, HEALTH & SAFETY, TESTING, AND CLEANING FEES: $300
- Mandatory testing for COVID-19
- Quarantine facilities, if necessary
- 24/7 coverage and transportation to and from local health care facilities, including emergency room service
STUDENT ID & KEY DEPOSIT: $30
- Mandatory for access to on-campus dining facilities
- Free admission to local YMCA
- Grants free admission to all Heifetz events
- Enables discounts on purchases at the Heifetz Music Shop and other downtown Staunton businesses.
Total: $6,680
3-Week Program: In-Person
(Junior Division Only)
TUITION, ROOM & BOARD: $3,600
- Twice-a-week private lessons, and/or classroom instruction and coachings with studio teachers
- Access to all other Institute instruction, Communication Training classes, master classes, group studio class, guaranteed rehearsal time with pianists, etc.
- Room & Board, including air-conditioned single- or double-occupancy dorm rooms, dedicated practice rooms, dining facilities, and parking permits on the Mary Baldwin University campus in Staunton, VA
STUDENT ACTIVITIES & TRANSPORTATION: $125
- Guaranteed transportation to and from IAD, CHO, or SHD airports and STA or CVS train stations
- Transportation to and from student activity locations
TECHNOLOGY AND PHOTOCOPYING/MUSIC LIBRARY/LICENSING FEE: $50
- Access to campus-wide wireless internet (Must have U.S. cell phone number)
- Access to the Heifetz Institute music library and photocopying privileges, including payment of compulsory license fees to music publication agencies
- Access to Heifetz Institute software and peripherals, including page-turning pedals.
MEDICAL SERVICES, HEALTH & SAFETY, TESTING, AND CLEANING FEES: $150
- Mandatory testing for COVID-19
- Quarantine facilities, if necessary
- 24/7 coverage and transportation to and from local health care facilities, including emergency room service
STUDENT ID & KEY DEPOSIT: $30
- Mandatory for access to on-campus dining facilities
- Free admission to local YMCA
- Grants free admission to all Heifetz events
- Enables discounts on purchases at the Heifetz Music Shop and other downtown Staunton businesses.
Total: $3,955
2-Week Double Bass Program
July 25 – August 7
TUITION, ROOM & BOARD: $2,100
- Twice-a-week private lessons, and/or classroom instruction and coachings with studio teachers
- Access to all other Institute instruction, Communication Training classes, master classes, group studio class, guaranteed rehearsal time with pianists, etc.
- Room & Board, including air-conditioned single- or double-occupancy dorm rooms, dedicated practice rooms, dining facilities, and parking permits on the Mary Baldwin University campus in Staunton, VA
STUDENT ACTIVITIES & TRANSPORTATION: $100
- Guaranteed transportation to and from IAD, CHO, or SHD airports and STA or CVS train stations
- Transportation to and from student activity locations
TECHNOLOGY AND PHOTOCOPYING/MUSIC LIBRARY/LICENSING FEE: $50
- Access to campus-wide wireless internet (Must have U.S. cell phone number)
- Access to the Heifetz Institute music library and photocopying privileges, including payment of compulsory license fees to music publication agencies
- Access to Heifetz Institute software and peripherals, including page-turning pedals.
MEDICAL SERVICES, HEALTH & SAFETY, TESTING, AND CLEANING FEES: $100
- Mandatory testing for COVID-19
- Quarantine facilities, if necessary
- 24/7 coverage and transportation to and from local health care facilities, including emergency room service
STUDENT ID & KEY DEPOSIT: $30
- Mandatory for access to on-campus dining facilities
- Free admission to local YMCA
- Grants free admission to all Heifetz events
- Enables discounts on purchases at the Heifetz Music Shop and other downtown Staunton businesses.
Total: $2,380
Tuition (Online Programs)
6-Week Program: Online
(Junior & Senior Division)
TUITION, ROOM & BOARD: $3,800
- Twice-a-week private lessons, and/or classroom instruction and coachings with studio teachers
- Access to all other Institute instruction, Communication Training classes, master classes, group studio class, guaranteed rehearsal time with pianists, etc.
TECHNOLOGY AND PHOTOCOPYING/MUSIC LIBRARY/LICENSING FEE: $100
- Access to campus-wide wireless internet (Must have U.S. cell phone number)
- Access to the Heifetz Institute music library and photocopying privileges, including payment of compulsory license fees to music publication agencies
TECHNOLOGY TOOLKIT: $200
- The Heifetz Institute provides vouchers and licenses for a range of audio and video hardware, software, peripherals, and accessories, and 24/7 on-call counseling and expertise from the Heifetz Multimedia team.
Total: $4,100
3-Week Program: Online
(Junior Division Only)
TUITION, ROOM & BOARD: $1,875
- Twice-a-week private lessons, and/or classroom instruction and coachings with studio teachers
- Access to all other Institute instruction, Communication Training classes, master classes, group studio class, guaranteed rehearsal time with pianists, etc.
TECHNOLOGY AND PHOTOCOPYING/MUSIC LIBRARY/LICENSING FEE: $50
- Access to campus-wide wireless internet (Must have U.S. cell phone number)
- Access to the Heifetz Institute music library and photocopying privileges, including payment of compulsory license fees to music publication agencies
TECHNOLOGY TOOLKIT: $200
- The Heifetz Institute provides vouchers and licenses for a range of audio and video hardware, software, peripherals, and accessories, and 24/7 on-call counseling and expertise from the Heifetz Multimedia team.
Total: $2,125
2-Week Double Bass Program
July 25 – August 7 (Online)
TUITION, ROOM & BOARD: $1,500
- Twice-a-week private lessons, and/or classroom instruction and coachings with studio teachers
- Access to all other Institute instruction, Communication Training classes, master classes, group studio class, guaranteed rehearsal time with pianists, etc.
TECHNOLOGY AND PHOTOCOPYING/MUSIC LIBRARY/LICENSING FEE: $50
- Access to campus-wide wireless internet (Must have U.S. cell phone number)
- Access to the Heifetz Institute music library and photocopying privileges, including payment of compulsory license fees to music publication agencies
TECHNOLOGY TOOLKIT: $200
- The Heifetz Institute provides vouchers and licenses for a range of audio and video hardware, software, peripherals, and accessories, and 24/7 on-call counseling and expertise from the Heifetz Multimedia team.
Total: $1,750