The Heifetz 2026 Summer Program
The 30th Anniversary SeasonPLAYERS WANTED for the Heifetz Institute’s 30th Anniversary Season!
The 2026 Summer Institute: Friday June 19 – Sunday August 2, 2026
December 31, 2025: Early Application Deadline (receive a $25 discount on application fee)
February 1, 2026: Final Application Deadline
The Heifetz summer program is an immersive, intensive, and often transformative musical experience for our students, built upon the Institute’s decades-long record of leadership and innovation in high-level musical instruction, Performance and Communication Training, practice analytics, personal coaching and mentoring, and industry-leading multimedia production.
The Institute’s 2026 Summer Program is open to outstanding string players who generally range in age from 8 to 30. Successful applicants aged 14 or younger are generally assigned to the Junior Division, while those 15 and older are placed in the Senior Division. 14 and 15 year-old students may be considered for both Junior or Senior Divisions, with placement determined by the Artistic Director. Senior Division applicants age 18 or older may also apply to the Heifetz Chamber Music Seminar. Successful Chamber Music Seminar applicants will participate in all Senior Division AND Chamber Music Seminar activities.
The ideal Heifetz Institute student is a highly accomplished young musician—violinist, violist, or cellist—who is already performing at an exceptional technical and artistic level, and who aspires to a life and career in music. Whether envisioning a path as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral performer, or creative entrepreneur, they share a deep commitment to artistic excellence and expressive growth. Heifetz students are marked not only by their skill, but by their curiosity, imagination, and openness to discovery. They are passionate about their instrument and the repertoire they play, and they seek to explore the full range of their communicative power—on stage and beyond—through the Institute’s unique combination of musical and non-musical training. They embrace new ideas, new technologies, and new ways of connecting with audiences, understanding that today’s successful artist must be both a consummate performer and an engaged communicator. Above all, the ideal Heifetz candidate is driven by a desire to move, to inspire, and to make a difference through music.
ANY QUESTIONS? Please contact admissions@heifetzinstitute.org
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The Summer Program
“At the Heifetz Institute, we have the privilege of welcoming generations of truly gifted young artists into a thrilling arena of discovery. As Artistic Director, I am proud of all that our community has achieved over three decades of summers—through the extraordinary dedication of our faculty, the inspiring artistry of our alumni, and the unforgettable performances of our students. What a joy it is to celebrate 30 years of sharing this music together!”
–Nicholas Kitchen, Artistic Director
Junior Division:
Open to students 14 and under with the option to attend for either a three-week session (recommended for students 13 and under) or the full six-week program.
Session I: June 19 – July 11
Session II: July 12 – August 2
Senior Division:
Six-week program open to students ages 14 and over. Senior Division participants ages 18+ are eligible to apply for the Chamber Music Seminar and String Fellow scholarships.
Chamber Music Seminar:
A six-week program of intense and highly focused study of masterworks of chamber music literature with some of the most renowned instructors in the field. Young artists age 18 or older preparing for professional careers in Chamber Music are encouraged to apply.
String Scholar Fellowships:
Reserved for a select group of exceptional Senior Division musicians (ages 18–30), the Heifetz String Scholar program recognizes top artists who exemplify the Institute’s mission of communication and artistry. Limited to up to eight participants, String Scholars receive additional performance and outreach opportunities, which may include regional and touring engagements before and after the summer session.
IMPORTANT DATES:
- December 31, 2025: Early Application Deadline (receive a $25 discount on application fee)
- February 1, 2026: Final Application Deadline
- March 2, 2026: Admissions Notices Begin
- March 13, 2026: Final Admissions Notices
- June 19, 2026: Arrival for Senior Division & Junior Division Session I
- July 11, 2026: Departure for Junior Division Session I
- July 12, 2026: Arrival for Junior Division Session II
- August 2, 2026: Departure for Senior Division & Junior Division Session II
2026 String Faculty
Sr. Violin Studio I
ILYA KALER
Cleveland Institute of Music; Tempest Trio
JUDITH INGOLFSSON
Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University
GRIGORY KALINOVSKY
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
HYE JIN KIM
East Carolina University; Cooperstown Quartet
Sr. Violin Studio II
PATINKA KOPEC
Manhattan School Music
DANIEL PHILLIPS
The Juilliard School; Orion Quartet
ARA GREGORIAN
New England Conservatory
NICHOLAS KITCHEN
New England Conservatory; Borromeo Quartet
Sr. Violin Studio III
KYUNG-SUN LEE
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
ANI KAVAFIAN
Yale School of Music
HAGAI SHAHAM
Buchman/Mehta Academy; Tel Aviv University; Stony Brook University
IVAN CHAN
Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts
Sr. Violin Studio IV
KYOKO TAKEZAWA
Toho Music School; Tokyo College of Music
MARK KAPLAN
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
KRISTOPER TONG
New England Conservatory; Borromeo Quartet
NICHOLAS KITCHEN
New England Conservatory; Borromeo Quartet
Sr. Viola Studio I
MARCUS THOMPSON
New England Conservatory
PAUL NEUBAUER
The Juilliard School; Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
MAI MOTOBUCHI
New England Conservatory
CAROLINE COADE
University of Michigan School of Music
Sr. Viola Studio II
ATAR ARAD
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
MELISSA REARDON
New England Conservatory; Borromeo Quartet
PATINKA KOPEC
Manhattan School Music
LAWRENCE DUTTON
Stony Brook University; Mercer University
Sr. Cello Studio I
HANNAH ROBERTS
Royal Academy of Music; RNCM (Manchester)
AMIT PELED
Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University
RALPH KIRSHBAUM
USC Thornton School of Music
THOMAS MESA
Manhattan School of Music
Sr. Cello Studio II
COLIN CARR
Stony Brook University
STEVEN DOANE
Eastman School of Music
ROSEMARY ELLIOTT
Eastman School of Music
PETER STUMPF
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
Sr. Chamber Music Coaches
MICHAEL KLOTZ
Florida International University; Amernet String Quartet
BORROMEO QUARTET
Ensemble in Residence – Heifetz Institute, New England Conservatory (Nicholas Kitchen, Kristopher Tong, Melissa Reardon, Yeesun Kim)
BELA HORVATH
Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Division
Chamber Music Seminar
SHMUEL ASHKENASI
Curtis Institute of Music; Bard College Conservatory
RALPH KIRSHBAUM
USC Thornton School of Music
BORROMEO QUARTET
Ensemble in Residence – Heifetz Institute, New England Conservatory (Nicholas Kitchen, Kristopher Tong, Melissa Reardon, Yeesun Kim)
Jr. Violin Studio I
CHLOÉ KIFFER
Manhattan School of Music
REBECCA HENRY
The Peabody Preparatory at Johns Hopkins University
Jr. Violin Studio II / Viola I
CAELI SMITH
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
BELA HORVATH
Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Division
Jr. Violin Studio III
WANCHI HUANG
James Madison University School of Music
Jr. Violin Studio IV
LI-MEI LIANG
New England Conservatory
DESIRÉE RUHSTRAT
Northwestern Bienen School of Music
Jr. Cello Studio I
EUNGHEE CHO
University of Houston Moores School of Music
ANDREW MARK
Boston Conservatory at Berklee
Jr. Cello Studio II
YI QUN XU
The Juilliard School Pre-College
THOMAS MESA
Manhattan School of Music
Jr. Chamber Music Coaches
YI QUN XU
The Juilliard School Pre-College
CHRISTIAN TREMBLAY
The Peabody Preparatory at Johns Hopkins University
LUTHER WARREN
Merrimack College
NICHOLAS KITCHEN
New England Conservatory; Borromeo Quartet
Program Details
For both Junior and Senior Division students, the Heifetz Summer Program includes:
- Two private lessons per week
- One studio performance class per week
- A rigorous chamber music component featuring two coachings per week and scheduled performances
- Our signature Heifetz Performance & Communication Training modules
- Practice & performance analytics and coaching with professional consultants
- Seminars, masterclasses, lectures, fine instrument exhibitions, and audition opportunities, including From The Top
- A School Fair featuring representatives from the nation’s leading conservatories and music schools
- 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
- 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
- Daily public concert performance opportunities per week
CHAMBER MUSIC SEMINAR DETAILS
- Limited to 16 participants, who will receive full scholarships and be recognized as Heifetz Chamber Music Fellows
- Open to Senior Division applicants only (suggested ages 18-30)
- Two private lessons per week
- Extensive weekly Chamber Music coachings, plus a weekly Chamber Music Seminar class
- Two concerts will be dedicated exclusively to complete performances of assigned repertoire by Heifetz Chamber Music Seminar students.
STRING SCHOLAR FELLOWSHIP DETAILS
- Reserved for a select group of exceptional Senior Division musicians (ages 18–30), the Heifetz String Scholar program recognizes top artists who exemplify the Institute’s mission of communication and artistry. Limited to eight participants, String Scholars receive additional performance and outreach opportunities, that may include regional and touring engagements before and after the summer session, as well as pride of place in the opening concert of the summer festival.
FACULTY – STUDENT COLLABORATIONS
The Chamber Music Showcase Series
Each and every Senior Division student now has the opportunity to study, rehearse, and perform alongside our world-renowned faculty. Introduced in 2023, the weekly Chamber Music Showcases will feature masterworks of the literature in cross-generational performances led by Artistic Director Nicholas Kitchen and other members of the Heifetz string faculty.
Daily public concert performance opportunities per week, including:
- Stars of Tomorrow concerts twice per week
- Faculty & Student Chamber Music Showcases (Senior Division)
- Free afternoon concerts in downtown Staunton venues
- Junior Division Solo and Chamber Music Showcases
- Celebrity Series concerts featuring Heifetz faculty and select students
- Private house concerts and outreach performances in area churches, libraries, and civic events
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 supervision of the Artistic Director or other members of the artistic leadership.
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.
Performance & Communication Training
The Heifetz Performance and Communication Training program is a cornerstone of our curriculum, designed to help young musicians unlock their full expressive potential—on stage and beyond. Through singing, movement, and dramatic exercises, students learn to connect their musical performance to the emotional depth of human expression, exploring how voice, body, and instrument work together to communicate powerfully. Whether channeling the passion of Bach, the rhythm of a gigue, or the cadence of a compelling public speech, students discover that true artistry lies in the union of expression, musicianship, and emotion.
Movement: In this class, students explore the deep connection between physical expression and musical meaning – how rhythm flows through the body and shapes interpretation. Harnessing rhythm through movement and dance, students will experience how gesture, expression, and motion inform musical phrasing and ensemble awareness. One student might play Bach while others dance the authentic steps – and then invent their own. Students will discover how learning the moves deepens expression, sharpens perception, and makes rhythm pulse through every gesture.
Voice: Singing lies at the heart of musical expression. In this class, you’ll explore how the treatment of words in song reveals phrasing, nuance, and emotional intent. By learning to sing and to listen with imagination, you’ll discover how to phrase your instrumental music with greater freedom and meaning — connecting voice, heart, and instrument into one expressive whole.
Freedom of Expression: Through playful improvisation, storytelling, and creative exercises, you will discover new ways to connect, communicate, and bring greater authenticity and presence to your music-making. Students will learn the fundamentals of improv acting while incorporating their instruments as partners in creative expression, interpretive imagination, and a deeper awareness of how musical and physical communication intertwine. Led by acclaimed performers Vanessa Valliere and John Gregorio.
Drama: Heifetz Director of Performance & Communication Training Daniel Pettrow returns to lead this popular class designed for performing artists to deepen their personal presence and expand their expressive range. Through guided warm-up techniques, practical exercises, and ensemble work, students will explore methods for cultivating authentic stage presence, enhancing dramatic expression, and managing performance anxiety. The course provides a supportive environment for developing greater confidence, connection, and artistry in performance.
Speaking in Public: Your connection with the audience begins the moment you set foot on stage. This class empowers young artists with the skills and confidence to communicate effectively in any setting. Under the guidance of Daniel Pettrow, students will develop techniques drawn from great communicators, learn strategies for crafting engaging and authentic speeches, and practice speaking from a place of clarity, purpose, and presence.
Yoga: Discover how the mindfulness, balance, and awareness cultivated on the yoga mat can enhance your musical practice. Led by violinist and yogi Melissa White, whose Intermission Sessions have inspired and supported musicians nationwide, this class invites students to integrate physical alignment, breath, and focus into their artistic journey – fostering well-being, resilience, and expressive freedom.
Staunton, Virginia
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.
Application Fees
Apply online at heifetzinstitute.org/apply by February 1, 2026. Late applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The application fee is $125, and is not included in the tuition rate. Apply by December 31, 2025 to receive a $25 discount on your application fee. The Institute also offers an Application Fee Assistance Program as part of our commitment to equity and inclusiveness.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
The Heifetz Institute will award up to 24 full scholarships to Chamber Music Seminar Fellows and String Scholars, available to Senior Division students age 18 and up only. Students who are under 18 may request to apply to the Chamber Music Seminar or String Scholar program by emailing admissions@heifetzinstitute.org. There are additional audition requirements for these scholarship awards.
All applicants are eligible for 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.
General Audition Guidelines
- 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 and of the piece.
- Each audition submission must be a different work. Please do not submit the same audition video for multiple requirements.
- Submit your application only once you have the videos you want the committee to review. Applications are reviewed in the order they are received, so applications with “placeholder” videos or links will be evaluated as is.
- 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 not listed as private.
- 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).
Applications due by February 1, 2026. Apply by December 31, 2025 to receive a $25 discount on your application fee.
ANY QUESTIONS? Please contact admissions@heifetzinstitute.org
Audition Requirements for Heifetz 2026
1. One movement of Bach from the Sonatas and Partitas or the Cello Suites BWV 1001-1012. (Playing the Fugue of BWV 1001 and 1003 or Ciaconna of BWV 1004 is encouraged but not required. The Ciaconna can be either the first Minore section (m. 1 – 128) or the Maggiore and final Minore combined (m. 129 – 248).
2. One virtuoso work for solo instrument OR with piano accompaniment (some Sonatas can fulfill this requirement) – examples include Paganini’s Caprices, Ysaÿe’s Sonatas, Ravel’s Tzigane, Sarasate’s Zigeunerwiesen, the third movement of most concertos, and other similar works.
3. One significant Concerto movement
1. One movement of Bach from the Sonatas and Partitas or the Cello Suites BWV 1001-1012
2. One virtuoso work for solo instrument OR with piano accompaniment (some Sonatas can fulfill this requirement) – examples include works from The Virtuoso Violist by W. Primrose, Paganini’s Sonata per la Gran Viola, Berlioz’s Harold in Italy, the third movement of most concertos, and other similar works
3. One significant Concerto movement
1. One movement of Bach from the Cello Suites BWV 1007-1012
2. One virtuoso work for solo instrument OR with piano accompaniment (some Sonatas can fulfill this requirement) – examples include most works by D. Popper, Piatti Caprices, Cassado’s Cello Suite, Paganin’s Moses Variations, the third movement of most concertos, and other similar works
3. One significant Concerto movement
Reserved for a select group of exceptional Senior Division musicians (ages 18–30), the Heifetz String Scholar program recognizes top artists who exemplify the Institute’s mission of communication and artistry. Limited to just eight participants, String Scholars may receive additional performance and outreach opportunities, including regional and touring engagements before and after the summer session. Applications must include All Sr. Div. Requirements, as well as 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. As part of this video requirement, applicants must also submit a separate video with a brief introduction (no more than 2 minutes long) explaining why you selected this piece and how it represents your artistic identity.
To be considered for a Chamber Music Fellowship (which provides tuition-free enrollment), applicants must submit:
All Sr. Div. Requirements + 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. As part of this video requirement, applicants must also submit a separate video with a brief introduction (no more than 2 minutes long) explaining why you selected this piece and how it represents your artistic identity.
1. One movement of Bach from the Sonatas and Partitas or the Cello Suites BWV 1001-1012. Suzuki transcriptions of Bach works are also accepted.
2. One virtuoso work for solo instrument OR with piano accompaniment (some Sonatas can fulfill this requirement) OR one significant Concerto movement. See the Sr. Division instrument-specific requirements for examples of virtuosic pieces.
Voilà Viola! — A New Junior Division Chamber Music Initiative
The tradition of violinists studying and performing on the viola has deep roots in classical music history. Many of the greatest composers and performers—Mozart, Beethoven, and Dvořák among them—were proficient on both instruments, often switching roles in chamber music settings. This duality was not only practical, helping to fill ensemble roles, but also musical: playing viola enhances a violinist’s understanding of inner voices, harmonic structure, and ensemble blend. As of 2025, Artistic Director Nicholas Kitchen and Junior Division Director of Chamber Music Luther Warren have prepared a dynamic curriculum for chamber music that will lay the foundation for developing fluency in violin AND viola for as many of our Junior Division students as possible.
Tuition
6-Week Program:
(Junior & Senior Division)
TUITION: $6,200
- 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: $2,850
- 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: $280
- 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
- Quarantine facilities, if necessary
- 24/7 coverage and transportation to and from local health care facilities, including emergency room service
STUDENT ID & KEY DEPOSIT: $40
- 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.
MULTIMEDIA: $150
- An archive of all of the Heifetz Institute’s state-of-the-art concert live streams will be available for all students. Single-camera video and HD audio of any concert performances may be available upon request.
Total: $9,920
3-Week Program
(Junior Division Only)
TUITION: $4,235
- 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: $1,675
- 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: $140
- 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
- Quarantine facilities, if necessary
- 24/7 coverage and transportation to and from local health care facilities, including emergency room service
STUDENT ID & KEY DEPOSIT: $40
- 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.
MULTIMEDIA: $100
- An archive of all of the Heifetz Institute’s state-of-the-art concert live streams will be available for all students. Single-camera video and HD audio of any concert performances may be available upon request.
Total: $6,390
Tuition Deposit
Upon acceptance, admitted students will receive an itemized Financial Statement detailing tuition, fees, and any need- or merit- based scholarship awards. The statement will detail the overall cost to the student, the required tuition deposit, the balance amount, and due date. The tuition deposit will be due within two weeks of receiving the acceptance letter and financial statement. Deposits shall not be refunded if the student chooses to withdraw from the Institute.
Remaining Balance
All tuition and fee payments must be completed by April 15, 2026. Payments made by mail need to be postmarked by this date. Payments may be made online via the QuickBooks invoice sent at the time of enrollment and following receipt of the tuition deposit. There is a 3% credit/debit card processing fee for all online payments. Checks, made payable to “Heifetz International Music Institute” may be sent to:
Heifetz International Music Institute
PO Box 2447
Staunton, VA 24402
For payments via wire transfer, contact accounts@heifetzinstitute.org. A single payment for the full cost of attendance is preferred (with the exception of the tuition deposit), but an installment plan is available on an as-needed basis. For more information on installment plans, contact accounts@heifetzinstitute.org.
Refund Policy
Application fees and tuition deposits are non-refundable. Any payments made on or after the April 15, 2026 deadline for the Remaining Balance are non-refundable. If a student is forced to withdraw for health and/or injury reasons, they will be automatically re-enrolled for the following summer, and any fees paid to date will be applied to their next year’s tuition. In the event of program cancellation, all deposits, tuition, and fees will be fully refunded.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do applications for the 2026 Summer Program open?
Our application portal opens by December 1, 2025
What is the application deadline for the 2026 Summer Program?
Our deadline is February 1, 2026.
Do you offer financial aid?
What are the audition requirements for the 2026 Summer Program?
You can find our updated audition requirements in the section titled “Audition Requirements.”
Does [enter name of piece] fulfill your audition requirement?
- Check our audition requirements and compare your piece to the examples provided.
- If you are still in doubt, we suggest you speak with your private teacher about your repertoire selections.
- Check out our YouTube channel for repertoire selection ideas.
What are the dates for the 2026 Summer Program?
- June 19, 2026: Arrival for Senior Division & Junior Division Session I
- July 11, 2026: Departure for Junior Division Session I
- July 12, 2026: Arrival for Junior Division Session II
- August 2, 2026: Departure for Senior Division & Junior Division Session II