Life at the Music Academy

Summer School & Festival

A Life Changing Experience

Powerful musical instruction combines with frequent social events, community outreach, dynamic training, and wellness programs in our Summer School & Festival and beyond. Throughout the summer, fellows are immersed in rich opportunities to expand repertoire and refine performance style under the personalized guidance of globally-renowned musicians.

Outside the studio, fellows get to soak in all the beauty and recreational fun that Santa Barbara has to offer while getting to know local community members. Engaging wellness programs and career seminars led by conductors, teaching artists, and industry leaders help prepare you for a balanced, fulfilling professional life.

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Study & reside in the gorgeous, beachside city of Santa Barbara

Campus & Housing

Our Main Campus

The Music Academy’s home is Miraflores, a stunning 10-acre garden estate 90 miles north of Los Angeles. The campus is just a minute’s walk from Butterfly Beach, considered by many to be the most beautiful beach in the area, with stunning sunset views.

Miraflores is the focus of most of the summer’s activities and events: masterclasses, lessons, rehearsals, recitals, competitions, and practice sessions. A lounge, dining patio, music library, and sprawling beautiful gardens provide spaces for leisure and relaxation.

Our Residential Campus

Housing is just minutes from the Music Academy at Westmont College, a 111-acre private campus with breathtaking ocean views and wooded paths. Fellows have a private room, and share a bathroom with their suite. Married/partner housing is not available.

The residential dining hall provides delicious, hot buffet meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and fellows can take advantage of a wide range of recreational facilities, including a fitness center, swimming pool, tennis courts, art museum, library, observatory, and scenic gardens.

Connecting with the community

Compeer Program

More than just a place to learn, the Music Academy becomes your home away from home where you develop lifelong friendships with other fellows and deep connections to teaching artists and local music supporters.

The Compeer Program is the heart of the Music Academy culture.

The Compeer program has set the Music Academy community apart for 28 years, creating over 3,000 friendships, and continues to be at the heart of the Music Academy culture.

Compeers and fellows spend time together several times throughout the summer — enjoying a picnic at the Music Academy gardens or a backyard BBQ, beach walks, grabbing a coffee between rehearsals, sightseeing, or meeting up for dinner downtown. For fellows, having a familiar face in the audience means the world, and for Compeers there is no better way to enjoy a performance than by knowing the performers. This is a classical music community like no other!

Thrive personally and professionally

Wellness

We define “wellness” as a way of life that balances mental, physical, and social well-being – developing healthy musicians who thrive both on and off stage.

Wellness resources include complimentary counseling, Alexander Technique, fitness classes, and performance medicine. The Music Academy also offers career chats and events curated to help prepare for a balanced, fulfilling professional life.

The summer social calendar is full of activities to choose from - hiking, beach events, outdoor movies, and more.

140

Summer Fellows

120+

Public Events

Teaching Artists

Testimonials & Good Vibes😊

Don't just take it from us, see why fellows love the Music Academy.

"My experience at the Festival was life changing. From performing one of my favorite roles and working on it with incredible artists, to making new lifelong friends and musical connections, to collaborating with fantastic pianists and chamber musicians, to singing for people in current hiring positions. It was all so enlightening and made me feel ready for my next professional engagement!"

"My preconceived notions of what the full 8-week program would be were far below the actual experience. Not a single dull moment, musically or socially."

"Simply put: Best. Summer. Ever."

"I grew so much this summer in so many areas thanks to the wonderful staff and performance opportunities given. I was able to make so many great connections that once seemed so far from me."

"There is nothing like the Music Academy"

"I knew it would be amazing. But the level of playing was better than I expected and also I absolutely loved spending time on campus and getting to play for a lot of different people and hear a lot of different ideas."