Music Academy Exchange Fellows

Music Academy and the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) launched a transatlantic partnership in 2018, in which 10-12 fellows are selected annually to participate in intensive training with the Orchestra and Sir Simon Rattle. As part of the partnership, the winners of the 2018 Solo Piano and Marilyn Horne Song competitions made a London recital appearance at LSO St Luke’s as part of the Keston Music Academy Exchange (Keston MAX). Throughout the partnership, Michael Tilson Thomas, Marin Alsop, Daniel Harding, Elim Chan, Sir Simon Rattle, and other key LSO conductors and musicians have performed and taught at the Academy. LSO principals have led virtual lessons and coaching sessions and the Keston MAX auditions.

This June and November, 48 Keston MAX fellows have been invited to train, rehearse, and perform with the LSO in London, led by Sir Simon Rattle and Gianandrea Noseda. These experiences give Music Academy alums a taste of the professional life of an orchestral musician and an extraordinary performance opportunity. 

10 of this year’s fellows will be selected during the 2022 Summer Festival to attend the November exchanges.

The lead sponsors of the London Symphony Orchestra partnership are Linda and Michael Keston and Mary Lynn and Warren Staley. Additional support has been provided in remembrance of Léni Fé Bland.