Music Academy of the West Announces New Summer Festival Structure with High School Intensive & Fellowship Institute
The 2026 Summer Music Festival & School opens with a new two-week High School Intensive for exceptional musicians ages 14–18, followed by the six-week Fellowship Institute for pre-professional musicians ages 18–34.
September 24, 2025 (Santa Barbara, CA) — The Music Academy of the West is pleased to announce its 2026 Summer Music Festival & School, running June 14–August 8, during which it will debut a new structure poised to expand its impact. The Festival will open with a new two-week High School Intensive (June 14–25) for accomplished musicians ages 14–18, followed by the celebrated six-week Fellowship Institute (June 27–August 8) for pre-professional musicians ages 18–34. Together, the High School Intensive and Fellowship Institute create a dynamic eight-week Festival filled with concerts, recitals, special events, and educational offerings that position the Music Academy as a leader in training the next generation of classical musicians.
The Festival’s High School Intensive expands the Academy’s renowned training to students at a pivotal point in their artistic growth — those beginning to shape their future paths. Our phenomenal teaching artists will work closely with these young artists to help guide their next steps. It will also stand apart as one of the most distinctive high-level programs for high school musicians in the United States.
About the High School Intensive
June 14–25, 2026
The Academy’s tuition-based High School Intensive is a transformative investment in the next generation of musicians, providing critical support at a formative stage in a young artist’s growth and educational journey. Filling a vital gap in West Coast classical music education, the program enables 105 outstanding musicians ages 14–18 (prior to college matriculation) to experience the artistry, training, discipline, and inspiration that define the Music Academy.
Orchestral instrumentalists, conductors, and pianists will study with the Academy’s world-class teaching artists and distinguished guests in state-of-the-art facilities — preparing them not only with technical mastery, but with the discipline required to pursue a career in music. They will also collaborate with peers equally committed to excellence and perform in public chamber and orchestral concerts as part of the festival’s opening weeks, alongside the String Quartet Seminar fellows, the Takács Quartet, and other distinguished performers.
Modeled on the Academy’s 78 years of celebrated training, the High School Intensive offers a rigorous 12-day curriculum, including:
- Private lessons with renowned Music Academy teaching artists
- Orchestra rehearsals and performance led by Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Distinguished Resident Director of Orchestras and Professor of Conducting at Shepherd School of Music at Rice University
- Chamber music coaching and performances
- Studio classes
- College readiness workshops including mock auditions, understanding the audition process, and recordings
- Specialized workshops such as conducting, orchestral excerpts, and collaborative performance
- Performances by world-renowned artists
- Vibrant campus life with peers
For generations, the Music Academy of the West has been a place where musicians discover the depth of their artistry. With the launch of our new High School Intensive, that journey now begins even earlier. For two weeks, young musicians will immerse themselves in chamber music, orchestra, private lessons, and faculty-led studio classes — experiencing the same spirit of mentorship and community that has defined the Academy for decades. They will leave not only with stronger skills but with a deeper sense of confidence, creativity, and leadership. This is where young musicians grow into artists — and the future of music begins
Teaching artists leading the High School Intensive include a distinguished combination of renowned returning Academy faculty and acclaimed new additions to the Festival. Returning include Martin Beaver, violin (Colburn School); Conor Hanick, piano (The Juilliard School, Mannes School of Music, CUNY Graduate Center); Richie Hawley, clarinet (Shepherd School of Music at Rice University); Scott Pingel, bass (San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Principal Bass of San Francisco Symphony); Alan Stepansky, cello (Peabody Institute, Manhattan School of Music); and Michael Werner, percussion (Principal Percussionist of Seattle Symphony).
Joining the Music Academy to launch this exciting inaugural program are Michelle Baker, horn (Manhattan School of Music, Montclair State University, Mannes College of Music ); Marianne Gedigian, flute (Shepherd School of Music at Rice University); Natalie Hoe, clarinet (Principal Clarinet of The Florida Orchestra and Music Academy alum); Judith LeClair, bassoon (The Juilliard School, Principal Bassoon of New York Philharmonic); Jennifer Marotta, trumpet (USC Thornton School of Music); and Kenneth Tompkins, trombone (Michigan State University).
The High School Intensive requires an audition for orchestral instruments, piano, and conducting. Tuition is $6,000 and includes housing, activities, and meals.
For more information, visit musicacademy.org/highschool.
About the Fellowship Institute
June 27–August 8, 2026
For more information and application details, visit musicacademy.org/admissions.
Following the High School Intensive, the Summer Music Festival & School continues with the Academy’s flagship Fellowship Institute, a six-week program now in its 79th year. The Fellowship Institute brings together 150 exceptional pre-professional musicians ages 18–34 from around the world to participate in one of the most prestigious and transformative training experiences in classical music. Fellows receive full scholarships, ensuring access to world-class training regardless of financial circumstance, and engage in an immersive curriculum of lessons, rehearsals, and masterclasses with internationally acclaimed teaching and guest artists.
Modeled on nearly eight decades of excellence, the Fellowship Institute offers a rigorous six-week curriculum, including:
- Orchestra concerts led by leading international conductors
- Chamber music coaching, rehearsals, and public performances
- Full-scale opera productions
- Masterclasses, studio instruction, and mentorship with the Academy’s renowned teaching artists and distinguished guest artists
- Solo recitals and concert opportunities
- Professional development workshops in audition preparation, career strategy, and wellness
- Community engagement initiatives connecting fellows with Santa Barbara audiences
- A fully funded experience with tuition, housing, and meals provided through generous scholarships
ABOUT THE MUSIC ACADEMY OF THE WEST
Located in Santa Barbara, the Music Academy of the West provides classically trained musicians and diverse audiences with transformative educational and performance experiences. As part of its annual Summer Music Festival & School, the Academy presents the Fellowship Institute, which trains up to 150 fellows ages 18–34, alongside the new High School Intensive, a two-week program for 105 gifted musicians ages 14–18. Year-round programs include Sing!, a youth choir that performs with local, national, and international partners; and the Mariposa Concert Series, featuring Academy-affiliated artists. Each summer, the Festival showcases more than 100 performances and events, including masterclasses, competitions, and a fully staged opera. The 2026 Summer Music Festival & School will run June 14–August 8, 2026. The complete performance lineup for the Festival will be unveiled in early 2026. Learn more at musicacademy.org.
Press Contacts
Kerry Allen
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Music Academy of the West
kallen@musicacademy.org
805‐895-9491
Kate Oberjat
Senior Director, Marketing & Communications
Music Academy of the West
koberjat@musicacademy.org
805‐895-7908