MIC's Academy Students Take Center Stage Summer 2024!

For our Academy students, the music doesn’t stop when the season ends. Our students take the summer as an opportunity to hone their musical talents. From intensive training programs, to prestigious festival appearances, to international travel experiences, get a glimpse into the world-class opportunities these young musicians are seizing, and discover new experiences you may want to try next summer!

Neena Agrawal, viola
American Viola Society Festival and Primrose International Viola Competition - June 19-22 - Colburn School, Los Angeles, California - The four-day festival includes recital performances, presentations, masterclasses, youth competitions, and exhibits. 30 quarter finalists were chosen to compete in the Primrose International Competition, which takes place during the festival. Finalists are chosen to compete for cash prizes and performance opportunities in concerts and festival events.
(https://www.americanviolasociety.org/avs-festival/)
 
Ascent International Chamber Music Festival - Cincinnati, Ohio - June 23-July 13 - For outstanding chamber musicians ages 14-30 to study and perform in an intensive setting. Ascent goes beyond the practice room to develop the musician. The festival takes place on the campus of the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music.
(https://ascentmusic.org/chamber-music-festival)
 
Oberlin Viola Workshop - Oberlin, Ohio-July 21-27 - A weeklong viola workshop for students ages 13-19 held at Oberlin College Conservatory. The workshop is led by Oberlin faculty member Peter Slowik, and focuses on instilling the intersection of music, physical motion, and viola technique.  
(https://www.oberlin.edu/summer-programs/viola)

Kai-Isoke Ali-Landing, violin
Sphinx Performance Academy - University of Colorado – Boulder, CO - June 20-30 - Sphinx Performance Academy is a full scholarship intensive chamber music and solo performance program with a focus on cultural diversity for string players from ages 11-17. The curriculum includes lessons, master classes, recitals, and career enrichment sessions. The program offers a chamber orchestra and solo repertoire for violin, viola, cello, and bass.
(https://www.sphinxmusic.org/sphinx-performance-academy)
 
Taipei Music Academy and Festival - Taipei, Taiwan - July 28-August 11 - Young musicians between the ages of 15 and 30 are selected to participate in this immersive academy and festival. Academy participants choose either chamber music or chamber music ensemble and participate in the festival orchestra. Students receive daily chamber coachings and orchestra rehearsals. The program culminates in performances at the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts.
(https://www.npac-weiwuying.org/programs/5cdd4a5e75fe7e0006bb556c?lang=en)

Emily Chen, violin
Encore Chamber Music Institute Summer Academy - Cleveland, Ohio - June 2-24 - A three-week program for pre-formed string quartets, solo violinists, solo violists, and solo cellists. 76 students between the ages of 13 to 26 are invited to participate. This program is recommended for young artists who are preparing for competitions, college auditions, and concerts, as well as pre-professionals who want to work intensively, improve artistic and technical skills, and perform in a variety of settings.
(https://www.encorechambermusic.org/encore-program)
 
Vivace International Music Festival - Wilmington, North Carolina - July 31 - August 11 - This festival provides serious young musicians with performance opportunities and training with world class faculty. Students participate in master classes and get individual instruction with several faculty members.
(https://vivacemusicfoundation.org/)

Ethan Chen, violin
Center Stage Strings - University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI - June 18 - July 15 - Center Stage is all about developing young artists' technical mastery and interpretive abilities. It is deeply focused on the individual. Accepted students receive a unique summer experience centered around solo and chamber music. Open to extraordinary students aged 12-24 years old.  (https://centerstagestrings.net/)
 
Madison Summer Clinic- University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI - June 23-29 - Young musicians in middle and high school are invited for a week of music-making at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Students work with experienced educators from the university and around the country. The program includes daily rehearsals, music and arts classes, and social activities. The week culminates in a public performance.
(https://precollege.wisc.edu/smc/)
 
Travel – Ethan will be traveling to Yellowstone National Park with his family.

Elle Cho, violin
Aspen Summer Music Festival- Aspen, Colorado - June 19 - August 14 - Aspen is regarded as one of the top classical music festivals in the United States, noted for its concert programming and musical training for young musicians. The eight-week summer season includes hundreds of classical music events: orchestra concerts, chamber music, recitals, operas, classes, and lectures. Students rehearse and perform with large ensembles and train with world renowned faculty. Elle will study with Colburn School Violin Professor Robert Lipsett.
(https://www.aspenmusicfestival.com/students-welcome/admissions/programs-of-study/orchestra-instrumental/)

Matthew Hahn, piano
Amalfi Coast Music and Arts Festival Piano Program - Maiori, Italy - July 5-17 - The piano program offers an intensive piano education amid the breathtaking views of the Amalfi Coast of Italy. Students take private lessons with world-renowned faculty, participate in daily master classes, attend concerts, and perform in spectacular venues throughout the Amalfi Coast.
(https://amalfi-festival.org/piano)

 Katarina Kenney, cello
Ascent International Cello Festival - Cincinnati, Ohio - June 9 -June 15 - Ascent International Cello Festival is an opportunity for outstanding cellists ages 14-30 to study and perform in an intensive setting. Ascent goes beyond the practice room to develop the musician as a whole. The festival takes place on the campus of the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. MIC’s Avi Friedlander will be teaching, as well as cellist Richard Aaron, who often does master classes at the Academy.
https://ascentmusic.org/cello-festival   
 
Center Stage Strings - University of Michigan, Ann Arbor -June 16 - July 13
Vivace International Music Festival - Wilmington, North Carolina- July 31 - August 11

Luke Montzka, bass
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp International Exchange Orchestra - France, Germany, and Poland - The Blue Lake International Exchange Program seeks to cultivate international understanding through the universal language of the arts. Students tour through several destinations in Europe and stay with host families. They can truly experience the history and culture of the places they visit, while they perform in large musical ensembles. Luke will perform in smaller communities like Roderen (France), Opole (Poland) and Itzhoe (Germany) while staying with families to learn about local customs. 
(https://bluelake.org/international/string-orchestra/)
 
Other Activities – Luke will represent the state of Illinois at the National Junior Classical Convention in Knoxville, TN, where he will compete in recitation (Latin Oratory and Dramatic Interpretation), graphic arts and on the Illinois Advanced Certamen.  A Certamen team is a group of students who compete in a quiz-bowl style game about classical civilizations, languages, and cultures. 

Linda Phan, violin
Center Stage Strings - University of Michigan, Ann Arbor - June 18 - July 15
 
Festival del Lago Academy of Music – Ajijic, Mexico - July 28 - August 12- Immersive two-week program for students from pre-college to young professional level. Students take private lessons, chamber music, participate in master classes, and perform with renowned faculty.  Linda will study with Academy affiliated faculty member Grigory Kalinovsky.
(https://festivaldellago.com/en/home/)

 Clark Snavely, violin
Chamber Music Seminar Heifetz Institute  -  Mary Baldwin University – Staunton, Virginia - June 24 - August 7 - Clark is a Chamber Music Fellow at The Heifetz Institute Chamber Music Seminar. This is a program of intense and highly focused study of masterworks of chamber music literature with some of the most renowned instructors in the world of chamber music. Individual artists, as well as pre-formed string quartets and piano trios, preparing for professional careers participate. The program is limited to 12 participants, who will receive full scholarships and be recognized as Heifetz Chamber Music Fellows.
https://heifetzinstitute.org/institute/the-heifetz-institute-summer-program-2023/chamber-music-seminar/

Annalise Song, violin
Center Stage Strings - University of Michigan, Ann Arbor -June 18 - July 15
 
Festival del Lago Academy of Music - Ajijic, Mexico – July 28 – August 12 with MIC affiliated faculty member Grigory Kalinovsky.
Travel: Annalise spent a week on vacation in Korea for a family vacation. She is going on a mission trip to Mexico in June where she plans to introduce children to the violin and classical music.
 

Lily Sullivan, violin
Heifetz Summer Institute - June 14 - July 28 - Mary Baldwin University – Staunton, Virginia - 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.
(https://heifetzinstitute.org/institute/heifetz-institute-2024-summer-program/)
 
Festival del Lago Music Academy - Ajijic, Mexico - July 28 - August 12 Lily will study with her teacher, Academy affiliated faculty member Grigory Kalinovsky.

Simon Updegraff, cello
Ascent Chamber Music Festival - Cincinnati, Ohio - June 23-July 13

Vivian Van de Sype-Cucu, viola
Bowdoin International Music Festival - Brunswick, Maine July 16 - July 13 - Festival’s instrumental program provides an intensive and in-depth exploration of chamber and solo music for 250 students. The summer institute offers lessons, studio classes, coachings with Festival faculty, and performance opportunities. A blend of conservatory and music school-based faculty represents some of the most respected musicians who maintain active performing profiles along with a proven commitment to teaching and mentoring young musicians.
(https://www.bowdoinfestival.org/)
 
Astona International Summer Music Festival - Baar, Switzerland July 20 - August 4 - Two-week international summer music academy that provides opportunities for pianists and string players between the ages of 12 and 24 who aspire to have a career in music. Students get to study with renowned faculty and hone their skills in private lessons, chamber groups, orchestral performances, and individual performances. Astona focuses on the individual student and creating a friendly atmosphere for intense musical study.
(https://www.astona-international.com/)
 
Travel: Vivian is spending a week in Sicily with her family.

Jan Vargas-Nedvetsky, cello
Chamber Music Intensive at the Cleveland Institute of Music - Cleveland, Ohio- June 15-23 - A weeklong seminar offering high school, college, and pre-professional string players and pre-formed groups to hone their skills in the art of chamber music. The program is run by CIM faculty members Todd Phillips and Si-Yan Darren Li and offers chamber coachings, master classes, and performance opportunities.
(https://www.cim.edu/prep/summer/chambermusicintensive)
 
Gstaad Menuhin Festival Strings Academy - Gstaad, Switzerland - August 3 - August 12- Ten days of intense training with renowned faculty. The program culminates in public master classes and performances. By now, the Gstaad String Academy has become integral part of Gstaad Menuhin Festival. Of value for the participants is furthermore the opportunity to perform alongside their professors. Being inspired by Yehudi Menuhin‘s approach, Gstaad String Academy follows the tradition of a chamber music concert, involving one of the professors per each ensemble.
(https://www.gstaadacademy.ch/en/string/course-contents)

Lucy Wu, cello
Bowdoin International Music Festival - Brunswick, Maine July 16 - July 13
 
Travel: Lucy will spend July on a solo trip to Los Angeles. In August, Lucy will travel to China and Japan with her family.

Tristan Zhu, violin
Yellow Barn Music Festival Young Artist Program - Putney, Vermont- June 9-28 - 32 instrumentalists and composers from ages 13-20 are chosen for this three-week chamber music intensive. Students participate in coachings, private lessons, public performances, master classes, and theory workshops. Composers collaborate with instrumentalists to bring their works into public performance.
(https://www.yellowbarn.org/applicants/young-artists-program)
 
Music@Menlo Young Performers Program - Atherton, California - July 19-August 10 - Provides an incomparable experience for some of the most outstanding young musicians from across the country and abroad. Designed for enthusiastic and dedicated string players and pianists ages ten to nineteen, the program immerses students in a rigorous, nurturing environment, where students go through an intense exploration of advanced chamber music repertoire.
(https://musicatmenlo.org/institute/young-performers-program)
 
Other Activities – Synergy Distance Running Camp – Chicago, IL

Amelia Zitoun, cello
Perlman Music Program - June 22 - August 12,  Shelter Island Heights, New York - PMP’s signature program is the Summer Music School which welcomes gifted violin, viola, and cello students ages 12-18 into a richly supportive musical community. Each summer, 30-35 musicians from around the world come together for a seven-week residency on PMP’s picturesque waterfront campus on Shelter Island, New York. The heart of PMP’s teaching philosophy lies in the development of the whole person. PMP’s world-class faculty, led by acclaimed violinist Itzhak Perlman, oversee a curriculum of solo, chamber music, and orchestral repertoire at the highest level.
(https://www.perlmanmusicprogram.org/summer-music-school)

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