2022 NSO Summer Music Institute
Opens Nov 17 2021 12:00 AM (EST)
Deadline Jun 18 2022 11:59 PM (EDT)
Description

Every summer, students from all over the United States and abroad come together to participate in the National Symphony Orchestra's Summer Music Institute. The program is designed to prepare students for a 21st century career in music through individualized training that reduces the barriers to access.

The primary goals for SMI 2022 are:

  • To provide students with individualized instruction through private lessons, master and studio classes, ensemble and orchestral instruction, and practice and audition skills. 
  • To introduce students to the skills needed for a 21st century musician, including professionalism, entrepreneurship, citizen artistry, innovative solutions, public speaking, and audio/video recording. 
  • To develop student’s experience as citizen artists by encouraging them to engage with their communities through an individual or group performance project.

SMI 2022 will convene in-person and virtually over the four-week program. The program will start virtually and then move to in person for the last three weeks of the program. Students are expected to participate in all four weeks of the program – both virtual and in-person sessions. 

Monday, June 27-Friday, July 1, 2022: SMI will meet virtually In this first week of the program, students will participate in preparatory sessions and workshops, while having dedicated time to practice SMI repertoire.

Saturday, July 2-Monday, July 25, 2022: In these three weeks of the program, students will receive 

  • Private lessons taught by a member of the National Symphony Orchestra 
  • Chamber music coaching by NSO musicians  
  • Master classes and seminars 
  • Side-by-side orchestra rehearsal(s) with the NSO  
  • Attendance at selected rehearsals and performances of the NSO 
  • Participation in the NSO Summer Music Institute Orchestra 
  • Performance opportunities in DC metropolitan area 
  • Exposure to internationally-renowned conductors, soloists, and musicians

Each student accepted into the program attends tuition-free, which includes all activity and instruction.

Eligibility:  The Program is open, by recorded video audition, to students ages 15-20 (as of July 25, 2022) who are seriously considering music as a career and willing to devote themselves to a holistic musical education.

Instruments:  National Trustees’ fellowships may be awarded to students who play any of the following: violin, viola, cello, string bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, and harp. 

Percussionists who live locally may apply to perform with the NSO Summer Music Institute Orchestra, and receive the following components of the program. Housing is not provided. While there are no specific excerpt requirements for percussion, we ask that you submit up to two video samples of orchestral repertoire.

  • Participation in rehearsals and full-orchestra performances of SMI orchestra. 
  • Sectional rehearsals coached by NSO musicians
  • Side-by-side rehearsal(s) with the NSO
  • Observation of NSO-led master classes
  • Participation in select enrichment courses and seminars

Pianists who live locally are eligible to apply as part of the chamber program, and receive the following components of the program. Housing is not provided.

  • Chamber rehearsals and performances coached by NSO musicians
  • Observation of NSO-led master classes
  • Participation in select enrichment courses and seminars

Standards of Acceptance: The program is intended for serious music students with the primary acceptance standard being musical proficiency. Two essay questions and a recommendation letter will be reviewed carefully to assess student commitment and character. To allow for relative orchestral proportions more instrument types may be accepted than others.

To Apply: Updated application information for SMI 2022 will be posted on www.kennedycenter.org/SMI. Check the site regularly for details and updates. A $30 non-refundable application fee is due upon application submission.


Please contact Emily Heckel, NSO Education Program Manager, NSOSMI@kennedy-center.org for further information if you are unable to complete the online application process for any reason.

Extended Deadline for Applications: Materials must be submitted online by Friday, February 4, 2022. Students will be notified of the results by the end of March 2022.

Repertoire (submitted online): Recordings are required to be video files; no audio files will be
accepted.              
1) orchestral excerpts by instrument www.kennedy-center.org/smi

2) a prepared solo piece not to exceed 20 minutes in length, showing contrasting musical elements (fast/slow, dynamics, etc.) Prepared solo piece may, but need not, include piano accompaniment.



             

2022 NSO Summer Music Institute


Every summer, students from all over the United States and abroad come together to participate in the National Symphony Orchestra's Summer Music Institute. The program is designed to prepare students for a 21st century career in music through individualized training that reduces the barriers to access.

The primary goals for SMI 2022 are:

  • To provide students with individualized instruction through private lessons, master and studio classes, ensemble and orchestral instruction, and practice and audition skills. 
  • To introduce students to the skills needed for a 21st century musician, including professionalism, entrepreneurship, citizen artistry, innovative solutions, public speaking, and audio/video recording. 
  • To develop student’s experience as citizen artists by encouraging them to engage with their communities through an individual or group performance project.

SMI 2022 will convene in-person and virtually over the four-week program. The program will start virtually and then move to in person for the last three weeks of the program. Students are expected to participate in all four weeks of the program – both virtual and in-person sessions. 

Monday, June 27-Friday, July 1, 2022: SMI will meet virtually In this first week of the program, students will participate in preparatory sessions and workshops, while having dedicated time to practice SMI repertoire.

Saturday, July 2-Monday, July 25, 2022: In these three weeks of the program, students will receive 

  • Private lessons taught by a member of the National Symphony Orchestra 
  • Chamber music coaching by NSO musicians  
  • Master classes and seminars 
  • Side-by-side orchestra rehearsal(s) with the NSO  
  • Attendance at selected rehearsals and performances of the NSO 
  • Participation in the NSO Summer Music Institute Orchestra 
  • Performance opportunities in DC metropolitan area 
  • Exposure to internationally-renowned conductors, soloists, and musicians

Each student accepted into the program attends tuition-free, which includes all activity and instruction.

Eligibility:  The Program is open, by recorded video audition, to students ages 15-20 (as of July 25, 2022) who are seriously considering music as a career and willing to devote themselves to a holistic musical education.

Instruments:  National Trustees’ fellowships may be awarded to students who play any of the following: violin, viola, cello, string bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, and harp. 

Percussionists who live locally may apply to perform with the NSO Summer Music Institute Orchestra, and receive the following components of the program. Housing is not provided. While there are no specific excerpt requirements for percussion, we ask that you submit up to two video samples of orchestral repertoire.

  • Participation in rehearsals and full-orchestra performances of SMI orchestra. 
  • Sectional rehearsals coached by NSO musicians
  • Side-by-side rehearsal(s) with the NSO
  • Observation of NSO-led master classes
  • Participation in select enrichment courses and seminars

Pianists who live locally are eligible to apply as part of the chamber program, and receive the following components of the program. Housing is not provided.

  • Chamber rehearsals and performances coached by NSO musicians
  • Observation of NSO-led master classes
  • Participation in select enrichment courses and seminars

Standards of Acceptance: The program is intended for serious music students with the primary acceptance standard being musical proficiency. Two essay questions and a recommendation letter will be reviewed carefully to assess student commitment and character. To allow for relative orchestral proportions more instrument types may be accepted than others.

To Apply: Updated application information for SMI 2022 will be posted on www.kennedycenter.org/SMI. Check the site regularly for details and updates. A $30 non-refundable application fee is due upon application submission.


Please contact Emily Heckel, NSO Education Program Manager, NSOSMI@kennedy-center.org for further information if you are unable to complete the online application process for any reason.

Extended Deadline for Applications: Materials must be submitted online by Friday, February 4, 2022. Students will be notified of the results by the end of March 2022.

Repertoire (submitted online): Recordings are required to be video files; no audio files will be
accepted.              
1) orchestral excerpts by instrument www.kennedy-center.org/smi

2) a prepared solo piece not to exceed 20 minutes in length, showing contrasting musical elements (fast/slow, dynamics, etc.) Prepared solo piece may, but need not, include piano accompaniment.



             

Opens
Nov 17 2021 12:00 AM (EST)
Deadline
Jun 18 2022 11:59 PM (EDT)