Summer Music Festival: Orchestra & Chamber Music Intensive
June 15 - July 6, 2024
Brass, Harp, Percussion, Strings, Woodwind
Summer
The Orchestra & Chamber Music Intensive is a conservatory-style experience for motivated and passionate high school musicians from across the Houston area.
Participants in this session form the AFA Symphony Orchestra, which performs two full-length concerts led by world-class conductors in local concert venues; AFA’s expert Teaching Artists guide students through the orchestral repertoire in daily sectional rehearsals.
Chamber music is an important aspect of this session, giving every student the opportunity to work in a chamber music group that will meet daily with their dedicated Teaching Artist coach. Studying in a chamber music group provides musical challenge, individualized instruction, and honing of skills in teamwork and communication, plus performance practice and a session-end recital.
Intensive students take part in daily music theory and elective classes. Select string players are invited to be a member of the AFA String Chamber Orchestra, which prepares and performs repertoire for smaller chamber orchestra as their elective. Applicants to the Intensive are also encouraged to participate in the AFA Concerto Competition, held in April and May, for a chance to perform solo with the AFA Symphony Orchestra (information below).
This session is the perfect opportunity for those seeking a musically challenging and enriching experience that allows them to spend each day immersed in music.
Did you know? AFA offers tuition assistance for students who may not be able to afford the full amount; learn more here. Plus, students who attended the 2023 Summer Music Festival receive a discount of $25.00.
AFA Symphony Orchestra Repertoire
June 26th, 2024: Dr. Michelle Perrin Blair, conductor
Albeniz, Navarra from Iberia Suite
Bernstein, Suite from On the Waterfront
Pilsner, A Light in the Ocean
July 6th, 2024: Dr. Clif Evans, conductor
Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5
Grand Prize Winner, AFA Concerto Competition
District Transportation Partnerships
Through partnership with AFA, select school district Fine Arts departments in the area will provide bus transportation between a central location in their respective districts and AFA for students enrolled in their districts. April 1st update: the students in the following districts will have access to bus transportation during this session: CyFair ISD (weeks of June 17 and 24); Fort Bend ISD (all 3 weeks); Klein ISD (all 3 weeks), Lamar Consolidated (all 3 weeks).
Applications for the 2024 Summer Music Festival are open now! Start Here.
Application update, May 25: Seeking Bassoon, Trumpet, and Percussion!
Orchestra & Chamber Music Intensive Faculty
Concerto Competition
The 27th Annual AFA Concerto Competition is open to students who will attend the Orchestra & Chamber Music Intensive or Piano Arts Intensive session of the 2024 AFA Summer Music Festival.
One winner will be chosen after a preliminary and a final round.
The 2024 Grand Prize Winner will perform their chosen piece in concert with the AFA Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Clif Evans, on July 6th, 2024 and will be awarded a cash prize of $750.00.
Eligible Students
- Must complete the AFA Summer Music Festival application and audition process, offered admission into their applicable session and confirm their intent to attend the 2024 Summer Music Festival by April 26, 2024.
- Will complete the AFA Concerto Competition Entry Form by April 26th through the AFA Dashboard.
- Must be available to compete in the preliminary round in person on Saturday, May 4th at Garza Studios. A schedule will be set once the application has closed.
- Must be available to compete in the Final round (should they advance) on Saturday, May 18th at Garza Studios
- Previous Grand Prize winners are not eligible to compete
Repertoire
- The competition piece should be one movement of a concerto or a single movement work for solo instrument and orchestra
- The orchestral accompaniment to the concerto must be appropriate for an advanced youth orchestra, and score and parts must be readily available for rental or purchase by AFA
- Performances in both preliminary and final rounds must be memorized
- Soloists will perform unaccompanied in the preliminary round and accompanied by piano for the final round
Questions about repertoire choices should be directed to Amanda Heathco at AFA.
Final Round
- All preliminary round competitors will be notified if they have advanced to the Final round by Monday, May 6th.
- Final round competitors may perform accompanied by a pianist of their choosing; if a competitor does not have access to an accompanist, AFA will assist in securing one for rehearsal and performance (the competitor is responsible for their payment and for providing the piano score)
- The Final round will be held in person on Saturday, May 18th and will be recorded
Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Harp
Woodwinds: Flute, Oboe, B-flat Clarinet, Bassoon
Brass: French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Bass Trombone, Tuba Symphony Orchestra; Chamber Music; Instrument Sectionals; Music Theory & Electives; Special Guest Masterclasses; Concert Performances
8:30am - 4:30pm (M-F) plus June 15 and July 6
Performances: June 26 (orchestra), July 3 (chamber music), July 6 (orchestra)
Closed on June 19 and July 4