Programs
Summer Music Festival Overview
The AFA Summer Music Festival offers intensive music-making experiences and camaraderie in a supportive environment for Houston’s young musicians and has been a part of the community for 30 years. Led by Teaching Artists who are outstanding performers and educators, students make noteworthy progress – both musically and personally – that will impact them well into the future.
The Summer Music Festival includes sessions for musicians finishing grades 3-12 that last between 1 and 5 weeks; including large and small ensembles, technique classes, masterclasses, studio classes, sectional rehearsals, music theory, ear training, and other enrichment studies. On top of the musical skills and knowledge gained, students also benefit from the diverse group of young musicians from across the Greater Houston area. Each session includes performances that make up the AFA Summer Concert Series, a free and family-friendly concert series. Students in the Orchestra & Chamber Music Intensive and Piano Arts Intensive sessions are invited to take part in the Annual AFA Concerto Competition for the chance to perform with the AFA Symphony Orchestra (more information is available on each session’s page).
2024 AFA Summer Music Festival Session Dates
Click on each session for more detailed information, or use the Programs page to find your session by age and instrument.
Applications will open on January 31, 2024, with audition information to follow.
Instrumentalists
Orchestra & Chamber Music Intensive: June 15 – July 6
Orchestra & Chamber Music Workshop: June 15 – June 29
String Ensembles Institute: July 6 – July 20
Wind & Brass Workshop: July 6 – July 20
Pianists
Piano Arts Intensive: June 15 – July 6
Intermediate Piano Arts: July 6 – July 20
Composers
Composition Studio Intensive: June 15 – July 19
Composition Studio Boot Camp: June 15 – June 28
Vocalists
Vocal Arts Intensive: June 24 – July 3