Program Details
Perform incredible orchestral repertoire side-by-side with our artist faculty.
Ensembles & Performances:
- Rotate between the Brevard Music Center Orchestra (faculty/student) and the Brevard Sinfonia (student only) ensembles and present at least one concert each week.
- Select students will also perform in the Opera Orchestra.
- BMC’s all-student New Music Ensemble presents world-premiere readings of Brevard’s composition students.
- Additional performance groups include trombone choir, brass ensemble, and percussion ensemble.
- Students may request to be placed in a chamber music group, and will receive a faculty coaching each week.
- Performance opportunities include orchestra concerts, library recitals, preconcert recitals, chamber music recitals, and more.
Featured Guests:
In 2026, Imani Winds and the Shanghai Quartet will hold the Thomas C. Bolton Distinguished Artist Chair, a program supported by The Payne Fund. Additionally, pianist Stephen Hough will hold the Ruby Norris Morgan Distinguished Artist Chair in Piano Performance and Instruction. These residencies will include recitals, teaching, seminars, and solo and chamber music masterclasses.
Additional guest artists in performance include cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Gil Shaham, pianist Garrick Ohlsson, violinist Nancy Zhou, cellist Camille Thomas, violist Paul Neubauer, violinist Amaryn Olmeda, baritone Reginald Smith, Jr., and pianist Sophia Liu.
The season’s guest conductors include Rune Bergmann, Earl Lee, Anna Rakitina, Shih-Hung Young, and Naomi Woo in addition to Artistic Director Keith Lockhart, Principal Guest Conductor JoAnn Falletta, and Resident Conductor Ken Lam.
Featured living composers in residence and performance include Carlos Simon, James Stephenson, Joan Tower, Zach Redler, and Andy Akiho.
Requirements
The College Division is for students ages 18 through 29 who have completed at least one year as a full-time college student. In addition to current undergraduates, many students in the program have graduated or are presently enrolled for graduate study.
Admission to the Brevard Music Center is determined by audition.
Life on Campus, Food and Lodging
All housing and meals are provided on the Brevard Music Center campus and included in the cost of tuition. Housing is in cabin-style dorms with roommates and Resident Assistants.
Dates and Deadlines
Program Dates: June 20 – August 2, 2026
Application Deadline: February 15, 2026
Ages: 18-29
Tuition: Tuition for the six-week College Orchestral Institute is $9400, less any scholarships received. The tuition fee includes all instruction, housing, meals, on-campus health services, and concert admission. Each participant is responsible for travel to and from Brevard.
Scholarships & Assistantships
Brevard Music Center offers scholarship support according to a student’s audition and demonstrated financial need, and program need. In recent years, Brevard has provided scholarship support to more than 80% of its students. Please visit the Scholarship section of our FAQ page for more information.
Teaching assistants (TA) and resident assistants (RA) have the same ensemble and performance opportunities as other students. TAs and RAs pay only the non-refundable enrollment fee of $950 which goes toward tuition, room, and board, and must be 21 or older by the start date of their program.
Teaching Assistants
A limited number of TA positions are available in Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Trumpet, Horn, and Percussion. TA duties may include assisting faculty in classes and sectionals, sitting in on high school orchestra rehearsals, and participating in community outreach events.
Resident Assistants
A limited number of RA positions are available. Brevard’s RAs supervise student living quarters and provide guidance to younger students. Two RAs live in each high school residence; one RA lives in each college residence.
Selected individuals will participate in a telephone interview, and, if chosen, submit to a formal background check and participate fully in the RA orientation sessions prior to student arrival.
Arrival and Departure
Arrival is on Saturday, June 20, 2026 with check-in between 11:00am-5:00pm. Please note that early arrivals cannot be accommodated due to other programs.
Departure is on Monday, August 3, 2026 or after all concert and work study obligations are met. The final college division concerts are August 1st (evening) and 2nd (afternoon).
Teaching Assistants arrive and depart with other students. Resident Assistants must arrive on Saturday, June 13 and depart on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.
Flying in? Students can fly in and out of the Asheville, North Carolina airport (AVL). BMC provides an airport shuttle for $15 each way to and from the AVL airport, and shuttle registration is available through MyBMC after enrollment.
Strings
Violin
Audition
Perform a solo and 3 standard orchestral excerpts of your choice.
Concertmaster Studio
If you wish to be considered for the Concertmaster Studio, please also perform:
BRAHMS Symphony 1
Concertmaster solo from mvt 2 – Rehearsal Letter “E” until the end of the movement.
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Scheherazade
Concertmaster solos
mvt. I – Recit. Lento (mm. 14-18)
mvt. II – opening solo (mm. 1-5)
mvt. IV – Recit. Lento (mm. 8-9)
mvt. IV – Recit. Adagio (mm. 29-30)
Viola
Audition
Perform a solo and 3 standard orchestral excerpts of your choice.
Cello
Audition
Perform a solo and 3 standard orchestral excerpts of your choice.
Double Bass
Audition
Perform a solo and 3 standard orchestral excerpts of your choice.
Harp
Audition
Perform a solo and 3 standard orchestral excerpts of your choice.
Woodwinds
Flute
Audition
Perform a solo and 3 standard orchestral excerpts of your choice.
Oboe
Audition
Perform a solo and 3 standard orchestral excerpts of your choice.
Clarinet
Audition
Perform a solo and 3 standard orchestral excerpts of your choice.
Students who play E-flat or bass clarinet are encouraged to submit additional excerpts for consideration.
Note: The Clarinet TA Position will be awarded to an applicant 21+ who shows exceptional strength as a clarinetist, leadership qualities, and ability on the Eb and/or bass clarinet.
Bassoon
Audition
Perform a solo and 3 standard orchestral excerpts of your choice.
Brass / Percussion
French Horn
Audition
Perform a solo and 3 standard orchestral excerpts of your choice.
Trumpet
Audition
Perform a solo and 3 standard orchestral excerpts of your choice.
Brass Trombone
Audition
Perform a solo and 3 standard orchestral excerpts of your choice.
Tenor Trombone
Audition
Perform a solo and 3 standard orchestral excerpts of your choice.
Tuba
Audition
Perform a solo and 3 standard orchestral excerpts of your choice.
Percussion
Audition
Note: Percussion auditions may exceed the 12 minute time limit.
Percussionists must submit a video audition by including YouTube video link(s) in their application. Applicants may submit a single video or separate video for each excerpt.
Prepare a program that includes the following:
- A symphonic-style snare solo/etude
- Two standard orchestral snare drum excerpts
- A keyboard solo
- Two standard xylophone excerpts
- One standard glockenspiel excerpt
- One standard orchestral cymbal excerpt
- A standard orchestral tambourine excerpt
- A timpani solo
- Two standard orchestral timpani excerpts
- Optional demonstration of standard drum-set styles for possible performance opportunities with ensembles
