College Orchestral Institute

Applications remain open in college violin, cello, and harp! Apply now to be considered for Summer 2023 - scholarship support is still available.

The Program

Orchestral performance forms the heart of the Brevard Music Center. Students who play orchestral instruments may enroll in the Orchestral Studies program for an intensive summer training experience.

All students in the Orchestral Studies program:

rehearse daily and perform extensively in various ensembles
receive weekly private lessons
may participate in formal chamber music study coached by BMC's artist faculty
may perform in solo and chamber concerts
may participate in masterclasses
may attend open rehearsals with world-renowned concert soloists
may compete in the Jan and Beattie Wood Concerto Competition
may attend other orchestra, chamber, solo, and opera performances

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.

Note: Collaborative pianists apply directly to the Collaborative Piano Program.

Dates and Deadlines

Program Dates: June 19 - August 6, 2023 (arrival June 19 between 10am-5pm, departure August 7 anytime)
Deadline: Applications are open for violin, cello, harp until all spots are filled. Please email admissions@brevardmusic.org with any questions.
Ages: 18-29
Tuition: $8800; includes all instruction, housing, and meals for seven weeks
Scholarships Still Available: BMC offers both merit scholarship and financial aid support as part of the application process
Application Fee: $65

College Strings

String students in BMC's College Division work side by side with the artist faculty in the Brevard Music Center Orchestra, the Music Center's flagship ensemble. The orchestra performs important repertoire under its Artistic Director Keith Lockhart and distinguished visiting conductors. Each summer world-renowned soloists appear with the BMC Orchestra.

College Division students also perform in the Brevard Sinfonia, a symphony orchestra that likewise works under the Artistic Director and guests. String students perform with both orchestras on a rotational basis. In a single week, string students play in one orchestra. The BMCO and Brevard Sinfonia maintain a regular schedule of sectional rehearsals in addition to the daily rehearsal of the full ensembles.

BMC's all-student New Music Ensemble presents world-premiere readings of Brevard's composition students. Additional features of BMC's College string program include masterclasses, studio classes, technique and orchestral repertoire classes, mock auditions / audition preparation, and specialized electives and seminars.

In addition, renowned violist Roberto Díaz, a BMC alumnus and President of the Curtis Institute of Music, will have a residency in Brevard to play Bright Sheng’s new viola concerto written specially for him. Mr. Díaz is an inaugural honoree of The Thomas C. Bolton Distinguished Artist Chair, a newly-established program supported by The Payne Fund.

Concertmaster Studio

BMC's Concertmaster Studio provides a select group of violin students with the opportunity to study with some of the world's greatest concertmasters. Students in the Concertmaster Studio will receive weekly private lessons, orchestral leadership training, and will participate in studio classes and masterclasses. Acceptance into the Concertmaster Studio is by audition. Additional audition excerpts are required - see the "Audition Requirements" section below for a list. (Selection into the Concertmaster Studio does not guarantee a principal seat in orchestra.)

Past concertmasters have included leaders from the Philadelphia Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, the BBC Concert Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic.

College Woodwinds / Brass / Percussion

Woodwind, brass, and percussion students in BMC's College Division work side by side with the artist faculty in the Brevard Music Center Orchestra, the Music Center's flagship ensemble. The orchestra performs important repertoire under its Artistic Director Keith Lockhart and distinguished visiting conductors. Each summer world-renowned soloists appear with the BMC Orchestra.

College Division students also perform in the Brevard Sinfonia, a symphony orchestra that likewise works under the Artistic Director and guests. The weekly schedule for students varies according to repertoire. The BMCO and Brevard Sinfonia maintain a regular schedule of sectional rehearsals in addition to the daily rehearsal of the full ensembles. BMC's all-student New Music Ensemble presents world-premiere readings of Brevard's composition students.

Additional features of BMC's College program include masterclasses, studio classes, technique and orchestral repertoire classes, clinics on instrument care and repair, mock auditions / audition preparation, and specialized electives and seminars. Woodwind, brass, and percussion players may also participate in large, "conducted" chamber ensembles as well as in standard smaller groups, e.g., brass and woodwind quintets, percussion ensemble.

Note: Saxophonists apply directly to the Saxophone Institute.

Brass players can also apply to our one-week Low Brass Seminar! Please feel free to contact admissions@brevardmusic.org and we can copy your application over.

Tuition and Payment Schedule

Tuition for the seven-week College Orchestral Institute is $8800 for the seven-week program. This includes all instruction, housing, meals, and the opportunity to attend on-campus concerts and other events. Each participant is responsible for travel to and from Brevard.

A non-refundable enrollment fee of $950 is due within 2 weeks of acceptance and applies toward the cost of tuition. The remaining tuition balance is due by May 15.

Arrival is on Monday, June 19, with check-in between 10:00am-5:00pm.

Departure is anytime on Monday, August 7. Many students will participate in the Season Finale performance of the Verdi Requiem on Sunday, August 6 at 3:00pm. Departure can be that evening after the concert, or anytime Monday.

Refunds

All payments, except the $65 application fee and $950 enrollment fee, will be fully refunded if the Center receives notice of cancellation due to serious illness before May 15. Written verification from an M.D. is required before a refund can be made. No reduction in fees can be made for late arrival or early departure. No refunds will be made after May 15.

Scholarships

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 70% of its students. Scholarship support includes merit, need-based, and the BMC Opportunity Scholarship open to students of Black and Latinx descent.

Please visit the Scholarship section of our FAQ page for more information.

Teaching Assistants and Resident Assistants

Teaching assistants (TA) and resident assistants (RA) have the same ensemble and performance opportunities as other students. TAs and RAs pay only a non-refundable enrollment fee of $950 which covers tuition, room, and board, and must be 21 or older by the start date of their program.

Teaching Assistant

A limited number of TA positions are available in Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Trumpet, Horn, and Percussion. Duties for teaching assistants may include coaching younger students, teaching classes, and assisting faculty.

Resident Assistant

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. Note: Resident Assistants must arrive on Monday, June 12 and depart on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.

Audition Requirements

Admission to the Brevard Music Center is determined by audition.

Accompaniment is optional. Total audition length should not exceed approximately 12 minutes.

Audio or video recordings are accepted for all instruments except percussion (must submit a video audition). Upload audio recordings or link(s) to YouTube video auditions directly into your application. Submissions do not have to be one continuous take; once you add one selection, the option to add another will appear.

Choose your instrument or program to view specific audition requirements.

Apply Now

Additional Information By Instrument

Strings

Violin