Summer music festivals

update - november 2020

An additional update has been made to the festivals that have announced information for the summer of 2021. Several still have yet to update their websites. Others have standing invitations to musicians for the 2020 season and are waiting to see which positions they will need to fill. As my work continues to pick up, this will likely be my last update to this list for the summer of 2021. Good luck to everyone applying to festivals!

This database was developed as a tool for my students to easily browse options for summer performance and study on the trombone while eliminating string-only or chamber-orchestra listings shown on other festival listings.  My research primarily focused on events in the United States and Canada.  If you know of an event you feel should be added or know of additional information for one of the listed events, please feel free to contact me.  Because of the sheer number of high-school-only programs, this page will only list programs that accept collegiate students as at least part of their enrollment.

Each entry provides several key pieces of information about the event.

Name of Event - Click to visit the event's website (Location)

• An approximate application deadline - See the event's website for an exact date

• Time frame - Approximately how long the event lasts and what time during the summer it takes place. Again, check the festival website for exact dates.

North AmericA
Orchestral Festivals and Institutes

Artosphere Festival (Fayetteville, AR)

• Application Deadline: Rolling starting January 1

• Two Weeks: Early May – Mid May

  
  

Aspen Music Festival and School (Aspen, CO)

• Application Deadline: Early January

• *No new applications for 2021. Fellows will be chosen from cancelled 2020 season.

• Eight Weeks: Late June – Late August

Atlantic Music Festival (Waterville, ME)

• Application Deadline: Early deadline (mid November); Priority deadline (mid December); final deadline [college] (Mid February)

• Six Weeks: Late June – Early August

Brevard Music Center Institute (Brevard, NC)

• Application Deadline: Mid February

• Seven Weeks: Late June – Early August

Chautauqua Institution (Chautauqua, NY)

• Application Deadline: Mid January (recorded) or 2 days prior to a live audition date

• TBA

Colorado College Summer Music Festival (Colorado Springs, CO)

• Application Deadline: Mid February

• Three Weeks: Early June – Late June

• No trombone/percussion for 2021 season

Eastern Music Festival (Greensboro, NC)

• Application Deadline: Late February

• Five Weeks: Late June – Late July

  
  

Festival Napa Valley Music Academy (Napa, CA)

• Application Deadline: TBA

• Two Weeks: Early July - Late July

FOOSA (Fresno, CA)

• Application Deadline: TBA

• Two Weeks: TBA

Hot Springs Music Festival (Hot Springs, AR)

• Application Deadline: Mid March

• Two Weeks: Late May – Mid June

Lake George Music Festival (Lake George, NY)

• Application Deadline: Late January

• *musicians from the cancelled 2020 season have priority. 2021 applicants placed on waitlist.

• Two Weeks: Mid August - Late August

Marrowstone Music Festival (Belingham, WA)

• Application Deadline: TBA

• Two Weeks: TBA

Miami Summer Music Festival (Miami, FL)

• Application Deadline: TBA

• Three Weeks: TBA [Symphony Orchestra]

• Seven Weeks: TBA [Opera & Conductors Orchestra]

Music Academy of the West: Summer School & Festival (Santa Barbara, CA)

• Application Deadline: TBA

• *musicians from the digital 2020 season have priority. Vacancies for 2021 will be posted Spring 2021

• Nine Weeks: Mid June – Early August

Music House International
(Philadelphia, PA)

• Application Deadline: TBA

• Two Weeks: TBA

National Music Festival (Chestertown, MD)

• Application Deadline: TBA

• Two Weeks: Early August - Mid August

National Orchestral Institute and Festival (College Park, MD)

• Application Deadline: TBA

• Four Weeks: TBA

National Repertory Orchestra (Breckenridge, CO)

• Application Deadline: TBA

• *musicians from the 2020 season have priority. Application info for 2021 will be posted in December

• Eight Weeks: TBA

National Symphony Orchestra: Summer Music Institute (Washington D.C.)

• Application Deadline: Late January

• Four Weeks: Late June - Late July

The Pierre Monteux School (Hancock, ME)

• Application Deadline: Early January (however applications are accepted after deadline)

• Six Weeks: Mid June – Late July

Round Top Music Festival Institute (Round Top, TX)

• Application Deadline: Late February

• Six Weeks: Early June – Mid July

Sewanee Summer Music Festival (Sewanee, TN)

• Application Deadline: TBA

• Four Weeks: Mid June – Mid July

  
  

Spoleto Festival USA (Charleston, SC)

• Application Deadline: TBA

• *musicians from the 2020 season have priority. Application info for 2021 will be posted at a TBA date as vacancies arise.

• Two Weeks: Late May – Mid June

Taneycomo Festival Orchestra (Branson, MO)

• Application Deadline: Early April (priority); rolling afterwards

• Two Weeks: Mid June - Late June

Tanglewood Music Center (Lenox, MA) [not accepting applications for 2021]

• Application Deadline: N/A

• *musicians from the 2020 season have priority. No applications for 2021 season.

• Eight Weeks: Late June – Mid August

Texas Music Festival (Houston, TX)

• Application Deadline: TBA

• Four Weeks: TBA

  
  

Vancouver Symphony Orchestral Institute at Whistler (Whistler, British Columbia, Canada)

• Application Deadline: TBA

• Two Weeks: TBA