Orchestral Program
Two Young Artists Orchestras • Ages 14–24
About the Program
Join a community of instrumentalists ages 14 - 24 for a summer of orchestral performances, chamber music, and artistic discovery. Under the batons of Gerard Schwarz, José-Luis Novo, Ho-Yin Kwok, and Grant Cooper, you’ll perform in weekly orchestral concerts, chamber recitals, outreach concerts, and more throughout the Festival.
Young Artists rotate between two Young Artist Orchestras, and select students will have the opportunity to perform with the artist-faculty Eastern Festival Orchestra. As a student, you will develop your artistry through weekly private lessons, studio classes, and chamber music coaching with EFM’s artist-faculty. All students will have the opportunity to compete in the concerto competition. Guest artist masterclasses offer further opportunities to learn, perform, and gain fresh perspectives on your playing.
Artistic and Music Director, Palm Beach Symphony — Distinguished Professor Of Music, The Frost School Of Music — Music Director, All-Star Orchestra — Music Director and Conductor, Eastern Festival of Music — Conductor Laureate, Seattle Symphony — Conductor Emeritus, Mostly Mozart Festival
Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Artistic Director & Conductor
Eastern Festival of Music, Resident Conductor
Carnegie Hall National Youth Orchestras, Resident Conductor
Artistic Director, Bach and Beyond Festival (Fredonia, NY) — Artistic Director & Conductor (2001–2017)
West Virginia Symphony Orchestra — Resident Conductor (10 seasons)
Syracuse Symphony Orchestra — Guest Conductor: Houston Symphony; Jacksonville Symphony; The Florida Orchestra; Buffalo Philharmonic; Rochester Philharmonic; Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra; Auckland Philharmonia; Syracuse Opera; New Zealand Symphony Orchestra; Malaysian Philharmonic
Faculty, Eastern Music Festival (2013–2025)
Faculty, Eastern Festival of Music (Inaugural Season, 2026)
More Time with the Faculty
EFM keeps its student-to-faculty ratio small, so the faculty's time is not spread thin. More of it goes to each student, and to whatever that student's playing needs most this summer.
Many of the faculty hold principal chairs in major orchestras, and teach at conservatories and universities across the country. These are the musicians you work with every week, in private lessons, studio classes and chamber music coaching.
You hear them, too. The artist-faculty give chamber concerts twice a week and perform in the Eastern Festival Orchestra, where select students join them on stage.
Over five weeks, that steady, individual attention is what turns a summer of concerts into real growth as a musician.
Audition Requirements by Instrument
Two contrasting pieces of the candidate's choice, plus two orchestral excerpts. Piano accompaniment optional.
Explore audition requirements and repertoire by instrument using the links above.
Details and Apply
$6,475 total:
$2,995 tuition
$3,080 room and board
$400 fees (health, activity, cleaning, ID card, key, security)
2027 Season Repertoire
Announcement Coming Soon!
