MISSION
The mission of the Academy of Music Northwest is to assist the region’s most talented young classical musicians to focus their prodigious gifts in rigorous class studies and performance standards that can enable them to become communicative artist-musicians capable of moving audiences by their interpretation and intelligence; to prepare young artists for acceptance by major U.S. music colleges and conservatories; and to provide extensive performance opportunities.
To achieve this mission the Academy set the following goals:
- Attract the most talented young musicians and strive to insure that no deserving student is turned away for financial reasons (acceptance for study is based upon artistic talent and promise)
- Enlist studio and class faculty, coaches, conductors of the highest quality to promote informed musicianship
- Provide frequent opportunities to perform in concerts and recitals
- Uphold our commitment to an inclusive and supportive environment
- Prepare students for acceptance by major U.S. colleges
- Instill a lifetime commitment to classical music
- Provide the best physical facilities possible to support our objectives.
Advanced performance levels must begin with intense and
continuous classical music training from childhood.
All of today's
outstanding worldwide performers began with
this level of early
training.
The Academy's qualification, dedication,
and success in meeting
our mission since 1997 is confirmed by the quality of
our:
- Regular solo, chamber music ensemble, chamber orchestra concerts
- Private studio and music study teachers, chamber music coaches, and conductors
- Participation in master classes and workshops
- Frequent regional young artist awards
- Public, private, partnering, and outreach concerts
- Annual graduate acceptances and scholarships.
Academy Accomplishments:
Academy performers consistently
win the majority of classical music
competitions for children and
youth in this region, giving young
performers the opportunity to solo with
orchestras such as:
The Seattle Symphony's Discover Music & Tiny Tots concerts, Seattle Young Artist Music Festival's Concerto Winner concerts, Seattle Chamber Music Festival's Emerging Artists concerts, Music Teacher National Assn. concerts,
Washington Music Educators (local, regional national) concerts, and every Pacific Northwest regional symphony orchestra.Academy instrumentalists hold principal 'chairs' in the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras, and in Bellevue, Cascade, and other regional youth symphony orchestras - where Academy students are also often selected to perform as concerto soloists.
Academy pianists, singers, and chamber music performers earn the opportunity to perform in local, regional, and national Youth Instrumental and Vocal Festivals, concerts, and Chamber Music Festivals.
Academy composers have won the opportunity to have their works performed by regional orchestras and by members of the Seattle Symphony in SSO's Young Composer Workshop concerts. Academy composers have been accepted and have excelled in annual Seattle Symphony Young Composer Workshops, under the direction of Samuel Jones, SSO's Resident Composer.
Academy conductors have been chosen to conduct youth orchestras, the Academy Chamber Orchestra, and in 2008-09, an advanced student conducted works in two concerts as Asst. Conductor of the Lake Union Civic Orchestra (LUCO).
The Academy proves its claim of excellence!
Claim:
Graduates from our full program of Music Studies and Regular Performance may expect to be accepted by major music colleges and conservatories.Validation:
Since 1997 every one of our graduates has been accepted by several major universities and conservatories such as: Eastman, Oberlin, Juilliard, Indiana, Michigan, Northwestern, Boston Univ., Manhattan SCM, Berklee, Cleveland Institute, Peabody Institute, Stanford Univ., Shephard School of Music at Rice Univ., USC, Curtis Institute, Lawrence, Colburn, San Francisco Conservatory, Univ. Texas at Austin, Case Western Reserve, & Howard Univ.
Ninety-five percent of our graduates received substantial or total scholarship support.Pre-College Composer Awards:
Four Academy students received the national ASCAP Morton
Gould Young Composer Award from over 400 entries each year
for composers under age 30.
Our students were David Wish, age 16, and Marc Macauley,
age 14, at the time of their awards.
Marc Macauley also became a BMI Young Composer at age 16,
and received a 2nd ASCAP award that year.
Barret Anspach, age17, received his ASCAP award in 2005 and
is excelling at The Juilliard School in Composition.
They had their compositions performed by regional orchestras
and their chamber music performed in SSO's Young Composer
Workshop.
Michael Matlock is excelling in Composition at Michigan, studyingwith Wm. Balcolm and Bright Sheng.Younger Academy composers also continue to receive MTNA Composition Awards; the latest is Bryan Zhao, age 9, 2009.