Young Artists Program

June 9-June 28, 2024

Seth Knopp and Mimi Hwang, Artistic Directors

For outstanding musicians ages 13-20
Strings, Woodwinds, Piano, Percussion, and Composition

Yellow Barn’s Young Artists Program brings together 32 outstanding young instrumentalists and composers from across the United States and abroad for a rigorous and exciting three-week chamber music program that includes intensive study and four public performances. The challenging and supportive learning environment defines a daily schedule that offers coaching sessions, private lessons, public performances, masterclasses, theory workshops, rehearsal and practice time, and the opportunity to enjoy Yellow Barn’s beautiful campus. Throughout the program participants work with every member of our dedicated faculty, including performing with faculty members. Composers are completely integrated into the program, collaborating with instrumentalists to bring their work to life in performance. Participants live, share their meals, and work in rehearsal and practice studios on Yellow Barn’s campus at The Greenwood School.

Young Artists Program alumni, and some college-age participants, attend major conservatories and colleges, including the Juilliard and Eastman Schools of Music, New England Conservatory, the Curtis, Cleveland, and Peabody Institutes, Harvard, Rice, and Yale Universities, and Bard College, among others.

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Apply Online

Yellow Barn has moved its online admissions process to Acceptd. Here’s why:

- Applicants can apply for a fee waiver, which we haven't been able to offer previously

- Applicants can change audition times themselves as often as needed

- Applicants do not have to collect letters of recommendation directly. Recommenders will use the Acceptd site to submit information.

- Applicants can switch programs without having to reenter application information

- Applicants can store information for future applications with any festival or school that uses the Acceptd platform.

If you have questions about how to apply for a fee waiver, or any other aspect of Acceptd, please contact Melody Lin, Admissions Coordinator, at melody@yellowbarn.org.

2024 Application Deadlines:

Live Auditions in Europe—January 3*
Live Auditions in US and Canada—January 24*
Video Auditions & Composition—January 30

*Late applications for live auditions will be considered if space is available.

Fees (non-refundable and due with application)

Application Fee: $75 (application fee increases by $10 after December 20 for Europe, or after January 10 for all other auditions)

Tuition, Room and Board: $3,150 (due in full by April 15, 2024, and non-refundable after May 1, 2024)

Scholarship assistance is available based on financial need. Those wishing to apply for assistance will be able to do so after application results are announced.
 

Auditions

Strings, woodwinds, pianists, percussionists, and composers are invited to apply. 
Please note: Musicians must be at least 13 years old, and no older than 20 years old, on June 9, 2024.

Audition Requirements

Applicants should prepare two works, or substantial movements from two works, that make different technical and interpretive demands on you as a player.

Strings and Winds: Audition selections can include duo sonatas or concertos, but must be presented with piano parts or orchestral reductions. Applicants must perform with their own pianists.

Vocalists: Applicants should prepare a program of at least 15 minutes in length, and must perform with their own pianists.

Live auditions are typically 15 minutes in length but may vary from audition to audition.

Percussion Auditions

Please be prepared to play one work (or movements as indicated) from each of the following categories:
 
1. Any movement from one of Johann Sebastian Bach's Cello Suites, Violin Sonatas, or Partitas
 
2. Keyboard Percussion:
George Hamilton - Green Xylophone Rags
Keiko Abe - Michi; Variations on Japanese Children's Songs; Wind in the Bamboo Grove; or another Abe work of your choice 
Akira Miyoshi - Conversation 
Ross Edwards - Marimba Dances (at least one of the 3 movements)
Eric Sammut - Four Rotations (at least one of the 4 movements)
Paul Smadbeck - Rhythm Song
-or equivalent
 
3. Snare drum or multi-percussion:
Jacques Délécluse - Douze Etudes (at least two of the etudes)
Anthony Cirone - Portraits in Rhythm (at least two of the etudes)
Rick Tagawa - Inspirations Diabolique
Iannis Xenakis - Rebonds a or Rebonds b
Frederic Rzewski - To the Earth
Dave Hollinden - Cold Pressed
-or equivalent

Video Auditions

Live auditions are strongly encouraged. However, if you are unable to travel to a live audition location, video applications are acceptable. Applicants should submit a video recording of three works, or substantial movements from three works.  For pieces with accompaniment, applicants must perform with their own pianists. Videos must be uncut and unedited.

Two of the three videos must be made after October 1, 2023. One video may be a recording from anytime after November 1, 2022.

Audition schedule for 2024:

Basel - January 7
Berlin - January 14
Amsterdam - January 16
London - January 24
Philadelphia - January 27
Baltimore - January 28
New York City - January 29-30, February 6-7
Boston - January 31 - Feb 2
Chicago - February 4
New Haven - February 8 (YSM students only!)
Montreal - February 15
San Francisco - February 17
Los Angeles - February 18

2024 Young Artists Program Faculty to include:

Violin
Anna Elashvili
Meg Freivogel
Eunae Koh

Viola

Marka Gustavsson
Rosemary Nelis

Cello
Natasha Brofsky
Jean-Michel Fonteneau
Mimi Hwang
 
Piano
Anna Han
Seth Knopp
 
Percussion
Ji Hye Jung
Ayano Kataoka
 
Composition
Stephen Coxe
Steven Mackey*
Wang Jie*
 
*guest faculty

Yellow Barn does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or veteran status in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, employment policies, scholarship and loan programs, or other Yellow Barn-sponsored activities.