Young Artists Program

June 11-June 30, 2023

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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At this time, Yellow Barn is planning for live auditions in Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. If Covid-19 safety guidelines make it impossible for us to conduct live auditions, all applicants will be required to submit video auditions.  Please note that for live auditions, we will be requiring proof of Covid-19 vaccination (including the booster) for all applicants and accompanists. If you have any questions, please email melody@yellowbarn.org.

2023 Application for Young Artists Program

2023 Application Deadlines

Live Auditions in Europe—January 4*
Live Auditions in US and Canada—January 13*
Video Auditions & Composition—January 30

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

Fees

Application Fee: $60 (non-refundable and due with application)
Tuition, Room and Board: $3,150 (due in full by April 15, 2023, and non-refundable after May 1, 2023)

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 11, 2023.

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.

Two of the three videos must be made after October 1, 2022. One video may be a recording from anytime after November 1, 2021.

Audition schedule for 2023:

Basel - January 8
Berlin - January 10
London - January 12
Montreal - January 17
Philadelphia - January 22
Baltimore - January 25
New York - January 27-30
New Haven (Yale students only) - January 31
Boston - February 6-8
San Francisco - February 18
Los Angeles - February 19
Chicago (percussion only) - February 21
Chicago - February 22

2023 Young Artists Program Faculty

Violin
Anna Elashvili
Eunae Koh
Curtis Macomber

Viola
Marka Gustavsson
Mai Motobuchi

Cello
Natasha Brofsky
Jean-Michel Fonteneau
Mimi Hwang
 
Piano
Seth Knopp
 
Percussion
Ji Hye Jung
Ayano Kataoka
Terry Sweeney
 
Composition
Stephen Coxe
 
Voice
Lucy Shelton
 
Guest Faculty
Eric Nathan, composition
Ana Sokolović, composition

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.