Summer Organ Academy

UPDATE (May 2, 2023): We are no longer accepting auditions for this summer’s institute.

INS 432
Summer Organ Academy
July 9-14, 2023 / Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

James Kealey, coordinator
Faculty: David Higgs, Stephen Kennedy, Nathan Laube, William Porter, Caroline Robinson

Locations: ESM Schmitt Organ Recital Hall, Asbury First United Methodist Church, Christ Church, Incarnate Word Lutheran Church, Memorial Art Gallery, St. Paul’s Church, Third Presbyterian Church

Come experience the thriving pipe organ culture at Eastman in this intensive workshop for young organists. Each day will include private and group instruction from world-renowned performers and pedagogues, as well as daily access to a wide variety of instruments. Participants will have the opportunity to perform in master classes focusing on repertoire, sacred music skills, improvisation, and technique. Use this time to meet friends and colleagues that share in your passion, and see just how much there is to discover and learn within the organ community here in downtown Rochester. The program includes social activities and excursions and two culminating student performances open to the public. The course is open to both pre-college and undergraduate organists.

This institute is designed as a residential program; participants age 14 and older may reserve on-campus housing and meals at the Eastman Student Living Center. The housing cost includes three meals per day. Students must be 14 by the first day of the program in order to stay in the Student Living Center; students under age 14 may not stay on campus and will need to make alternate housing arrangements. Note that housing space is limited this year; please reserve early once you have confirmed you will attend. For information about on-campus housing and a list of resources for those staying off-campus, click here.

Current Student & Faculty recitals:
Monday, July 10 at 7:30 p.m., Christ Church Episcopal
Tuesday, July 11 at 7:30 p.m., St Paul’s Episcopal Church
Wednesday, July 12 at 7:30 p.m., Downtown United Presbyterian Church

Planning your arrival and departure:
First scheduled activity: Orientation: Sunday, July 9 at 6 p.m. in Schmitt Hall
Last scheduled activity: Participant Concerts, Friday, July 14 at 11 a.m., Christ Church and 3 p.m., Third Presbyterian Church (afternoon performance will end by 5 p.m.)


Audition requirements:
Please send your audition recording and repertoire list by April 1 May 1, 2023 (new deadline).

  • Audition recording (see below for audition video instructions)
  • A current repertoire list
    • Students who plan on bringing new repertoire (vs. or in addition to audition repertoire) to the Summer Academy should list the piece(s) under “Summer Wish List” at the bottom of their full repertoire list.

Click on the link at the bottom of this page to use our online Audition Form.

Audition video instructions:

All applicants must submit separate links for each piece on the audition list; mp4 files are acceptable if video links are not available.

All videos must conform to the following format:

  • Camera 5-15 feet from student, clearly showing you and your instrument
  • Uploaded to YouTube for ease of transmitting (unlisted links suggested; public links okay; private links don’t work)

Please send video (or mp4) links together in one Word document as shown in the example template below (do not forward individual files to the Summer@Eastman office). Links should be “active” so that videos can be viewed directly from your document; you may wish to test this before submitting your audition.

Application material template:

Audition Video Links

There is no fee to audition for this institute. Audition results will be announced after the April 1 May 1 deadline.

For more information, including a schedule and a list of instruments used for study, please visit: http://www.esm.rochester.edu/organ

Orientation: Sunday, July 9 at 6 p.m. in Schmitt Hall
Participant Concerts: Friday, July 14 (morning and afternoon) at Christ Church and Third Presbyterian Church

Tuition:
$725 / noncredit (institute tuition only)
$1,265 / tuition with housing and meals

Read our blog: Summer@Eastman Spotlight: Summer Organ Academy