Academy for Young Artists Entrance to all Academy programs is by audition only. Applications for 2018-19 will be accepted in the new year. An enrichment program providing intensive musical training of the highest quality to today’s outstanding young artists, The Academy Program offers participants a balanced, performance-based course of study, as well as opportunities to meet and perform with professional musicians and renowned teachers. Specific training includes: sessions with acclaimed musicians in private lessons; small group classes and masterclasses; individual sessions with an assigned collaborative pianist; chamber music coachings; frequent recitals aimed at developing confidence and stage presence; and, participation in a large ensemble for those students who play orchestral instruments.
The Academy Program offers gifted young musicians the opportunity to progress at an accelerated pace. Graduates who continue with their musical studies are much soughtafter by leading post-secondary music schools and performance ensembles in Canada, the United States and Europe. The Academy Program’s reputation is known and respected throughout the world.
Strings, Piano, Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion The Academy’s instrumental program is divided into distinct levels. Junior Academy: students benefit from the extensive technical enrichment provided at this level, with emphasis on developing technical proficiency and musical skills Intermediate Academy: students play advanced repertoire and continue to develop their performance skills Associate Academy: younger students playing advanced repertoire prepare for the Senior Academy Senior Academy: for musically mature students who are playing very advanced repertoire In addition, we are pleased to offer an Honours Class, which is suitable for extraordinary young talents accelerating at a pace beyond their age. New students are placed in the program based on the results of their audition, while those already in the Academy are required to re-audition yearly to maintain or move on to the next level. Students not placed into one of these levels may be considered for Academy Participant status.
The Academy guitar program is for enthusiastic, ambitious young players seeking a well-rounded music education. This cost-effective program is designed as a supplement to a student’s private guitar lessons, offering a group environment where they may further develop their playing ability, performance skills, theoretical foundation and overall musicianship. With Junior, Intermediate, Associate and Senior levels, the program includes dedicated young players, as well as aspiring professionals.
Voice This is a comprehensive, credit-free training program for singers ages 13 – 19 who exhibit a sincere desire and the vocal talent to become a classical singer. The vocal program is a supplement to private voice lessons, focusing on the educational needs of the developing singer and offering large and small ensemble performance experience. Singing in monthly recitals is required and lectures pertaining to the study of classical voice are part of this program. For full information on the Academy for Young Artists visit mru.ca/academy.
Wyatt Artist in Residence Program In music, as in other disciplines, artists often point to an educational encounter with or a transformational performance by a great artist as the inspiration for their commitment to a life in the performing arts. The Wyatt Artist in Residence Program strives to provide our Academy students with those transformational experiences, bringing them together with the very best mentors in their field and closing the loop between emerging talent and truly great artists of our time. This important component of the Academy for Young Artists was initiated by an anonymous supporter in honour of Hal Wyatt and his wife, Marnie. Since its inception, the Wyatt program has afforded our students the opportunity to hear and study with an incredible array of international stars in intimate masterclass settings. Past artists in residence include: James Ehnes, Nicola Benedetti and Ian Swensen, violin; Laurence Lesser, Lynn Harrell and Franz Helmerson, cello; Anton Kuerti, Gabriela Montero and Yuja Wang, piano; the Assad Brothers, guitar; Susanne Mentzer, Russell Braun and New York Polyphony, voice; and the New Orford and Vogler quartets. For more information, visit mru.ca/wyatt.
Conservatory
Through regular performances, participants gain valuable experience in a variety of settings for audiences that may consist of their peers, faculty members, guest artists and the public.
Guitar
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