Adult Academy

Adult Academy: Register for 2024/2025!

During the fall and spring semesters, avocational musicians (ages 18 out of high school & up) are matched into ensembles, typically 3-5 players, according to their level and (ideally) location and assigned a professional musician-coach. Sessions are scheduled weekly by the group at a mutually convenient time and location (in ensemble member homes) for both group members and coach, providing flexibility for the ensemble.

The program is open to upper intermediate to advanced woodwind, brass, string and piano players. If for any reason a musician is not able to be placed in an appropriate ensemble before the semester begins a full refund will be issued.

Pre-formed ensembles are also welcome!

All musicians interested in registering should consider their comfortability with rehearsing in others homes and venues before enrolling.

If you’re considering the program, and want to hear some of the current Adult Academy musicians, we invite you to the Spring 2024 semester-end concert:  Saturday, May 11 at 2:00 PM, First Unitarian Church, 4700 Grover Ave, Austin. Admission is free.

As part of the program, musicians will receive

• Four 90-minute coaching sessions throughout the semester by local professional musicians
• A masterclass towards the latter half of the semester
• A semester-end performance
• FREE tickets (general seating) to the 2024/25 Saturday Synchronism Concerts during the semester enrolled, subject to change

Benefits of chamber music as an adult amateur musician

• Meet and play with other musicians that have a similar passion for music
• Be a soloist within a small, intimate ensemble
• Challenge your playing and appreciate new music
• Continue building a superior working memory
• Further develop skills such as creativity, teamwork, communication, and critical thinking
• Activate three different centers of the brain at the same time: language, hearing, and rhythmic motor control
• Think differently and process different points of view… and most important, take pleasure in listening

Fall 2024 Semester Dates

Spring 2025 Semester Dates

2024/2025 Semester Fees

Refund policy:

• Semester fee is non-refundable for the fall semester after August 20 and for the spring semester after January 7
• All refund requests before the non-refundable dates stated above will be charged a flat $10 administration fee

Placement Auditions

Placement auditions aid faculty in putting together ensembles and are an opportunity for us to meet and hear all participants in the program. No pressure!! Once the online registration and fee are completed your place is secured within the Academy. Auditions are required to gather everyone’s most accurate playing level for ensemble pairing and music selecting.

Fall Auditions: All musicians that did not participate in the 2024 Workshop will be asked to do a placement audition.
Spring Auditions: All musicians that did not participate in the Fall 2024 Academy will be asked to do a placement audition.

The exception: If you have a pre-formed ensemble and want to pick your music then a placement audition is not required.

There are TWO ways to complete your placement audition:

Option 1:  Pre-Record a Video Audition

• Video audition material: One movement of a solo OR one etude, of your choice, that showcases your current playing level musically and technically
  • Please be sure you are facing the camera, your background is well lit, and that we can see your full instrument and both hands
• Email your video to Jeni at jeni@austinchambermusic.org
• Video delivery formats: Google Drive or Dropbox
  • YouTube videos will not be accepted
• Provide the following in your email:
  • Solo title, movement, and composer OR etude book title and/or number, and composer
• Video submission deadlines
  • Fall Semester: Monday, August 26
  • Spring Semester: Monday, January 13

Option 2:  Schedule an In-Person Audition

• In-person auditions will be scheduled individually with Jeni Gossard at the ACMC office: 7600 Burnet Road
• Audition material: One movement of a solo OR one etude, of your choice, that showcases your current playing level musically and technically
  • All in-person auditions will be video taped
• Audition Dates
  • Fall Semester: Saturday, August 24
  • Spring Semester: Saturday, January 11

Ready to Register?

Click a button below to complete your registration and payment.

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

Have questions or want to be informed of upcoming plans?

Contact Jeni Gossard, Director of Education at jeni@austinchambermusic.org, or click below to fill out a contact form, to inquire about how to get involved with the Adult Academy and/or to get updates on upcoming adult programs!