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High School Intensive FAQs

GENERAL QUESTIONS

The all-new Music Academy of the West's High School Intensive (HSI) is an
unparalleled opportunity for 105 exceptional musicians, ages 14-18, to gain not technical mastery and a deeper understanding of the dedication and artistry required to pursue a career in music. Over two immersive weeks, students will learn directly from Music Academy’s renowned teaching artists, collaborate with peers equally committed to musical excellence, and perform in the spectacular coastal setting of Santa Barbara, California.

June 14 - 25, 2026. Students arrive/check in on the 14th, and the final performance and departures occur the afternoon of the 25th. Attendance is required for the full duration of the program. Late arrivals/early departures are not permitted.

105 students are invited to enroll: 91 instrumentalists (excluding harp), 10 pianists, and 4 conducting students.

Yes: ages 14–18. Students must be at least 14 and no older than 18 years of age by the start of the High School Intensive (June 14, 2026).

Those aged 18 can audition for either (or both!) the High School Intensive and the Fellowship Institute. The Fellowship Institute provides pre-professional training
to high-level collegiate and early-career musicians aged 18-34. We encourage you to work with your music instructor(s) to determine which program may be a better fit for you. Should you be offered a position in both programs, you must choose which one to attend. We do not offer dual enrollment.

Santa Barbara, CA, about 90 miles north of Los Angeles. The main campus, "Miraflores," is a stunning 10-acre garden estate in a beautiful Montecito
seaside neighborhood, just a two-minute walk from the beach. The main campus hosts all instructional activities: orchestra and chamber rehearsals, chamber concerts, studio classes, lessons, and individual practice sessions. A lounge, dining patio, music library, and sprawling gardens provide peaceful spaces to relax on campus between commitments.

Yes - students are required to live at Music Academy’s residential campus, a private liberal arts college with ocean and mountain views, just a 10-minute drive from the Music Academy main campus. Students are housed in a double or triple room within one dormitory with shared bathrooms on each floor. MAW operates daily private shuttles to transport students between the main and residential campuses.
View our facilities.

APPLICATION & AUDITION PROCESS

Apply online and upload audition videos via the High School Intensive APPLICATION. Refer to this CHECKLIST as you prepare your application to ensure you have gathered all the correct materials. Note: Parent/guardian authorization is required to complete an application.
Application deadline: January 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time

There is a non-refundable $50 application fee. Application fee assistance is available for those with financial hardship. Contact admissions@musicacademy.org

You can find all the instrument-specific audition repertoire HERE. We highly recommend you work with your music instructor(s) to determine which solo selections and which excerpts will be the best representation of your playing.

Yes! You are welcome to apply on more than one instrument, but you will be required to submit a separate application for each instrument you choose to apply on. While you can apply for multiple instrument programs, you can only participate in one per summer. We do not offer dual enrollment.

If you play an instrument that has auxiliary parts (i.e. flute/piccolo, oboe/English horn, bassoon/contrabassoon), and you are interested in the opportunity to play the doubled instrument in the HSI Orchestra, please submit the listed auxiliary excerpt in addition to your required three excerpts for the recorded audition (four excerpts submitted total).

Piano accompaniment is optional for the solo requirements of your recorded audition. You will not be penalized should you choose to submit an unaccompanied recording.

Technical difficulties/upload issues: contact Acceptd support team by clicking the green HELP button on your application screen or visiting the Acceptd Help Desk.

Application process or admissions/auditions questions: email
admissions@musicacademy.org or visit staging.musicacademy.org/admissions.

Admission results are issued by the end of February. Teaching artists will review audition and application materials to determine which candidates’ level and experience best fit with the curriculum of the High School Intensive. Due to the high volume of applicants, we unfortunately are unable to offer potential students feedback on their applications.

Yes! For questions regarding international student visas, email admissions@musicacademy.org. Please note that we are unable to subsidize student travel and visa fees.

If you are selected for the High School Intensive waitlist, we will notify you by mid-March if a position becomes available. If a position does not open for you, we highly encourage you to reapply for the 2027 Summer Music Festival & School.

CURRICULUM

  • Private Lessons: Each student receives a minimum of two lessons from renowned Music Academy teaching artists.
  • Orchestra Performance: Led by Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Distinguished Resident Director of Orchestras and Professor of Conducting at Rice University.
  • Chamber Music Coaching and Performance: Pre-college training in a supportive yet rigorous environment.
  • Studio Classes: Classes for each instrument on technique and musicality.
  • College Readiness Workshops: Application/audition strategies for success.

HSI teaching artists are world-class performers and educators who teach in college and conservatory settings nationwide, and play or collaborate with some of the top ensembles worldwide. Several HSI teaching artists are also on the teaching roster for the Fellowship Institute.

Our Residence Life program hosts a wide variety of fun social activities each evening and select afternoons, which take advantage of the beautiful city of Santa Barbara, foster community in a supervised environment, and provide a great balance to the training and performance schedule. While there will be time for rest, students should prepare for a busy daily schedule. See Campus Life for more details.

After breakfast at the residential campus dining hall, students travel by our private shuttle to the Music Academy for daily activities: rehearsals, studio classes, private lessons, and personal practice. Following a catered lunch at the Music Academy, students attend rehearsals and coachings on campus. Evening activities include dinner at the residential campus and activities such as a college/career workshop, social event, or performance.

HEALTH & SAFETY

We will have a campus nurse on duty to support students at all times. In the unlikely event of a medical emergency, our campus nurse will provide initial treatment and assess the safest next steps for treatment. In such a case, parents/guardians/emergency contacts will be notified of the situation promptly.

Each meal is buffet service. Our dining services provide a variety of options for dietary restrictions. We will always have nut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian/vegan options. Should your student be invited to participate in the High School Intensive, we will collect any dietary restrictions within registration paperwork. We will have a nurse on campus and/or on call in the unlikely event of an allergic reaction.

No. Students (regardless of age) are not permitted off campus without adult supervision. Students will have the opportunity to experience off-campus events as part of their performances and Resident Life programming

CAMPUS LIFE

  • At least one full-time Residence Life (ResLife) staff member is on-call 24/7 to help with any questions or concerns. In addition to our full-time ResLife staff, High School Intensive Mentors (Music Academy Fellowship Institute fellows) will help supervise and support the housing experience during HSI, offering a standard ratio of 10 high school students for every 1 ResLife staff member. Mentors serve as rehearsal coaches, residence assistants, and points of contact for students throughout the program.
  • Campus life includes a variety of fun social activities in the evenings and some afternoons, such as a beach party, hiking, game and movie nights, and open-mic nights in order for students to enjoy the beauty of Santa Barbara and building community with their peers. All activities are supervised by Residence Life staff.
  • Both the main and residential campuses are gated and will have supervision on premises throughout the day.
  • Students will always have access to a teaching artist, administrator, or ResLife staff at any point during the day’s programming.
  • Safety is a priority. Students are expected to adhere to the policies and code of conduct outlined in the Student Handbook. Our goal is that each student has a transformative summer experience, and we are committed to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for everyone who participates.
  • Parents/guardians are responsible for getting their student to Santa Barbara.
  • Check-in: June 14, 2026, at our Residential Campus.
  • Students will sign in with ResLife staff member, move in, and receive introductory materials to facilitate their orientation later that day.
  • The Music Academy will operate a private shuttle throughout check-in day to transport students from the Santa Barbara Airport, Santa Barbara Airbus Station, and Santa Barbara Train/Greyhound station to the check-in desk at our Residential Campus.
  • Please note that all transportation between our campuses and our performance venues will be provided by Musuic Academy private charter buses. Students are not permitted to bring a personal vehicle.
  • Orchestral performances concert attire: white top with black bottoms
  • Chamber performances: business casual attire
  • Daily activities: While uniforms are not required on campus, we ask that students dress appropriately and respectfully. We value individual expression through style—just ensure your appearance remains appropriate for a learning environment. Detailed policies will be outlined in the Student Handbook.
  • Musical equipment, clothes, and living necessities. Music Academy does not provide instruments and/or instrument accessories.
  • Instrument insurance: Students are responsible for any valuable items brought to the program, including instruments. Some students choose to obtain instrument insurance in the event their instrument is damaged. Examples of instrument insurance include Clarion and MusicPro. Music Academy does not endorse any specific insurance company. We request that your instrument be in good working order prior to your arrival.

PROGRAM COSTS

Tuition is $6,000 per student.

Additionally, a $200 refundable security deposit will be due upon signing the enrollment agreement.

Tuition is all-inclusive of housing, meals, instruction, and performance opportunities.

There are a limited number of need-based scholarships available. Please complete the financial aid section of your application to be considered for scholarship assistance.

  • Payments will be made through Acceptd, our application and enrollment portal.
  • Parents/guardians have the option to pay in full upon enrollment or in three installments.
    • Payment 1 (due March 1, 2026): $1,000 Tuition Down Payment / $200 Refundable Security Deposit
    • Payment 2 (due April 1, 2026): $2,500 Tuition Installment 
    • Payment 3 (due May 1, 2026): $2,500 Final Tuition Installment 
  • Late payments are subject to a $250 late fee.
  • Parents opting to follow the payment plan will receive emailed invoices for each installment.

Tuition is not refundable for any reason within 30 days of the program start date.

Should a student become physically unable to participate in the High School Intensive before the aforementioned 30-day timeframe, refunds will be considered on a case-by-case basis on the condition that a doctor’s note detailing the circumstance has been provided.

Please understand that the High School Intensive has a limited enrollment capacity, and we make arrangements for the accommodation, housing, and instruction based on anticipated enrollment. The overhead expenses of the programs do not diminish with the departure of students during the course of any program.