Click here to download the 2008 Orchestra & Chamber Music brochure (PDF)

Conservatory Dates
June 16 - July 18, 2008 (five weeks)
Part-time attendance is possible. Click here to learn more.

Daily Hours
8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Private lessons will be scheduled starting at 3:30 p.m.

Tuition
$875 (scholarships are available)

Areas of Study
flute/piccolo, oboe/english horn, clarinet/bass clarinet, bassoon, french horn, trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, tuba, percussion, harp, violin, viola, cello, bass

***The following departments are now closed to new applications-please contact AFA if you are interested in applying to any of the following:
- Clarinet, Oboe, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba
If you have already submitted an application to one of these departments, your application is still under consideration. ***

Ages
Graduating 8th - graduating 12th grades

Conservatory Orchestra
Orchestral students take part in daily rehearsals of standard orchestral literature and new works. Sectionals are also conducted at the discretion of the orchestra conductor and department heads. Three AFA Conservatory Orchestra performances take place during the 2008 festival. Concerts are scheduled to take place at the Moores Opera House (with the Texas Music Festival), the Hobby Center’s Zilkha Hall and at another location to be announced. Concerto performances by AFA students will be featured on the July 19, 2008 performance.

Chamber Music
All orchestra students participate in chamber music. Students receive daily coaching from the AFA faculty and rehearse music from the standard repertory and a limited amount of contemporary and new works. Three chamber music concerts and, as needed, a series of in-house recitals give students valuable experience rehearsing and performing in small ensembles.

Private Instruction
All orchestra students receive a minimum of three private lessons during the festival. Due to the limited amount of time students have with private teachers, AFA suggests that students come prepared to address any specific issues with which they may desire assistance. Items students may wish to address with private teachers include, but are not limited to, rehearsing and preparing orchestra or chamber music repertory, specific technical questions or concerns, receiving coaching on a solo or concerto movement they are preparing or practicing for upcoming contests and/or competitions. This type of focused, one-on-one interaction between working musicians and AFA students is specifically designed to help AFA students address individual musical goals.

Master Classes
At various points throughout the Conservatory, distinguished guests and ensembles are invited to present master classes in a variety of instruments. In recent years, master classes have been presented by members of the Houston Symphony, Ballet and Opera orchestras as well as by internationally known chamber groups, composers, choreographers and performers from throughout the nation. In many cases, students have the opportunity to perform for AFA’s visiting guests and receive additional coaching.

Click here to learn more about special Honors String Quartet program with guest string artists from the 2008 Faculty.

Harp Students
Please contact AFA for more information if you are interested in harp studies.

2008 Enrollment Quotas
All applicants must complete a live audition for the Conservatory. Several departments fill quickly and AFA reserves the right to close any department once quotas have been met. Early applications and auditions are strongly encouraged.

Flute/Piccolo 3-4
Oboe/English Horn 3-4
Clarinet 3-4
Bassoon 3-4
Horn 6-7
Trumpet 4-6
Trombone 2-4
Bass Trombone 1
Tuba 1-2
Percussion 3-4
Harp 1
Violin 26-32
Viola 10-12
Cello 10-12
Bass 5-7