Conservatory Dates
June 21- July 23, 2010 (five weeks, Monday through Friday)
Please check the Concert Info page for performance dates.

Part-time attendance is possible only if scheduling conflicts exist. Click here to learn more.

Daily Hours
8:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Private lesson times will be individually scheduled and typically start 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

Eligibility
Graduating 8th - graduating 12th grades

Conservatory Orchestra
Orchestral students take part in daily rehearsals of standard orchestral literature and new works. Sectional rehearsals are also conducted at the discretion of the orchestra conductor and faculty department heads. Two AFA Conservatory Orchestra performances will take place during the 2010 Conservatory (see this year's Orchesta Repertoire here). Concerts are scheduled to take place at venues around the city of Houston, giving students valuable performance experience in a large ensemble.

Chamber Music
All orchestra students participate in chamber music groups. Students receive daily coaching from the AFA faculty and rehearse music from the standard repertory and a limited amount of contemporary and new works. Student groups perform in one recital of the Chamber Music Recital Series, giving students valuable experience with performing in small ensembles. Please check the Faculty menu for faculty biographies.

Private Instruction
All orchestra/chamber music 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 and subjects. 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 2010 Faculty.

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

Solo Competition
All full-time orchestra students are eligible to compete in the AFA Concerto Competition. The Competition is judged in two divisions: 1) Strings, Piano, Harp and 2) Winds, Brass and Percussion. Application forms are mailed with enrollment packages after acceptance into the Conservatory, and the competition will be held during the second week of the program.

Additionally, full-time students are eligible to compete in the AFA Young Artist Competition. The YAC is a solo competition with a scholarship prize and solo recital for the grand prize winner. Applications for the YAC are also included in enrollment packages, and the competition is held during the last week of AFA.

2010 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 1-2
Violin 26-32
Viola 10-12
Cello 10-12
Bass 5-7