Amherst Early Music Festival

June 30 - July 7 & July 7 - 14, 2024

Union College
807 Union Street
Schenectady, NY 12308
United States

Directed by

Music of Italy and Spain

Week 1: Central Program, Baroque Academy, Historical Dance, Ensemble Singing Intensive directed by Geoffrey Williams

Week 2: Central Program, Choral Workshop directed by Kent Tritle, Las Huelgas, Medieval Project directed by Benjamin Bagby, New London Assembly directed by Brad Foster

Registration is now open!

The heart of the Festival is the Central Program. It is the largest and most varied program we offer, with classes available for most early music instruments, and music ranging from Medieval to Baroque. You can choose the combination of classes that works for you -- perfect if, like some of our students, you sing or dance and play an instrument or two. Play in consorts of like or mixed instruments, investigate a new repertory, take a dance class, or begin a new instrument. Pitch: most classes will be at a=440. Viol-only and most Baroque ensemble classes will be at a=415. Festival tuition is $710 per week. Scholarships and work study assistance is available to students of all ages. See below for details.

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Francesco del Cossa's Muse Euterpe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Festival Schedule:

Sunday Events
Check-in: 1:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Dinner is the first meal on the meal card
7:00 Orientation Meeting, followed by a reception, and late check-in.
Check-out: by 9:00 a.m. the following Sunday

Daily Schedule Classes begin on Monday morning, and run through Friday, with four class periods per day.
9:00 - 10:30 a.m.First Class Period
10:30 - 11:00 a.m. Coffee Break
11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Second Class Period
1:45 - 3:00 p.m. Third Class Period
3:30 - 4:45 p.m. Fourth Class Period

Evening Event Schedule
Monday, July 1, Ice Cream Social
Tuesday, July 2, Lecture
Wednesday, July 3, AEM Auction
Thursday, July 4, Baroque Academy Faculty Concert
Friday, July 5, Baroque Opera
Saturday, July 6, Faculty Concert, followed by All-Workshop Party
Monday, July 8, Ice Cream Social
Tuesday, July 9, In Stile Moderno Concert
Wednesday, July 10, AEM Auction
Thursday, July 11, Parthenia Concert
Friday, July 12, Choral Workshop Concert: Victoria and Steffani
Saturday, July 13, Faculty Concert, followed by All-Workshop Party

Other Evening Events In the evening there are lectures, concerts, madrigal singing, English country dancing, drop-in playing sessions, the AEM Auction, and socializing with early music enthusiasts from all over the US and beyond.

*Indicates faculty for week one only, **week two only, no stars = both weeks.

Tuition & Boarding

Tuition  Tuition $710 per week
Room & Board All standard rooms are air-conditioned with private bath. Budget are non-ac, with hall baths.
  Standard Single Room $675 per week
  Standard Double Room $595 per week (per person)
  Budget Single Room $425 per week
  Budget Double Room $360 per week (per person)
Meals Meals $228 per week
Non-resident Commuter fee to cover facilities costs, $75 per week

Faculty

Miyo Recorder
Benjamin Voice Harp
Annette Early Notation & Recorder
Rainer Recorder
Letitia Recorder
Frances Recorder
Marilyn Bassoon & Dulcian
Hsuan-Wen Harpsichord
Kathryn Harpsichord
Saskia Recorder
Stephanie Bassoon
Tracy Voice
Nathaniel Cornetto Lute
Kevin Harpsichord
Alissa Harpsichord
Emily Voice
Brad Dance
Cléa Recorder
Rotem Recorder
Paul Voice
Eric Recorder & Flute
Mark Voice
Valerie Recorder
Zhengyi Harpsichord
Audrey Violin
Daniel Voice
Shira Violin & Vielle
Benjamin Harpsichord
Anna Voice
Na'ama Flute
Lawrence Viol & Recorder
Loren Viol
Liza Sackbut
Carol Dance Early Notation
Eric Violin & Viola
Jason Co-director
Sally Bassoon
Heather Double Bass
Peggy Dance
Patricia Recorder & Early Notation
Wendy Recorder & Early Notation
Jason Lute
Alessandro Co-director
Sian Recorder
Gwyn Recorder & Flute
Andrew Dance
Lisa Voice
Daniel Renaissance reeds
Peter Harpsichord
Kent Voice
Spiff Percussion

Programs

Scholarships & Work-Study

Work-Study

All participants are welcome to apply for tuition assistance through AEM's Work-Study program. Please fill out the work study application form to apply. Notice of awards will be sent in late May. Questions about Work-Study can be sent to Click here to show mail address.

AEM Scholarships

To apply for all AEM scholarships, including the Washington McClain Scholarship, please fill out this form.

The Washington McClain Scholarship Fund honors the memory of Baroque oboist and Amherst Early Music faculty member Washington McClain. It will fund scholarships for students who have historically been underrepresented in the early music field, including African-American, Latinx, and others. Awards will cover tuition, room and board, and travel and may be used for any in-person AEM event, particularly the Amherst Early Music Festival.

In addition to scholarships, AEM offers work study tuition to all of our workshops, and the Amherst Early Music Festival. Work study is an option for students of any age.

Other Organizations

American Recorder Society offers scholarships to recorder players for Weekend Workshops as well as Summer Festivals. Any ARS member who needs financial assistance to attend a weekend or week-long workshop may apply for this scholarship. Deadline: May 15.

Lute Society of America scholarships include full tuition, room & board, and some travel. Due Date May 1.

Early Music America offers scholarships to help students attend early music and historical performance workshops in North America. Applications due April 1.

Viola da Gamba Society of America offers Grants-in-Aid to its members to attend Workshops and Masterclasses.

The Historical Keyboard Society of North America has established the Funaro Fund Award to support its members to offset the cost of traveling to an early keyboard event. 

COVID-19 Policy

The COVID virus is still with us, though happily most people will only get mildly sick if infected. The Festival is a congregate living environment, with a population ranging in age from 1 to 90+ where we live, play music and dance together for several days. Our main approach to preventing Covid will be testing, and, like last year, we need everyone to test and to let us know if they experience symptoms.

Rapid testing is required to attend the Festival for all participants, faculty, and staff. Take an at-home COVID test the day before arrival at Union College, and a second test the morning of arrival. Two-week students take a third test on Saturday July 6. Send a photo of your tests to Click here to show mail address before you arrive on campus. Bring extra tests in case you develop symptoms during the week. (visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.htm… see a list of symptoms)

Masking is optional. Masking decisions are personal and will be respected.

Vaccinations and boosters are encouraged but not required. Anyone with symptoms, or feeling unwell should notify us immediately, and not attend any classes or events. Self evaluation: Before coming to the Festival if you are experiencing symptoms that may indicate Covid, regardless of test results, DO NOT COME. Notify us right away. Anyone who tests positive for Covid at the Festival will be moved to a room in an isolated wing, and have cafeteria meals delivered, or could leave campus.


If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID before arrival, please do not come to the Festival until your symptoms abate and you have tested negative twice over two days. f you begin to experience symptoms of COVID while at the Festival we will ask you to isolate or leave campus until your symptoms abate and you have tested negative twice over two days

(Updated May 22, 2024)

Festival Staff

Letitia Berlin Class programming
Frances Blaker Festival director
Emily Eagen Assistant Festival director
Valerie Horst Faculty housing
Danny Johnson Student housing
Loren Ludwig Production director
Sally Merriman Administrator
Wendy Powers Concert series