Baroque Academy for Instrumentalists

July 2-9, 2023

Muhlenberg College
2400 Chew St
Allentown, PA 18104
United States

Tuition:

$695

Saskia Coolen and Hsuan-Wen Chen, co-directors

Baroque Academy will run during the first week of the Amherst Early Music Festival

Baroque Academy at the Amherst Early Music Festival offers high-level, immersion classes for Baroque strings and winds. Students work closely with internationally renowned faculty members to expand their knowledge of Baroque style, ornamentation, and repertoire. Chamber music ensembles and Baroque orchestra work through the week in preparation for performances. Pitch for Baroque Academy is A=415.

Baroque Academy Instrumentalists have an intensive all-day program of master classes, chamber ensembles, oboe band, topic classes, and the opera orchestra. Work closely with extraordinary artists on Baroque style, ornamentation, and technique, Baroque ensemble, dynamics, basso continuo, and more. Opera orchestra musicians should plan to arrive on Sunday, July 2, for afternoon orchestra rehearsal, (3:00 - 5:00 p.m.)

Baroque Academy Daily Schedule: 9:00 Master classes, 11:00 Chamber ensembles, 1:45 String orchestra, Oboe band, Topic classes, 3:30 Baroque opera, Opera Dress Rehearsal: Thursday evening, July 6, after the Faculty Concert, Opera Performance on July 7, Baroque Academy ensemble performances on July 8.

Audition Due date

April 15, 2023

Faculty

Saskia

Coolen *

Recorder

Hsuan-Wen

Chen *

Harpsichord

Grant

Herreid

Voice & Lute

Julianne

Baird *

Voice

Arthur

Haas *

Harpsichord

Peter

Sykes *

Harpsichord

Ingrid

Matthews *

Violin

Phoebe

Carrai *

Cello

Sarah

Cunningham *

Viol

Heather

Miller Lardin *

Double Bass

Gwyn

Roberts *

Recorder & Flute

Margaret

Owens *

Oboe

Wouter

Verschuren

Bassoon & Dulcian

Where

View larger map

Festival FAQs

TRAVEL
Muhlenberg College
2400 Chew Street, Allentown, PA
Closest Airport: Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE)
Approximately 7 miles from the Muhlenberg campus.
Trans-Bridge Lines offers service from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC, and Newark Airport to the Allentown Transportation Center, 603 Linden Street, Allentown, PA (2.3 miles from campus)
Greyhound offers service from Philadelphia to the Allentown Transportation Center.

MEALS
The meal card is $227 and covers one week of meals starting with dinner on July 2, (July 9 for week 2) thru breakfast on July 9, (July 16 for week 2). A la carte meal prices are $10 / $13.50 / $16.75 for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

ROOMS
All rooms and classrooms are air-conditioned. Basic linens (sheets, pillow, and towels) are included. Beds are twin, extra long.

Baroque Academy Audition Information

To apply for Baroque Academy, please submit the following through our audition portal. Due dates are April 1, 2023 for singers, and April 15, 2023 for instrumentalists.

$30 registration fee
Your resume or a brief description (one or two paragraphs) summarizing your musical background and experience, including formal and informal training and education.
10-15 minutes of music showing your technique, expression, and understanding of Baroque style. The piece need not be accompanied. Please include composer and title information with your submission.
Singers auditioning for the Baroque Opera Project will need to submit a head shot and a brief physical description: hair color, eye color, height, and weight. Photographs are accepted in any standard form. This information is required to be considered for a role in the opera.

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 AEM scholarships, send a one-page letter to Marilyn Boenau, the Executive Director of AEM, explaining your interest in early music or dance, your goal in attending the Festival, and your financial need. Email to Click here to show mail address.

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. To apply send a letter of inquiry to Click here to show mail address, with information about your interest in early music or dance.

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 17, 2023.

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

Rapid testing is required to attend the Festival. All participants, faculty, and staff will take three tests: on the day before arrival, day of arrival, and mid-week. Two-week people will test on the weekend of July 8-9 and mid-week in the second week. Bring an extra test in case more testing is needed.

Masking is optional. AEM reserves the right to require masking if conditions change.

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.

The Festival is a congregate living environment 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.

(Updated May 12, 2023)