Baroque Academy for Instrumentalists

Northampton Community College
3835 Green Pond Rd
Bethlehem, PA 18020
United States

Saskia Coolen and Hsuan-Wen Chen, co-directors

Baroque Academy will run during the first week of the Amherst Early Music Festival
August 7-14, 2022
Bethlehem, PA, at Northampton Community College
Audition due date: May 1, 2022
Tuition $675

Baroque Academy at the Amherst Early Music Festival offers high-level, immersion classes for Baroque strings, winds, and voice. 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, August 6 for afternoon orchestra rehearsal, exact time tba.

Baroque Academy Daily Schedule: 9:00 Master classes, 11:00 Chamber ensembles, 1:30 String orchestra, Oboe band, Topic classes, 3:30 Baroque opera, Vocal Soloists Rehearsals. Opera Dress Rehearsal: Thursday evening, August 11, after the Faculty Concert.

 

Audition Due date

May 1, 2022

Faculty

Saskia Recorder
Hsuan-Wen Harpsichord
Grant Voice & Lute
Wouter Bassoon & Dulcian
Arthur Harpsichord
Peter Harpsichord

Baroque Academy Audition Information

To apply for Baroque Academy, please submit the following through our audition portal. Due dates are April 1, 2024 for singers, and April 15, 2024 for instrumentalists.

  1. $30 registration fee
  2. Your resume or a brief description (one or two paragraphs) summarizing your musical background and experience, including formal and informal training and education.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

Festival FAQs

TRAVEL
Union College
807 Union Street, Schenectady, NY 12308
Close to a major airport (15+ minutes from Albany International Airport), accessible by Amtrak (station is 1 mile from Union College) and Megabus, Union College is 3 hours away by car from NYC and Boston, and 4 hours from Montreal.

MEALS
The meal card is $228 and covers one week of meals starting with dinner on Sunday, June 30, (July 7 for second week) thru breakfast on Sunday, July 7, (July 14 for second week). A la carte meal prices are $7.25, $10.25, and $11.00 for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

ROOMS
All standard rooms are air-conditioned with private baths. Budget rate housing is not air-conditioned, with hall baths. Basic linens (sheets, pillow, and towels) are included with all housing. Beds are twin, extra long.