Program Schedule — Monteux School And Music Festival

OVERVIEW - The Monteux School Program

Download 2024 Curriculum

The Monteux School and Music Festival’s intensive six-week program and distinguished reputation attracts musicians nationwide and from around the world. The carefully curated curriculum offers conductors and instrumentalists an unrivaled opportunity to learn a large and varied repertoire, provides training and practical experience to enable conductors to handle any conducting situation, and helps instrumentalists to meet the demands of orchestral playing. Over the 8 decades of its existence, the school has trained thousands of conductors and instrumentalists.

All musicians are full-time, active participants. Players rotate within their sections but do not rotate out of the orchestra, as in some other summer programs. All conductors receive weekly rehearsal time on the podium and perform in concert at the discretion of the Music Director. All conductors are also required to play in the orchestra. This unique aspect of the school gives conductors the opportunity to learn from both sides of the podium, fostering a positive, non-competitive environment in which conductors and instrumentalists work and learn together.

The school’s rigorous weekly schedule, equivalent to that of a full-time orchestra, prepares musicians for a professional career. Each week’s schedule includes seven orchestra rehearsals, and both symphonic and chamber music concerts conducted and performed by participating musicians. Each summer’s curriculum covers a broad repertoire of some 60 works (more than any other summer school and festival in the country), encompassing the full scope and variety of the symphonic literature, including pops. Approximately half of the curriculum is performed in concert, the remainder studied and read in rehearsals.

Rehearsals

The Monteux School & Music Festival season consists of six full weeks from mid-June through the last Sunday in July. Each week’s schedule consists of seven orchestra rehearsals, held on Tuesday through Saturday mornings and on Tuesday and Friday evenings.

Festival Performances

Public orchestra concerts are presented each Sunday afternoon at 5:00 pm and are led by enrolled conductors. In addition, Mainely Chamber Music concerts featuring ensembles organized and performed by program participants, are presented each Wednesday evening at 5:00 pm starting the second week. Some guest artists and clinicians will also participate in these chamber concerts. Musicians are strongly encouraged to broaden their experience by participating in the weekly chamber music concerts.

Sectionals and Seminars

Sectionals, seminars, and score study sessions are scheduled by the Music Director and the Associate Conductor on an ad hoc basis or when requested by program participants.

In general, Mondays are free days except in the first week, which follows a modified schedule.