Pre-College Program

The AMF Institute’s Pre-College program offers a transformative summer musical experience for gifted young musicians under the age of 18. Each year, our festival committee carefully selects students based on their talent and potential to make a difference in the world of music. These students specialize in composition, instruments, piano, and voice. 

During their time at the festival, students are exposed to the vibrant musical community of the Atlantic Music Festival and have the opportunity to develop lasting friendships and achieve mastery in their chosen discipline. The modularity of our courses also allows students to explore various interdisciplinary topics and expand their musical horizons.

In addition to their individual courses and activities, our students have the unique opportunity to observe and learn from the festival’s adult division program, where emerging artists study with world-renowned musicians. This program provides a glimpse into the world of professional music-making and allows our students to be inspired by some of the best musicians in the world. By participating in the festival as a whole, our students can gain valuable insights and make connections that will benefit them in their future musical careers.

2023 Season

Program Overview

Here is a broad overview of our programs. Visit your instrument pages for program-specific details.

  • Receive weekly private lessons from our celebrated artist-faculty members

  • Participate in our weekly seminars and masterclasses

  • Opportunities for performances including solo, chamber music, orchestra, opera, and theatrical productions

  • Participate in AMF Choir

  • Take advantage of collegiate level seminars and masterclasses offered by the AMF Institute

  • Our programs are modular and allow students the flexibility to choose from our various course offerings

  • Attend open rehearsals and concerts scheduled throughout the season

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY

Pre-College Programs (Under 18)» Institute & Fellowship Programs (18+)

SELECT YOUR INSTRUMENT

AMF Institute offers programs for composers, conductors, instrumentalists, and singers. By using this program selector, you may learn more about programs that are available for your discipline.

Select your discipline/instrument/voice type to view program eligibility:

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATE
LATEST INFO
Transformative Summer Experience
Atlantic Music Festival continues to be one of the most inspiring summer music festivals in the nation
AMF Institute provides a transformative musical experience for musicians from all around the world. Each year, the festival committee invites over two hundred musicians specializing in composition, conducting, orchestral instruments, piano, and voice, based on their talent and potential to make a difference in this world.
Carefree Environment
Focus on what matters
All participants live on a beautiful, secure, and wifi-connected campus, which houses dorms, state-of-the-art facilities, libraries, and scenic hiking trails. Enjoy all three meals at one of our all-inclusive dining halls, walk through the Museum of Art's 10,000 art collections, or take a plunge at a 25-yard by 25-meter swimming pool at the Athletic Center.
Life-Changing Mentorship
Our mentors can provide a turning-point no matter where you are in your artist's journey
Everyone goes through a different set of challenges. Meeting the right mentor at the right moment can leave you with a lifetime of inspiration or a watershed moment to help you make crucial decisions. Speak with them during private lessons, seminars, and audition intensive courses or feast with them at our communal tables.
Learn By Doing
Performance is the primary source of learning
Whether you are playing in chamber music groups, orchestra, or one of our opera productions, active participation through performance is at the center of learning at AMF. Moreover, participants have access to concerts featuring artists and ensembles-in-residence, so you can witness world-class performances throughout the festival season.
Future of Music
We are deeply committed to the music of today
For over a decade, the festival has catalyzed innovation in classical music through more than 500 world premiere performances and groundbreaking programs such as the Future Music Lab. With open courses covering topics including programming, sensors, and MaxMSP, you can spend the summer asking big questions and pioneer the future of music.
All-Access Learning
Access courses outside your primary area of focus
Our online master calendar makes it easy to audit open courses from any of our programs, even outside your discipline. From topics as interdisciplinary as music business and audition technique to screen scoring and baroque interpretation, learning opportunities are everywhere.
Make Friends
"A friend may be waiting behind a stranger's face."
– Maya Angelou, Letter to My Daughter
Great friends can encourage us to grow and provide support during life's biggest challenges. That's why our single most important mission is to help you develop meaningful and lasting friendships.
Join our communal table where we turn every mealtime into an opportunity to bond or during one of our group events, including music reading parties, sports, game nights, or day trips.
Make An Impact
"This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before."
– Leonard Bernstein
From its inception, the festival not only drew extraordinary talent but attracted musicians with the vision to empower the world through their music. For the last decade, I AM Four Years Old campaign served as a public reaffirmation of this effort. Join us this summer as we once again posit the question of what it means to serve our community.
Alumni Network
Join a network of past, present, and future
Our alumni occupy key positions within major institutions, young artist programs, festivals, orchestras, and opera houses around the world. Join a network of peers who will encourage you to grow and provide support throughout your life's journey.