Perlman Music Program
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The Perlman Music Program was founded by Itzhak Perlman and his wife, Toby, in 1995. The program is headquartered in Shelter Island, New York. It offers exceptionally talented young string players, aged 12 to 18, a six-week summer residential courses in solo performance, chamber music, string orchestra and chorus singing, with a faculty led by Itzhak Perlman. In addition to the summer program, students receive year-round mentoring and participate in international studies and performance tours.
[edit] Summer Program
The summer residency program comprise approximately 32 of the most gifted students from all over the world. The faculty include teachers of violin, viola, cello, bass, piano and chorus, with a faculty-student ratio of nearly 1:3. The program places strong emphasis on non-competitive musicianship.
The summer camp is located at Shelter Island with many facilities for solo/chamber practices as well as an auditorium where the full string orchestra rehearses and performs. Students practice their instruments four hours a day, take private lessons and group classes, participate in chamber groups, play in orchestra and sing in chorus. They also discuss performance skills and examine performance anxiety with peers and teachers.
Throughout the duration of the summer program, students and teachers perform in Work In Progress concerts which are free to the public on site. Orchestra/chorus rehearsals and the annual Children's Concert are also open to the public. Benefit Concert and Dinner takes place at the end of the summer program at Shelter Island, and occasionally at concert venues such as Carnegie hall.
Seats in the program become available to new students every year when older students reach 18 years of age and leave the program. Hundreds of prospective students apply to the program by submitting an application form which includes a VHS tape or a DVD of their performance. Applications are reviewed by faculty members on musical abilities only. Qualified students who could not attend without financial assistance are given scholarships.
[edit] The Chamber Music Workshop @ PMP
In 2003, the Perlman Music Program (PMP) added a two-week Chamber Music Workshop to its summer program. This workshop is designed for gifted musicians between the age of 18 and 30. The workshop accepts both solo musicians and musicians with pre-formed groups. All applicants must submit tape or DVD of their performance for a rigorous selection process. The evening master classes are open to the public, and members of the workshop give open concerts throughout the duration of the program.
