| Boston University Tanglewood Institute | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Lenox, Massachusetts, USA | |
| Information | |
| Type | Summer music program for advanced high school-aged musicians |
| Established | 1966 |
| Enrollment | 375 |
| Campus | just outside of Lenox, MA |
| Website | http://www.bu.edu/tanglewood |
The Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI) is recognized internationally as the premiere summer training program for aspiring high school-age musicians and is the only program of its kind associated with one of the world’s great symphony orchestras. Under the guidance of distinguished professionals and in the presence of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), young people devote themselves to an artistic experience without parallel. The high artistic standards, rich culture of learning, and diverse programs make BUTI a unique opportunity for young artists, a starting point on the path to a future in classical music.
While they differ in content and length, all BUTI programs share a common element: excellence. From the moment students step onto the grounds, they are immersed in fine music making. Tanglewood is a magical blend of the formal and informal, of joy and hard work. No one who spends a summer at Tanglewood leaves untouched by the experience.
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In 1966, the music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Erich Leinsdorf, invited Edward Stein, Dean of the Boston University College of Fine Arts, to create a summer training program for high school musicians as a counterpart to the BSO’s Tanglewood Music Center (TMC). Leinsdorf’s vision was of a program to challenge young musicians to perform at the highest level and allow them unprecedented access to the Tanglewood Music Festival. Stein approached Wilbur Fullbright, the newly appointed director of the Boston University School of Music at the College of Fine Arts. Fullbright’s enthusiasm for the project transformed Leinsdorf’s dream into reality, and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute opened for its inaugural season in July 1966.
The Tanglewood Music Center, established in 1940 by the legendary Boston Symphony Orchestra music director Serge Koussevitzky, provides a broad range of intensive musical learning and experience for emerging professionals of exceptional ability. The students of the Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI) share rehearsal and performance spaces, and attend a selection of TMC master classes, rehearsals, and activities – many led by BSO members. BUTI students also enjoy free, unlimited access to all performances of the BSO and the TMC. This all makes for an exceptionally stimulating atmosphere.
This interaction with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Tanglewood Music Center distinguishes BUTI from other summer music programs and offers aspiring young artists a superior, inspiring, and transforming musical experience.
Winner of the 1981 Naumburg Chamber Music Award and 1980 Evian International String Quartet Competition, the Muir String Quartet first appeared on the scene in 1980, and was greeted with rave reviews and an extensive feature in the New Yorker. The quartet was also featured on the internationally acclaimed PBS broadcast, In Performance at the White House for President and Mrs. Reagan. Formed in 1979 following graduation from the Curtis Institute of Music, the Muir String Quartet’s principal chamber music teachers were Felix Galimir and members of the Guarneri and Budapeset Quartets.
In its commitment to advancing contemporary American music, the Muir Quartet has had commissioned works written for them by such distinguished composers as Joan Tower (Night Fields), Sheila Silver (From Darkness Emerging), Richard Danielpour (Shadow Dances and Psalms of Sorrow – featured on CBS Sunday Morning), Richard Wilson (Third String Quartet), and Charles Fussell (Being Music – based on poetry of Walt Whitman). The quartet also gave the World Premiere performance of the Native American collaborative work, Circle of Faith, featured on National Public Radio. Recently premiered works include those by esteemed American composers Richard Danielpour (Feast of Fools – for bassoon and string quartet), Lucas Foss (String Quartet #4), Ezra Laderman (String Quartets #9 and #10), and Joelle Wallach (String Quartet #3), and Ronald Perera’s first Quartet. In 07-08, in addition to their annual appearances at Rhode Island College, the Quartet continues its series at Boston University, and performs throughout the North America, along with fall concerts in Holland.
The Muir Quartet has been in residence at Boston University’s College of Fine Arts since 1983, and gives annual summer workshops at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI). The Muir Quartet has also given master classes at schools nationwide, including the Eastman School of Music, the Curtis Institute, Oberlin Conservatory, and the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. Since 1989, the quartet has taught, coached, and administered the Emerging Quartets and Composers Program in Utah with eminent composer Joan Tower. This program is now part of the Muir’s role as resident chamber ensemble with the Deer Valley Festival, in partnership with the Utah Symphony/Opera.
Vento Chiaro has served on the faculty of the Boston University Tanglewood Institute’s Young Artists Wind Ensemble since 2002. As an award-winning ensemble, Vento Chiaro is captivating audiences across the country with their visionary artistry. After winning the Saunderson Award at the Coleman Chamber Music Competition in April 2000, the LA Times declared, “the day of the woodwind quintet may be dawning.” Vento Chiaro went on to receive the Silver Medal at the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition in 2000 and was a semi-finalist at the Concert Artists Guild Competition in 2001.
Founded in 1997 at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, MD, Vento Chiaro relocated to Boston in 1999 and is now the Ensemble-in-Residence at the Longy School in Cambridge, MA. In addition to their Longy appearances, the ensemble has performed several times on WGBH’s radio program hosted by Richard Knisley and at Symphony Hall (including the 2000-01 Centennial Celebration) and across the Eastern Seaboard at such venues as The Settlement School in Philadelphia, PA and ArtScape in Baltimore, MD.
Their varied repertoire ranges from the standards to arrangements of orchestral favorites and newly written works. A part of the ensemble’s mission involves working with musicians and students of all levels. Every spring, Vento Chiaro works with Longy’s Preparatory Composition students, reading their works, offering suggestions, and ultimately performing their music. The ensemble was the Quintet-in-Residence at the 2001 International Clarinet Connection.
The Young Artists Orchestra has earned a reputation as the preeminent summer orchestra program in the nation, exposing instrumentalists to the expectations and standards of a professional-level symphonic orchestra. Under the guidance of professional conductors, artists/teachers, and BSO members, students experience high-quality training through the intensive study and performance of orchestral and chamber music repertoire. The discipline, focus, and energy of performing at an advanced level is the tradition and magic of a summer at Tanglewood.
Daily rehearsals of the orchestra are exhilarating, covering a varied repertoire of both standard and contemporary works. Each concert is presented by the Young Artists Orchestra in a public concert on the Tanglewood Main Grounds in either Ozawa Concert Hall or the legendary Koussevitzky Music Shed. Orchestral techniques, balance, texture, interpretation and historical background are all addressed in the context of the full orchestra and separate sectional rehearsals. Seating in each section rotates with every concert.
Students will receive three (3) private lessons from a BUTI faculty member at no added cost. This is an essential component of training that not only enhances the development of each student as a solo performer but also assists the student in meeting the demands of the orchestral and chamber music repertoire programmed throughout the summer. Students will have the opportunity to schedule additional lessons with a BUTI faculty member or a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra at an additional cost.
Chamber music provides an important and dynamic compliment to the orchestral experience. Coached by experienced artists faculty members, students are assigned to chamber music groups for preparation and presentation of various works on the Tanglewood Main Grounds as well as throughout the Berkshire community. Guest artists from the BSO and TMC faculty are frequently on hand to coach chamber music as well. Master class guests in chamber music have included Lynn Harrell, Daniel Muller-Schott, John Harbison, Norman Fischer, James, Buswell, Nico Muhly, and Marc Johnson.
Solo repertoire and technique are given special attention in guest master classes as well as question and answer sessions with BSO guest artists. In recent summers artists have included visits with Joshua Bell, Hilary Hahn, Yo-Yo Ma, and Midori, and classes with Pinchas Zuckerman, Christian Tetzlaff, Daniel Hope, Lynn Harrell, and Daniel Muller-Schott.
Master classes have also been given by additional distinguished artists such as James Buswell, Norman Fischer, Pamela Frank, Richie Hawley, Kim Kashkashian, David Krauss, Adam Luftman, Chris Olka, Bayla Keyes, Michelle LaCourse, and Peter Zazofsky.
Because of BUTI’s unique relationship with the BSO, many of the orchestra players also are available to offer students master classes. Recent BSO artists include: Steve Answell, Edwin Barker, Ronald Barron, Cathy Basrak, John Ferrillo, Edward Gazouleas, Tim Genis, William Hudgins, Daniel Katzen, Ben Levy, Tom Martins, Ikuko Mizuno, Suzanne Nelsen, Toby Oft, Kevin Owen, Richard Ranti, Mike Roylance, Robert Sheena, Richard Sebring, James Somerville, and Owen Young.
The Young Artists Wind Ensemble is an exceptional and challenging program for young instrumentalists. The objective is to foster the development of every student’s artistic and creative potential. The Young Artists Wind Ensemble is the nation’s premiere summer youth music ensemble of its type and draws outstanding wind, brass, and percussion players from across the globe. It provides opportunities to study and perform works from the repertoire of great literature composed from the sixteenth through the twenty-first centuries.
Under the guidance of outstanding wind conductor and pedagogue David L. Martins, director of the wind ensemble at Boston University, and internationally renowned wind ensemble conductor H. Robert Reynolds, the Young Artists Wind Ensemble students study instrumental works in a broad range of styles, including pieces for full wind ensemble, chamber music, and solo performance under the guidance of artist conductors and teachers such as Vento Chiaro and Motor City Brass Quintet. Students participate in two full wind ensemble concerts and four chamber music recitals during the summer. All concerts are presented in Ozawa Hall or elsewhere on the Tanglewood Main Grounds.
Students will receive two (2) private lessons from a BUTI faculty member at no added cost. This is an essential component of training that not only enhances the development of each student as a solo performer but also assists the student in meeting the demands of the ensemble and chamber music repertoire programmed throughout the summer. Students will have the opportunity to schedule additional lessons with a BUTI faculty member or a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra at an additional cost.
In an effort to prevent stress-related injuries and performance anxiety, BUTI is pleased to offer Alexander Technique classes to the Wind Ensemble program. Led by Betsy Polatin, Assistant Professor in the School of Theater at Boston University, these important sessions provide students with an introduction to the basic principles of Alexander Technique, in small groups, with a special focus on the specific issues of concern unique to each instrument group in the ensemble.
Master classes for all instruments are given by members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and distinguished visiting artists. Recent guests have included Daniel Katzen, Ronald Barron, Mike Roylance, Linda Toote, Richie Hawley, Robert Sheena, Richard Ranti, Tim Genis, John Heiss, David Krauss, Dan Grabois, and the United States Marine Band Percussion. Students are invited to attend selected master classes presented by the Tanglewood Music Center. BUTI students also have the rare opportunity to observe and listen to the rehearsals and concerts of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and other artists and ensembles rehearsing and performing at Tanglewood each summer.
The Young Artists Vocal Program has been an important stepping-stone for young vocalists seeking to enroll in one of the competitive music schools and/or conservatories. Many vocal program alumni have gone on to be winners of prestigious competitions and are successful professionals in opera, oratorio, and recital.
As one of the leading summer institutes for advanced young singers, The Young Artists Vocal Program nurtures and encourages the development of gifted high-school-aged singers geared toward professional studies. The intensive curriculum provides a conservatory model of training in the components essential for well-educated singers: vocal technique, musicianship, and performance.
Emphasizing the importance of solo training, daily voice classes, taught by dynamic and eminent vocal pedagogue Phyllis Hoffman, and alternately by master teachers Penelope Bitzas and James Demler, focus on healthy vocal technique and performance practice. In addition, each student receives one weekly private lesson and a repertoire coaching session from experienced staff instructors. Solo vocal training culminates in recitals presenting each student in performance.
Each student sings in the Young Artists Chorus, conducted by Ann Howard Jones. A protegee of the late Robert Shaw, Dr. Jones is recognized for her expertise in conducting technique, rehearsal procedures, and performance practice. Daily rehearsals culminate in the performance of works representing a broad range of styles and periods, from Renaissance motets to 21st-century choral masterpieces. The full chorus of 75-85 singers performs each season with Dr. Jones in Ozawa Hall and in the Koussevitzky Music Shed for Tanglewood on Parade.
Students are assigned to carefully selected opera scenes at the start of the program. Each scene meets several times a week in musical and staging rehearsals that address the fundamental skills needed to be a successful singer-actor. Two opera-scene programs are presented during the final week of the program.
Equally essential for the development of young singers are the courses provided in music theory, music history, sigh-singing, foreign language diction, movement, and acting. Students are placed in level-appropriate classes. Stage and screen actress (and BUTI alum) Lauren Ambrose recently offered a class in movement and acting.
The program is enriched each year by frequent master classes. Most recently, distinguished BSO guest artists Christine Brewer, Stephanie Blythe, Renee Fleming, Jane Bunnell, Marcus Haddock, and Heidi Grant Murphy met and worked with BUTI singers. Master teachers, such as Phyllis Curtin, Penelope Bitzas, Sharon Daniels, Simon Estes, and Jerrold Pope have led classes and classes focused on movement and acting have been offered by Lauren Ambrose and Judith Chaffee also offer classes during the program.
In recent summers, the Young Artists Chorus has performed in the Koussevitzky Shed with the Boston Pops under the baton of John Williams for Film Night at Tanglewood, and has sung with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Seiji Ozawa and John Williams. Collaborations with the Tanglewood Music Center included performances conducted by Robert Spano, Craig Smith, and Stephan Asbury.
Directed by highly regarded ASCAP composer, teacher, and pianist Martin Amlin, The Young Artists Composition Program offers talented high school composers the unique opportunity to focus for six weeks solely on exploring and refining their compositional skills. The challenging and stimulating environment includes exposure to all Boston Symphony Orchestra concerts and the resources of the Tanglewood Music Center. Students also attend rehearsals and performances of the Festival of Contemporary Music at the Tanglewood Music Center and meet visiting composers throughout the summer – a rare chance to learn and hear firsthand from some of the world’s leading composers.
Student composers attend daily classes in analysis, score-reading, and compositional techniques. Weekly private lessons are enhanced by classes in music theory and aural skills. Each week, composers write pieces for a small ensemble; these pieces are read and recorded at the end of the week, providing the students with a valuable archive and learning tool. The BUTI Young Artists Orchestra also has a reading session of composers’ works. A full evening concert showcases pieces composed during the summer. Additional performance opportunities are available in chamber music and through other BUTI programs.
Recent visiting composers to BUTI include John Harbison, David Del Tredici, Michael Gandolfi, Nico Muhly, Marti Epstein, Richard Cornell, Joshua Fineberg, Jonathan Newman, and Eilliot Carter. Special events are also arranged with the Composition Fellows of the Tanglewood Music Center, exchanging ideas with guest composers, faculty and students.
The Young Artists Piano Program is a high-level, intensive summer program for advanced high school age pianists. Admission to the program is highly competitive, with a class size of 15 students per session. The program offers young pianists private lessons, master classes, and a variety of performance opportunities. Students enhance individual development through the study of technique, style, tonal quality, and repertoire. Each year the program attracts students from around the world, most recently including students from Israel, Brazil, Chile, China, Korea, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, and Canada.
Boaz Sharon, professor, international recording artist, and master teacher, directs the Young Artists Piano Program. Professor Sharon is Chair of the Piano Department at Boston University and a visiting Professor of Piano at China Conservatory in Beijing. He is active as a master class guest as well as a judge for major piano competitions around the world.
Clara Jung-Yang Shin, Associate Director for the Piano Program, teaches at Korean National University of Arts while actively performing throughout Europe, Asia, and North America.
Each summer, visiting guest artist faculty offer opportunities to work with them through master classes and private lessons. The past summers have included several dynamic and world renowned piano artists/teachers: Professors Zhe Tang and Tang Zhi, piano faculty members at the Shanghai Conservatory and Professor Yuan Sheng from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. THIS SUMMER, Professor Sharon will be joined by returning guest artist Professor Gila Goldstein, Israeli born pianist and faculty member at Boston University and Hyuong-Joon Chang, Professor of Piano and Director of the International Piano Academy, Seoul National University, Korea.
Students receive weekly private lessons and perform in master classes. While all master classes focus on technique and performance practice, occasionally the entire session can be devoted to one specific composer. Guest artists such as Emanuel Ax, Kirill Gerstein, Claude Frank, Anthony di Bonaventura, Tatyana Dodochkin, Frank Glazer, Maxim Moglievsky, Paul Posnak, and Sergey Schepkin conduct master classes with BUTI pianists and provide opportunities for question and answer sessions.
Along with solo repertoire assignments, several students are selected each session to collaborate with members of the Young Artists Orchestra in piano chamber music for study and performance.
There are a variety of solo recital opportunities all summer including community outreach concerts throughout the Berkshires as well as on the BUTI campus and the Tanglewood Main Grounds.
The Young Artists Harp Program is a full-immersion program providing young players a comprehensive overview of all facets of harp playing. Students receive weekly lessons with world famous artist/teacher Ann Hobson Pilot, former principal harp of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and her assistant director for the seminar. Lessons focus on technique, the interpretation and performance practices of standard harp repertoire, and the study of the important orchestral excerpts required of every serious harpist. Students in the program also perform chamber music, participate in harp ensemble, and are enrolled in music theory classes. In daily classes, students are coached in preparation for future auditions and competitions, and practice repertoire for a harp recital given in the final week of the program.
Guest artists such as Paula Page, Alice Giles, Elizabeth Morse, and Elisabeth Remy Johnson give master classes during the session. Each summer, harpists enjoy a rotation between the Young Artists Orchestra and the Young Artists Wind Ensemble as members of those large ensembles.
Each season, harpists are chosen from the Harp Seminar to participate in the Young Artists Orchestra and/or Wind Ensemble.
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
Clarinet
Saxophone
Trumpet
French Horn
Trombone
Tuba and Euphonium
Percussion
String Quartet
Double Bass
Many students at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute go on to have many successes in their musical careers, including: