The Young Eight String Seminar is a one-week accelerated day program designed to educate, inspire and develop young string musicians in the field of classical music.  It is held on the beautiful campus of Huston-Tillotson College in Austin, Texas and hosted by members of The Young Eight.  The Young Eight is an African American string octet dedicated to making classical music accessible to people of all races and ethnicities.  It is through the String Seminar that The Young Eight is able to uphold one of its principal goals: to educate and develop young musicians through chamber music.

Sixteen students will be chosen by The Young Eight to participate in the one-week intensive String Seminar Program.  Students will rehearse exclusively on music from the standard chamber music and string orchestra repertoire with members of The Young Eight.  Daily coaching is geared towards learning the basic essentials of music making, rehearsal techniques and other musical obstacles.  Students are placed in a chamber music group with at least one other member of The Young Eight, receive daily private lessons, attend various seminars on musicianship and professionalism and participate in guest master classes.  Students will also perform in an educational outreach concert in the Austin community as an extension of The Young Eight’s efforts to bring awareness of classical music to young people. At the conclusion of the program, students will be presented in a chamber music concert with The Young Eight.

Students accepted into The Young Eight String Seminar will receive in advance music to be performed during the seminar.  Participants are expected to learn the music prior to the seminar and are encouraged to receive private lessons on the repertoire to ensure adequate preparation.  Extra rehearsals and coaching may be available to insure an adequate amount of preparation for a successful performance.   Chamber group and seating assignments are based on an evaluation of each student’s audition recording.

Below are documents (Adobe Reader required) relevant to the seminar.  Application materials must be postmarked by April 22, 2005.