Go to Orchestra
Jeffrey Kahane, Music Director

Festival Applications

Make a plan to join us June 1 - 23, 2024 for an intense three-week chamber music experience. Participate in masterclasses coached by world-renowned faculty. Study and perform a variety of chamber music each week.

Final deadline for all instruments is 11:59 PM EST on February 15, 2024.
Library applications are accepted until February 29, 2024

Each instrument has specific instructions for the required audition recording.

Please carefully read the audition requirements below for details.

Image

A Dream Come True

It is a chamber musician's dream come true to have access to the genius of so many world-class artists in one place, at one time. Many of our faculty artists were launching their own careers when they participated in our festival as fellows. Now they, and other acclaimed musicians, return to their roots to share their gifts and expertise with today's up-and-coming talent.

Why choose SMF?

On any given day during the festival, a fellow may rehearse in a faculty-coached ensemble, play in masterclasses and perform on stage. Interspersed, are coveted opportunities for the public to hear some of classical music's greatest talent and aspiring young stars showcased together. Selected fellows also receive the opportunity to perform in public concerts and play at churches and service organizations throughout the community.
Image

What are people saying?

“Passionate fellows, the best faculty, and special summer memories in beautiful Sarasota. There’s no reason not to choose SMF!”

—Dabeen (Daisy) Kim, 2023 Flute Fellow
Image

Who should apply?

Musicians from top music programs at colleges and conservatories are invited to audition and participate in the Sarasota Music Festival. This is an opportunity to work side-by-side with a group of 40 music masters, which comprise the Festival's guest faculty. The Festival receives hundreds of applications each year for the 60 available slots.

When is the Festival

The Sarasota Music Festival is an intense three-week event June 1 - June 23, 2024.

Sarasota Music Festival runs Saturday, June 1, 2024 – Sunday, June 23, 2024 for instrumental fellows and Tuesday, May 28, 2024 – Monday, June 24, 2024 for the library fellow.

A more detailed look at the fellow and faculty concert schedules is coming soon.

Applications to the 2024 Sarasota Music Festival are open until February 15!

Final deadline for all instruments is 11:59 PM EST on February 15, 2024.
Final deadline for librarians is 11:59 PM EST on February 29, 2024.

Where is the Festival?

The Sarasota Music Festival is located in Sarasota, FL, on the west coast of the state about 60 miles south of Tampa and on the opposite side from Miami. We advise participants to fly into the Sarasota/Bradenton airport (SRQ). Fellows arriving in Sarasota will be greeted at the airport by a festival staff member and volunteer who will take them to festival headquarters, at the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center in Sarasota.
Image

What are people saying?

“I first came to SMF in 2019, and it was a memorable time working with the faculty, and meeting my future teacher Jon Kimura Parker, with whom I now study! Hearing Robert Levin and Jeffrey Kahane play the Mozart concerto was a delight, and although this year […] we were so fortunate to experience Levin’s magic at the piano, stepping in for the Beethoven concerto."

—Jonathan Mak, 2023 Piano Fellow
Image

Cost of Attendance

Tuition: $0

Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, your SMF Fellowship provides an approximately $5,000 scholarship ensuring no tuition expense for participation.

Registration: $200

Each Fellow must pay a non-refundable registration fee due upon acceptance to the Festival.

Housing: $650

You'll stay at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota, a luxurious four-star hotel just a block from the Festival HQ. The SMF Fellowship offsets most of the room cost, with a $175 housing deposit due upon acceptance.
Fellows must pay this fee by May 21.

Meals: $250

SMF provides more than 21 meals during the Festival. Breakfast and lunch are provided from Monday through Saturday. Dinner is on your own with a few parties and meals provided by the volunteers of SMF. There are grocery stores and restaurants nearby. All Fellows must pay this fee by May 21.

Recording Fee: $20

Each Fellow will receive a digital recording of their performances during SMF. Fellows must pay this fee by May 21.

2024 AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Violin
  1. One movement from a Bach Sonata or Partita (no repeats)
  2. Exposition from the first movement of a Mozart Violin Concerti (no cadenza)
  3. Exposition from any violin concerto written between 1850 and 1950 (Note: If choosing Sibelius Concerto, play beginning through the Cadenza [5 bars after rehearsal Number 7])
  4. Orchestral Excerpts:
    1. Mozart: Symphony No. 39, mvt. 2 (mm. 1-26) 1st violin
    2. Brahms: Symphony No. 4, mvt. 4 (mm. 33-80) 1st violin
    3. Schumann: Symphony No. 2, Scherzo (mm. 1-54) 1st violin
    4. Stravinsky, Firebird Suite (1919), The Firebird Dance Variation, violin I

2024 audition requirements by instrument:

  • If not indicated, accompaniment is optional.
  • Each requirement can be a separate VIDEO upload
  • Audio recordings are accepted, but video is strongly recommended
  • Submissions must be unedited and unenhanced
  • SMF accepts substitutions for audition requirements listed below. If you have materials prepared that do not match the list for your instrument’s auditions, please submit your audition materials anyway.

Final Deadline: February 15, 2024
Applications due by 11:59pm EST 
Library applications are accepted until February 29
Application Fee: $100

Download 2024 Audition Requirements

What are people saying?

Honestly, every day I learn a new approach to music or my own instrument that’s really invaluable.
Austin Ruff
Austin Ruff
2019 fellow
The Sarasota Music Festival was the first festival I attended when I was a student at the Curtis Institute of Music. I was 17 years old and had the strongest feeling that this experience would be the beginning of my trek to making my professional musical dreams come true, and I was right.
Demarre McGill
Demarre McGill
alum and faculty artist
This is exactly what I needed for this summer: I learned a lot, made wonderful friends, and am inspired going into the rest of the summer.
2022 fellow
2022 fellow
The Festival is known for its strong artistic directorship and the caliber of the faculty, which I am so happy to be joining! I found in my own training that there is no better way to learn than by playing alongside mentors, which is one of the most attractive aspects of this festival.
Jennifer Frautschi
Jennifer Frautschi
faculty artist
I had an amazing time! I felt very grateful to work with such incredible faculty, and the best peers. … I recommend it highly to any aspiring professional musician!
2022 fellow
2022 fellow

Explore the Talent of Tomorrow

0

Rising Stars

Application Information
0

Esteemed Faculty

Meet our Faculty Artists
0

Classical Works

Concert Schedule
0

Weeks

About the Festival

Quicklinks

About Us

Our mission is to engage, educate, and enrich our community through high-quality, live musical experiences.

Contact Us

 Address

709 N Tamiami Tr, Sarasota, FL 34236

 Phone

Box Office: 941.953.3434
Administration: 941.953.4252

 Box Office Hours:

Our staff is here to help by phone, email, or in-person Monday-Friday from 10am-4pm.

 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.