Wikipedia

Music Academy of the West

The Music Academy of the West is a summer classical music training program in Montecito, California, and festival with performances in the County of Santa Barbara.

Music Academy of the West
Logo as of June 2022
Address
Map
1070 Fairway Road

Montecito
,
California
93108

United States
Coordinates34°25′09″N 119°38′56″W / 34.419231°N 119.648933°W / 34.419231; -119.648933
Information
Funding typeNonprofit[1]
Established1947; 77 years ago (1947)
PresidentShauna Quill[4]
ChairmanMaurice Singer[2]
DeanTiffany DeVries[3]
Campus size10 acres (4.0 ha)
Websitewww.musicacademy.org

Overview edit

The academy annually enrolls 136 pre-professional musicians in their late teens and early 20s, who receive merit-based full scholarships to workshops led by famous composers, conductors, and artists.[5] Programs of study are vocal piano, voice, collaborative piano, solo piano, and instrumental.[6] The eight-week summer music festival consists of concerts and operas,[5] as well as public master classes with famous musicians.[7]

History edit

The first impulse to establish a summer music festival in the Santa Barbara County came from soprano Lotte Lehmann in 1940.[7] In 1947 the Music Academy of the West was founded by Southern California arts patrons, musicians, conductors and composers.[8] In addition to Lotte Lehmann, founders of the academy were conductor Otto Klemperer, violinist Roman Totenberg, harpsichordist Rosalyn Tureck, baritone John Charles Thomas and composers Ernest Bloch, Darius Milhaud, Roy Harris and Arnold Schoenberg, who served as the academy's first composer in residence.[9] Among the first scholarship funders were singer-actors Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, violinist Jascha Heifetz and movie producer Darryl F. Zanuck.[10]

The academy first hosted its summer sessions at Cate School in Carpinteria, before starting to relocate to a 10 acre (c. 4 hectare) property in Montecito in 1951. The former Montecito Country Club, regarded a showcase garden of Montecito and named Miraflores ("see flowers" in Spanish,) has been the academy's campus since the summer of 1952, though students had to be housed in dorms and at sorority and fraternity houses at the University of California, Santa Barbara for several years. Since 2016 accommodations are at Westmont College.[10]

In 1954 the staff included, besides Lehmann,internationally known musicians such as pianist György Sándor, soprano Eleanor Steber, violinist Sascha Jacobsen, and the cellist Gábor Rejtő. The student body numbered 120.[11]

From 1954 to 1980 the academy's music director was Maurice Abravanel.[12] Martial Singher was head of the Voice Department from 1962 till 1981.[13] The academy was initially administered by its board of directors, before the arts administrator, musicologist and writer Robert William Holmes[14] became its first president from 1988 till 1993.[15] He was followed in this position by tubist David L. Kuehn in 1993.[16] Marilyn Horne, who had attended the academy in 1953,[17] joined the faculty in 1995 and was named director of the voice program in 1997.[18] Violinist[19] NancyBell Coe was appointed as the academy's president in 2004.[20]

To preserve historic audio and video recordings of concerts, masterclasses and recitals held at the academy, recordings from 1961 till 2001 where housed at the UC Santa Barbara Librabry's Department of Special Research Collections in 2007.[21]

Since 2010, the academy has held the annual Marilyn Horne Song Competition, formerly known as the Marilyn Horne Foundation Vocal Competition. In the same year trained singer Scott Reed was appointed president of the academy.[22]

In 2014, the Music Academy of the West began an educational partnership with the New York Philharmonic. Under the collaboration, music director Alan Gilbert and orchestra members maintained residencies in Santa Barbara during parts of the festival, and selected Music Academy fellows trained with orchestra members in Santa Barbara and New York City.[23]

The academy's partnership with the UC Santa Barbara was renewed in 2017[8] and 400 early recordings were digitized, among them recordings of Lotte Lehmann, Marilyn Horne, and Jerome Lowenthal.[21]

In 2018, the academy launched a four-year partnership with the London Symphony Orchestra with music director Simon Rattle,[24] and a free after school choral program called Sing! for children ages 7–11 taking place in elementary schools in Santa Barbara County. Participants performed at the Music Academy of the West and collaborated with the London Symphony Orchestra.[25] In the same year, Marilyn Horne transitioned from active voice program director to honorary voice program director, a position she held till 2021 when she was named Faculty Emeritus.[26]

 
 

In 2022 the academy celebrated its 75th anniversary and adopted a new logo with simply the words Music Academy, the legal name remained Music Academy of the West. The academy consulted professional publicity and marketing agencies from New York and Los Angeles for the rebranding.[27] The brand makeover was deemed necessary because of the loss of weight of the long-standing moniker and the acronym MAW. The new logo was intended to reference sun rays and the circle of fifths,[28] whereas the old logo was referencing floral shapes. Singer Sasha Cooke and pianist John Churchwell took over as co-directors of the voice program in the same year.[29] In 2023 trained flutist Shauna Quill was appointed president of the academy.[4]

Alumni edit

Alumni of the Music Academy of the West, called fellows, are former attendants of the conservatory programs.[5] Many of them fill important professional music positions around the world, performing in top-tier orchestras, opera houses, and teaching on music school faculties. Others have gone on to leadership roles in other institutions. Notable alumni include:

Voice edit

String instruments edit

Violin edit

Viola edit

Cello edit

Double Bass edit

Wind instruments edit

Horn edit

Trumpet edit

Tuba edit

Clarinet edit

Bassoon edit

Piano edit

Conducting edit

Other students edit

Music students using the facilities for music training or performing with visiting orchestras without being enrolled are not considered alumni.[46] Among those students are:

Sources edit

  • Randel, Don Michael (1996). Randel, Don Michael (ed.). The Harvard biographical dictionary of music. Cambridge, Massachusetts, and London, England: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. ISBN 0674372999. Retrieved January 18, 2020.

References edit

  1. ^ "Financials". musicacademy.org. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  2. ^ Mason, Dave (December 24, 2022). "Maurice Singer named new Music Academy board chair". newspress.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  3. ^ "Administration". musicacademy.org. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Oberjat, Kate (August 15, 2023). "Music Academy Names Shauna Quill as New President and CEO". musicacademy.org. Archived from the original on February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Womack, Catherine (July 27, 2017). "How Beethoven for all and A-list alliances keep the Music Academy of the West thriving after 70 years". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  6. ^ "Programs of Study & Audition Requirements". Archived from the original on July 25, 2014. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  7. ^ a b Crawford, Sharon. "Music Academy of the West | Lotte Lehmann League". lottelehmannleague.org. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Collection: Music Academy of the West archives". January 18, 2020. Archived from the original on January 18, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  9. ^ Greenberg, Robert (August 26, 2019). "Music History Monday: Lotte Lehmann". robertgreenbergmusic.com. Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  10. ^ a b "History | Music Academy". www.musicacademy.org. Archived from the original on December 28, 2018. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  11. ^ "MUSIC STARS HEAD ACADEMY FACULTY; Sandor, Steber and Lehmann Will Teach and Perform at Coast Summer School", The New York Times, July 11, 1954.
  12. ^ Randel 1996, p. 2.
  13. ^ Randel 1996, p. 841.
  14. ^ "Robert Holmes Obituary (2011)". The Oregonian. October 14, 2011. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  15. ^ Dougherty, Tim (October 17, 2012). "Former Music Academy of the West President Robert Holmes Dies". Noozhawk. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  16. ^ Plog, Anthony (June 14, 2011). "David Kuehn, Music Administrator and Former Tubist". anthonyplog.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  17. ^ Brittingham, Joanie (January 1, 2014). "From Student To Teacher : Marilyn Horne". csmusic.net. Archived from the original on June 24, 2019. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  18. ^ Brozan, Nadine (January 8, 1997). "Chronicle". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 27, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  19. ^ Steiner, Diana (May 1987). "The Emerging Professional Violinist An Interview with NancyBell Coe: Orchestra Manager of the Los Angeles Philharmonic (first of a two-part series)". American String Teacher. 37 (2): 52–55. doi:10.1177/000313138703700214. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  20. ^ Dougherty, Tim (November 23, 2009). "NancyBell Coe to Retire as Music Academy President". Noozhawk. Archived from the original on October 23, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
  21. ^ a b "Music Academy of the West's Archives Find Home at UCSB Library". library.ucsb.edu. July 2, 2017. Archived from the original on August 31, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  22. ^ "Scott Reed | Department of Music". www.music.ucsb.edu. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  23. ^ Kozinn, Allan (March 31, 2014). "New York Philharmonic to Team With Music Academy of the West". artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  24. ^ "London Symphony Orchestra - Music Academy of the West". lso.co.uk. Archived from the original on October 23, 2019. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  25. ^ Giorgi, Raiza (December 4, 2018). "Music Academy creates free choir for elementary students". santabarbarafamilylife.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  26. ^ "Marilyn Horne – Music Academy". www.musicacademy.org. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  27. ^ Mineards, Richard (June 14, 2022). "A New Sun Rising Over the Music Academy". montecitojournal.net. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023. The name will legally remain Music Academy of the West but will be known simply as Music Academy as seen in the new logo.
  28. ^ Woodard, Josef (June 19, 2022). "Preview | Music Academy Goes Orchestral at the Santa Barbara Bowl". independent.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  29. ^ Salazart, David (December 4, 2022). "Sasha Cooke & John Churchwell Named Co-Directors of Lehrer Vocal Institute". Operawire. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Alumni Roster, Voice". musicacademy.org. Archived from the original on June 5, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  31. ^ Randel 1996, p. 937.
  32. ^ Randel 1996, p. 328.
  33. ^ a b c d "Alumni Search". musicacademy.org. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  34. ^ Nicolas Slonimsky (1984). "William Workman". In Theodore Baker (ed.). Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. Vol. 2. G. Schirmer, Inc. ISBN 9780028702704.
  35. ^ "Alumni Roster, Violin". musicacademy.org. Archived from the original on June 18, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  36. ^ a b c "Alumni Roster, Viola". musicacademy.org. Archived from the original on June 5, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  37. ^ "Alumni Roster, Cello". musicacademy.org. Archived from the original on June 18, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  38. ^ "Alumni Roster, Double Bass". musicacademy.org. Archived from the original on June 5, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  39. ^ "Alumni Roster, Horn". musicacademy.org. Archived from the original on June 18, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  40. ^ "Alumni Roster, Trumpet". musicacademy.org. Archived from the original on June 5, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  41. ^ "Alumni Roster, Clarinet". musicacademy.org. Archived from the original on June 5, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  42. ^ a b c "Alumni Roster, Piano". musicacademy.org. Archived from the original on June 3, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  43. ^ Randel 1996, p. 40.
  44. ^ "Alumni Roster, Vocal Piano". musicacademy.org. Archived from the original on June 5, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  45. ^ a b "Alumni Roster, Conducting". musicacademy.org. Archived from the original on June 5, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  46. ^ Montgomery, Alice (September 15, 2011). Katy Perry – The Unofficial Biography. Penguin. ISBN 9780718158248. Retrieved January 17, 2020. The reality is somewhat different, according to Tim Docherty, [sic] who works at the Academy: 'Katy was never involved in our programme,' he said. 'She was never a fellow, as we call our students. We are one of the most prestigious music schools on the West Coast, inviting vocalists from all over the world. What actually happened was that she might have taken a music lesson from rooms we rent out. There's no suggestion that Katy herself was responsible for the story, but it certainly didn't hurt her musical credentials to be associated with the school'
  47. ^ Panda, Priya (January 17, 2020). "Katy Perry Wants to Draw on Your Face". toonage.ca. Archived from the original on March 16, 2009. Retrieved January 17, 2020.

External links edit

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