how to audition for summer festivals

i can trace back some of the most important moments of my education to summer festivals. like...

...the moment i decided i wanted to be a classical musician at interlochen.

...the time i learned how to place a cymbal crash with orchestra in aspen.

...the time i discovered a life changing snare drum technique exercise in idyllwild (california). 

or how about when i got to eat sushi in japan with a former sumo wrestler and members of the vienna philharmonic? 

who you are as a musician – and a person – is formed by the life-changing moments of learning that you experience along the way. THAT'S why summer festivals are so important for classical musicians. 

and by the way, you know how i always talk about the 54 auditions i took that were integral to my development? well, 28 of them were summer festival auditions.

i was a summer festival audition fiend.

and it's just about time to get started practicing for your 2022 summer festival audition season. most festivals announce and post the repertoire on november 1st. (don't kill me, i'm just the messenger.)

so in today's video, i'll give you some pointers about how to take on your summer festival auditions successfully. 

today's video is called how to audition for summer festivals.

i'm going over:

  • how to choose which festivals to apply for

  • how to organize your music

  • planning your preparation

  • and more...

watch:


rob knopper

hailed by @nytimes as needing 'louder triangle notes'. recorded delécluse: douze études for snare drum, percussionist in @metorchestra.