Summer Music Courses in Europe 2011
Like this year's Summer Courses in Europe, the AFAF Summer Music Courses in Europe 2011 will consist of two programs. The first will take place between July 5 and July 15, 2011 and will take students from Moscow, through Vladimir, to the historic city of Kostroma. The second program will take place in late July/early August of 2011 and will include a tour of Europe that includes Weimar, Verona, and Venice.
More iInformation about next year's program will be posted later this month. Meanwhile, we invite you to peruse last year's summer guide.
Summer Music Courses in Europe 2010
The AFAF Summer Music Courses in Europe 2010 consists of two interconnected programs, both of which include a week of music study at the Liszt School of Music in Weimar, Germany. The first program, our Germany-Austria Tour, begins in Munich on August 5, 2010, with the tour portion of the program, and concludes in Weimar, on August 15, 2010. The second program, our Germany-France Tour, begins in Weimar, on August 9, 2010, with the music study portion of the program, and concludes in Paris, on August 19, 2010.
Please note that we have no more spots for our Germany-Austria Tour. Meanwhile, due to increased interest in our summer program, we have extended the application deadline for our Germany-France Tour to April 30, 2010.
Participants will be mailed/emailed a personalized class schedule ten days before start of program - please make sure we have your current contact information.
Dates & Travel
Please note that air travel is not included in the program fee — participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements.
Summer Music Courses in Europe 2010 — Germany-Austria Tour (Aug 5-Aug 15)
Please note that we are no longer accepting applicants for our Germany-Austria Tour.
First day of program: Thursday, August 5, 2010 (Munich)
The Germany-Austria Tour begins in Munich, Germany, with the tour portion of the program, and participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to Munich. Munich has its own international airport, Franz Josef Strauss International Airport, which is a short distance away from the center of the city.
Departure to Weimar: Sunday, August 8, 2010
Last day of program: Sunday, August 15, 2010 (Weimar)
Summer Music Courses in Europe 2010 — Germany-France Tour (Aug 9-Aug 19)
First day of program: Monday, August 9, 2010 (Weimar)
The Germany-France Tour begins in Weimar, Germany, with the music study portion of the program, and participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to Weimar. The airport closest to Weimar is located in Frankfurt (Frankfurt International Airport) and is about 2 1/2 hours by train from Weimar.
Departure to France: Monday, August 16, 2010
Last day of program: Thursday, August 19, 2010 (Paris)
Music Study Portion — Weimar (Both programs)
Accommodations
Accommodations in Weimar are provided in dormitories, which are within walking distance (15 mins) of the Liszt School of Music, and can house 2, 3 or 4 participants per room. In addition, participants may choose to be housed in a nearby hotel (7mins walking distance to the school), which offers a number of double rooms. Both housing options are located within walking distance of the Liszt School of Music and its many rehearsal spaces, classrooms and performance halls. In addition, participants will be able to make use of a variety of sports and recreational facilities provided by the Liszt School of Music. Hotel residents will be able to enjoy a complimentary breakfast, while dormitory residents will be offered complimentary breakfast (buffet style) and dinner.
Music Facilities, Lessons & Lectures
Ample practice and performance facilities have been reserved for participants of AFAF's Summer Music Program in Europe at the Liszt School of Music's beautiful Main Building (Fürstenhaus). In addition to daily chamber music rehearsals, solo performances, music theory lessons (if there's enough interest) and recitals, each student will receive three private lessons, and will attend four music history lessons (on Liszt, Schumann, Bach and Mendelssohn), and have the opportunity to participate in masterclasses. Advanced students with an interest in chamber music will be able to attend chamber music classes. Please note that masterclasses will be offered free to winners of a competition to be held on site in Weimar, and for a nominal fee to other participants. In addition, during the course of each summer program, students will give two recitals. Last year's recital venues in Weimar included the Altenburg, where Franz Liszt resided in the years following 1848, and the the famous Seebach-Stift. This year, we are hoping to add several more venues to this list, including the renowned École Normale de Musique de Paris, the Würzburg University of Music, and the Liszt School of Music chamber music recital hall.
Excursions — Dresden, Leipzig & Würzburg
In order to provide students with a useful context for our planned music history lessons, we have arranged to visit the cities most associated with the composers we'll be covering in this year's program. So, in addition to exploring our host city - Weimar, with its strong association with Franz Liszt, we will also be making day trips to Dresden and Leipzig where our students we'll be able to learn more about Wagner, Bach and Mendelssohn, as well as Würzburg, noted for its castle and palace.
Tour Portion — Exploring Europe's Musical Heritage
Germany-Austria Tour (Salzburg, Neuschwanstein Castle, Nuremberg)
Our Germany-Austria Tour (Aug 5-Aug 15) begins with the tour portion of the program. The program opens in Munich, Germany, which provides a perfect starting point for exploring Munich itself - the birthplace of Richard Strauss and the home of the National Theater, which, during its long history saw the premieres of many of Richard Wagner's operas, as well as surrounding cities, including Salzburg, Austria, where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born and raised. While in Munich, participants will also have a chance to visit nearby Neuschwanstein Castle. On August 8, we'll be saying goodbye to Munich and boarding AFAF's chartered bus, which will make a stop in Nuremberg, before arriving in Weimar, Germany for the week-long music study portion of the program.
Germany-France Tour (Strasbourg, Metz, Rheims, Paris, Versailles)
Our second program, the Germany-France Tour (Aug 9-Aug 19) begins in Weimar, Germany, with the week-long music stufy portion. Then, on August 16, we will depart Weimar and AFAF's chartered bus will first take participants to Strasbourg, Metz and Rheims, where participants will have ample time to explore these great cities' musical and cultural heritage, before arriving at our final destination, Paris - The City of Light. While in Paris, participants will also have a chance to undertake an optional daytrip to Versailles where they'll be able to visit the renowned Palace of Versailles.
Application Requirements, Fees & Payment Schedule
Requirements: Applicants are required to submit a CD recording demonstrating their playing or a written recommendation from their music teacher. (Participants of previous AFAF Summer Music Courses in Europe programs or previous regular festival programs are exempt from this requirement.)
Application Fee: $100
The application fee is nonrefundable and will be deducted from the total program fee. Please note that due to increased interest in our summer program, the application deadline has been extended to April 30, 2010. Please make sure that we have your application form and all supporting materials by this new deadline.
Deposit: Successful applicants will be contacted about confirmation and a non-refundable deposit (which will be deducted from the total program fee) by email shortly after receipt of application and supporting documentation.
Program Fees & Discounts
Dormitories (Weimar): $2,450 (dormitory space may be limited)
Hotel - Double Room (Weimar): $2,700
Discounts: Participants of our regular 2009-2010 American Fine Arts Festival are eligible for a $100 discount off the total program fee. Participants of previous AFAF Summer Music Courses in Europe programs are also eligible for a $100 discount off the total program fee.
For those wishing to participate in both programs: Those wishing to participate in both programs, our Germany-Austria Tour and the Germany-France Tour, can do so for an additional fee of $950. Please note that we have no more spots for our Germany-Austria Tour.
For parents & other family members: The AFAF can provide accommodations for those parents or family members who wish to accompany participants for the duration of the program. The cost of room & board for parents/guardians is $1,450 per person for accomodations in dormitories and $1,650 for accomodations in a hotel. Parents and family members wishing to participate in both programs, our Germany-Austria Tour and the Germany-France Tour, can do so for an additional fee of $650. Please call for more information.
What's Included in the Program Fee
The program fee, for both our Germany-Austria and our Germany-France tours, covers tuition, room & board during our stay in Weimar, official festival activities, as well as transportation to and accommodations during the programs' respective tour stops. The Germany-Austria Tour fee includes accommodations in Munich (3 nights currently planned, breakfast included), while the Germany-France Tour fee includes accommodations in Paris (2 nights currently planned, breakfast included). In addition, the program fee covers excursions to Munich and Nuremberg (Germany-Austria Tour), and Strasbourg, Metz, Rheims, Paris (Germany-France Tour).
Please note that each program includes several optional excursions which are not covered by the program fee. Specifically, the program fee does not cover the cost of excursions to Würzburg, Dresden, Leipzig, as well as Neuschwanstein Castle (Germany-Austria Tour) and Versailles (Germany-France Tour). The program fee also does not cover any miscellaneous expenses, such as entrance fees to museums, etc.
Scholarships for AFAF Participants
Students who are participating in our regular 2009-2010 Festival are eligible to receive a $200 scholarship to the AFAF Summer Music Courses in Europe 2010. Scholarships will be awarded based on audition performances. Make sure to check the scholarship box on your 2009-2010 Season application form if you want to be considered for this scholarship.
Visa Information
Remember that a valid passport is required for travel. Participants who are not US/EU citizens should check current visa requirements with the nearest German Consulate at least one month before departure.
Additional Information
The American Fine Arts Festival will not be liable for medical emergency or other health related expenses. Participants are required to submit proof of medical insurance.
The American Fine Arts Festival assumes no liability for damage, theft or injury that may occur during the course of the program.
Questions?
For more information about the AFAF Summer Music Courses in Europe 2010, please call (732) 671-2831 or email us at . All written inquiries and applications should be sent to AFAF, P.O. Box 106, Holmdel, NJ 07733.
