Rising Stars
The Program
The Open Academy Rising Stars program provides specialist tuition and support for gifted young musicians. The programme identifies talent in people of a young age and provides them with an academic musical framework to help them reach their full potential. Supported by the Sydney Conservatorium of Music faculty, the program is based on principles of quality teaching and sensitive professional direction. Many students go on to win prestigious scholarships and competitions, becoming the leading professional musicians of their generation.
The program runs for 13 weeks per semester for 2 semesters each year and focuses on three essential elements:
1. Individual instrumental lessons
Rising Stars students receive individual, expert tuition from a dedicated member of Conservatorium staff in weekly, 60 minute instrumental lessons in the studios at the Conservatorium. Tuition is available on the following instruments.
Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Classical Guitar, Harp
Woodwind: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone
Brass: Trumpet, Trombone, Horn, Tuba
Keyboard: Piano
Students are also permitted to use the Conservatorium’s many practice rooms for their private practice time.
2. Performances
Rising Stars students present a weekly concert during the semester. Students are encouraged to perform in these concerts as often as both the student and their teacher feel they are ready to do so. Students are supported and accompanied by professional associate artists. The concerts, which are free and open to the public, are held on Saturdays at 11am in the Conservatorium’s state of the art venues. The concerts provide students with invaluable experience in rehearsal techniques, pre-performance procedure and stage presentation.
Aside from performing, students are part of the ‘behind the scenes’ concert activity, learning about concert procedure, etiquette and stage management. All Rising Stars students are expected to attend the concerts each week not only for inspiration but also to broaden their knowledge of all instrumental repertoire.
Each week the Rising Stars students perform in a concert held in the Sydney Conservatorium’s state of the art facilities at 11am. The concerts are open to the public and are free to attend, and young children are particularly welcome. We encourage anyone interested in applying to audition for the program to attend.
For concert dates please visit our What's On page.
Rising Stars Sudents: Download a
3. Music skills
All students in the program attend a weekly Music Skills class on Saturday mornings. Working together in small groups with the Conservatorium’s highly experienced teachers they study music theory, music history, aural, sight singing and musical analysis. These areas are essential in providing a sound background for all musicians and are vital preparation for advanced musical study and a successful musical future. Advanced students attend the Advanced Seminar classes which are presented by professional musicians and musicologists.
Semester Dates
Semester 1, 2012
February 25
March 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31
May 5, 12, 19 & 26
June 2, 16 & 23 (June 9 is Long Weekend)
Semester 2, 2012
July 28
August 4, 11 & 18
September 1, 8 & 15
October 13, 20 & 27
November 3, 10 & 17
Chamber Music Elective
This elective course gives a limited number of students the opportunity to form small ensembles (usually trios or quartets) to gain important experience of collaborating with other talented musicians. They receive tuition on the specifics of performing as part of a small ensemble. There are 10 Chamber Music classes in each semester.
Composition elective
This elective course gives a limited number of students the opportunity to study composition at a more detailed level. In small classes, students will be introduced to a range of approaches to composition through discussion, listening and score study, basic analysis and working on their own projects. Practical topics such as notation and working with performers will also be incorporated, depending on the students’ interests. There are 10 composition classes each semester.
Fees
The fee for the Rising Stars program in 2012 will be $2,230.00 (incl. GST) per semester (2 semesters per year). This includes:
- 13 – 1 hour instrumental lessons,
- 13 – 50 minute Music Skills classes,
- rehearsal workshops and concert performances.
Limited scholarships are available for the Rising Stars program. Scholarships are awarded at the beginning of each calendar year for 12 months (subject to satisfactory participation and development) based on the result achieved in the Audition/Exam at the end of the previous year.
The fee for the Chamber Music Elective and Composition Elective in 2012 will be $550.00 (incl. GST) per semester. This includes 10 one-hour tutorials.
Additional Benefits
Rising Stars students are able to use the Conservatorium many practice rooms for private practice. Students are also able to join the Conservatorium Library and access the thousands of scores and recordings. They also are able to access free or discounted tickets to Sydney Conservatorium of Music concerts.
How to apply
Entry to the programme is by audition only. There are two intakes per year. Auditions are held in November/December for our February intake and in May/June for our August intake. Students who have been playing their instrument for at least 2 years are welcome to apply.
Rising Stars Audition - Piano
This session is for Rising Star piano auditions only. This is the only session of piano auditions, THURSDAY 7TH JUNE.
Your audition will fall between 5pm and 7pm on Thursday 7th June 2012. An audition timeslot will be allocated to you. You will be notified of your timeslot by Thursday 31st May.
Applications close on Thursday 24th May 2012.
