by Inman Hebert
At this time of year, as horn students finish the fall semester, we must look ahead to summer opportunities. Music festivals serve as training programs for young professionals. These programs provide intensive experiences to learn orchestral repertoire and to gain professional performance experience in an immersive setting. The link below lists summer music festivals open to students in 2026.
In the early stages, to narrow your list of potential options, identify the cost of transportation, tuition, housing, and food, in combination with any potential scholarships which may be offered. Check your calendar for any conflicts, and understand that music festivals often require you to arrive earlier and stay later than the festival dates listed on the main website.
Audition lists typically include one or two concerto expositions along with selected orchestral excerpts. Some require that the video be played in a single take, while others allow submissions through multiple takes. Consider whether you already have these pieces prepared or if you have sufficient time to create a competitive presentation.
Explore the resources offered by the festival. What combination of rehearsals, performances, masterclasses, sectionals, private instruction, and competitions does the festival offer? Can you find the repertoire for summer 2026? Are biographies of musicians they accepted the previous year included? Learn about the faculty. Once you have completed your research, rely on your own teachers to help you focus your choices and prepare the auditions.
Understand the cost of the opportunity. Your limited resources may best be placed in a few well-crafted applications, and some of these may require recommendations, resumes, essays, and headshots—in addition to the audition video. No matter the outcome, investing time in preparing the audition repertoire will make you that much more well prepared for the next opportunity that comes your way.
Here are major offerings for summer 2026.
