This listing contains Music Festival announcements for 2026; however, the postings were compiled in mid-November 2025 and will inevitably include omissions. While the International Horn Society is worldwide, the limitations of my experience have confined the scope of this listing to the United States. Inclusion does not constitute endorsement by the International Horn Society.
Aspen Music Festival
- Dates: July 1, 2026 to August 23, 2026
- Notes on Applicants: Average age of their student body is 25, and most students are enrolled in pre-college, conservatory, or graduate-level music studies. Brass are rarely accepted for their half sessions.
- Application Deadline: January 5, 2026
- Location: Aspen, Colorado
- Website Link: https://www.aspenmusicfestival.com/students-welcome/admissions/programs-of-study/
Boston Tanglewood Institute French Horn Workshop
- Dates: June 21, 2026 to July 4, 2026
- Notes on Applicants: Ages 14 to 20 in the program; only high schoolers are eligible for the orchestra.
- Application Deadline: January 21, 2026
- Location: Lenox, Massachusetts
- Website Link: https://www.bu.edu/cfa/tanglewood/program/french-horn-workshop/
Brevard College Orchestral Institute
- Dates: June 20, 2026 to August 2, 2026
- Notes on Applicants: The college division is for students ages 18 through 29 who have completed at least one year as a full-time college student. In addition to current undergraduates, many students in the program have graduated or are presently enrolled for graduate study.
- Application Deadline: February 15, 2026
- Location: Brevard, North Carolina
- Website Link: https://www.brevardmusic.org/institute/college/orchestral/
Chautauqua Institution
- Dates: June 26, 2026 to August 11, 2026
- Notes on Applicants: Our students are typically 18 to 28 and enrolled in or recently graduated from undergraduate or graduate studies.
- Application Deadline: February 1, 2026
- Location: Chautauqua, New York
- Website Link: https://www.chq.org/festival-schools/school-of-music/instrumental-program/
Colorado College Summer Music Festival
- Dates: June 6, 2026 to June 26, 2026
- Notes on Applicants: Advanced, pre-professional musicians. Applicants will range in age from 18 years old to students at the university, master’s, and doctoral levels. While most accepted students are pursuing a degree, you do not have to be currently enrolled at a school to apply.
- Application Deadline: February 15, 2026
- Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Website Link: https://www.coloradocollege.edu/other/summermusicfestival/fellows/apply.html
Cormont Horn Camp (Previously known as Kendall Betts Horn Camp)
- Dates: June 13, 2026 to June 20, 2026 and June 21, 2026 to June 28, 2026. May attend one week or both weeks
- Notes on Applicants: The camp serves each participant where they are in their horn journey. High school, College, Professional, Amateur, or Returning to Horn.
- Application Deadline: First-come, first-served basis to maintain participant-to-faculty ratio of 4:1
- Location: Cardigan Mountain School, New Hampshire
- Website Link: https://horncamp.org/
Festival Napa Valley Blackburn Music Academy
- Dates: June 29, 2026 to July 19, 2026
- Notes on Applicants: The Program is open to all instrumentalists 18 years and older.
- Application Deadline: Not Yet Available as of 11/15/2025
- Location: Napa Valley, California
- Website Link: https://festivalnapavalley.org/education/academy/
Foosa Festival
- Dates: June 13, 2026 to June 29, 2026
- Notes on Applicants: Advanced musicians of graduate school, college, and high school age.
- Application Deadline: Not Yet Available as of November 15, 2025
- Location: Fresno, California
- Website Link: https://www.foosamusic.org/about-foosa
Lake George Music Festival
- Dates: May 31, 2026 to June 11, 2026
- Notes on Applicants: Welcome residency applications from artists of all nationalities, backgrounds, and identities, ages 18 and up.
- Application Deadline: January 15, 2026
- Location: Lake George, New York
- Website Link: https://app.getacceptd.com/nationalmusic
National Music Festival
- Dates: May 31, 2026 to June 13, 2026
- Notes on Applicants: All applicants must be at least 18 years of age by June 1, 2025. There is no upper age limit. The average age is 22, though some are younger and older.
- Application Deadline: February 10, 2026
- Location: Chestertown, Maryland
- Website Link: https://nationalmusic.us/
National Repertory Orchestra Summer Music Festival
- Dates: June 20, 2026 to August 8, 2026
- Notes on Applicants: Applicants must be between 18 and 29 years of age and will have completed at least one year of college, university, or conservatory by June 16, 2026.
- Application Deadline: January 25, 2026
- Location: Breckenridge, Colorado
- Website Link: https://www.nromusic.org/how-to-apply/
Round Top Music Festival
- Dates: June 1, 2026 to July 11, 2026
- Notes on Applicants: Born before December 31, 2008.
- Application Deadline: February 2, 2026
- Location: Round Top, Texas
- Website Link: https://festivalhill.org/#/summerinstitute
Sarasota Music Festival
- Dates: May 31, 2026 to June 14, 2026
- Notes on Applicants: Musicians from top music programs at colleges and conservatories are invited to audition and participate.
- Application Deadline: February 15, 2026
- Location: Sarasota, Florida
- Website Link: https://www.sarasotaorchestra.org/festival
Sewanee Summer Music Festival
- Dates: June 14, 2026 to July 12, 2026
- Notes on Applicants: Includes pre-college and college students.
- Application Deadline: February 15, 2026
- Location: Sewanee, Tennessee
- Website Link: https://ssmf.sewanee.edu/experience/instrumental-performance-program/
Spoleto Festival USA
- Dates: May 22, 2026 to June 7, 2026
- Notes on Applicants: An exceptionally talented group of performers is selected to perform in the ensemble.
- Application Deadline: January 1, 2026
- Location: Charleston, South Carolina
- Website Link: https://spoletousa.org/get-involved/auditions/
