Advanced Study Ensembles

Part of the Joseph and Marie Field Chamber Music Program, the Advanced Study Program is a special scholarship program for 13 – 18 year old students (or through completion of high school) who have an interest in pursuing pre-professional training.

The scholarships include:

• Participation in an Advanced Study Chamber Ensemble, at no fee.
• A scholarship for individual study with a senior member of the Settlement Music School faculty or with a recognized artist/teacher in the community.
• Participation in an advanced study section of Musicianship (music theory) at any branch of Settlement where it is offered, at no fee.

For study with a Settlement faculty member, the scholarship reduces the fee for a one-hour lesson to $20 for a full season of lessons. For study with a teacher outside of Settlement, the scholarship covers up to $40 per lesson of the fee for a total of 30 lessons submitted.

Advanced Study ensembles perform several times per year in concerts at Settlement and in the community. Occasionally, Advanced Study ensembles are engaged for outside performances through Settlement’s Concert Division and performers may be offered modest honoraria.

It is expected that recipients of Advanced Study scholarships will make participation in the ensemble and in Settlement Music School concerts and events their first priority.

Advanced Study Ensembles:

• Benjamin and Carol Auger Contemporary Ensemble, coached by Linda Reichert
• Gabriel Braverman String Quartet, coached by Kerri Ryan
• Gray Charitable Trust Piano Trio, coached by Mitchell Newman
• Ann Newman String Quartet, coached by William Polk
• Myer Schwartz Piano Trio, coached by Mitchell Newman
• Trowbridge String Quartet, coached by Thomas Kraines
• Edward L. and Gail W. Snitzer String Quartet, coached by William Polk
• Rosalie Magen Weinstein and Matthew B. Weinstein Advanced Study Woodwind Quintet, coached by Rié Suzuki
• The Helen K. Schwartz Advanced Study Jazz Ensemble, coached by Tony Miceli

Competitions

Settlement Music School’s Gray Charitable Trust Piano Trio, coached by Settlement piano and chamber music faculty member and Arthur Judson Distinguished Faculty Chair Sandra Carlock, performed at the 2016 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.

The Trio, comprised of violinist Brenden Zak (age 18), cellist Cindy Yeo (age 17), and pianist Kelly Zhang (age 18), has performed together as an ensemble since 2013. The ensemble’s selection reflected a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication over the past three years, with preparation for this competition having begun at the start of the 2015-16 season.

Numerous Settlement ensembles have been invited to take part in the Fischoff competition since its inception in 1973. Most recently, the Gail W. Snitzer String Quartet, coached by Sidney Curtiss, competed in 2014 and received an Honorable Mention.

Auditions

Auditions for the Advanced Study Scholarship (strings and piano) will be held on Monday, June 3 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Mary Louise Curtis Branch of Settlement Music School.

** Separate auditions for the Rosalie Magen Weinstein and Matthew B. Weinstein Woodwind Quintet will be held on Wednesday, June 5 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Mary Louise Curtis Branch of Settlement Music School.

To apply, please complete the online application below or contact Karin Orenstein with questions at karin.orenstein@settlementmusic.org.

If you would like to apply for our Helen K. Schwartz Advanced Study or Wheeler Pre-Advanced Jazz Ensembles, please visit our Jazz page.

Audition Requirements:
Applicants should prepare two contrasting movements from one or more concertos or solo works and a scale of their choice. The audition will also include sight-reading. No accompanist is necessary.

Vacancies for 2024-2025:

Ann Newman String Quartet, coached by William Polk
Vacancies: violin (1), viola (1)

Edward L. and Gail W. Snitzer String Quartet, coached by William Polk
Vacancies: violin (1), cello (1)

Gabriel Braverman String Quartet, coached by Kerri Ryan
Vacancies: viola (1), cello (1)

Benjamin and Carol Auger Contemporary Ensemble, coached by Linda Reichert
Vacancies: piano (1), viola (1)

Rosalie Magen Weinstein and Matthew B. Weinstein Woodwind Quintet
Vacancies: flute (1), bassoon (1), French horn (1)