Rising Stars

Based on principles of quality teaching and sensitive professional direction, the Open Academy’s Rising Stars program is a performance based program for gifted young musicians aged 5 to 18 years.

With support from the academic staff of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, our program offers students comprehensive music education through three essential elements:

1. One on one instrumental lessons
Students will receive expert tuition through a weekly, one-on-one, sixty minute lesson with a Conservatorium accredited teacher.

Instruments available are:
Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Classical Guitar
Woodwind: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone
Brass: Trumpet, Trombone, Horn, Tuba
Keyboard: Piano
Percussion

2. Performances
Students will be encouraged to present the works they have prepared with their teacher in regular concerts. Students will be accompanied by a professional accompanist. They will also have the opportunity to prepare for the performance with the accompanist in a performance workshop.

The concerts, which are open to the public, are held at 11am on a Saturday morning in one of the Conservatorium’s Recital Halls and all students in the program are strongly encouraged to attend.

3. Music skills
All students of the Rising Stars program will attend a weekly Music Skills class on Saturday morning. Working together in small groups they will study theory and musicianship; essentials to providing a sound musical background for all musicians.

Advanced students attend musicology seminars presented by professional musicians and academics covering a wide range of topics. Past presenters have included Prof. Kim Walker, Assoc. Prof. Gerard Willems, Mr David Miller, Prof. Imre Pallo, Geoffrey Pollard, Fiona Garlick, Neal Peres da Costa and Judy Bailey.

Applications

Entry to the program is by audition.

Auditions

Auditions for Semester 1, 2010 will be held in the week of 25 - 28 November 2009. Please download an audition application form here.

Fees and scholarships

2009 Fee: $1,885.00 per semester (2010 Fee to be advised).
This is inclusive of 13 instrumental lessons, weekly Music Skills classes and all performances and performance workshops.

Limited scholarships are available and will be awarded based on audition performance.

2010 Calendar

Semester 1

February 27
March 6, 13, 20 & 27
May 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29
June 5,19 & 26

Semester 2

July 31
August 7, 14 & 21
September 4, 11 & 18
October 16, 23 & 30
November 6, 13 & 20

Current students

Concert performance applications
Current students in Rising Stars can download an application form here to request a performance in the Saturday 11am concert.