Perlman Music Program

The Perlman Music Program was founded by Itzhak Perlman and his wife, Toby, in 1995. The program is headquartered in Shelter Island, New York. It offers exceptionally talented young string players, aged 12 to 18, a six-week summer residential courses in solo performance, chamber music, string orchestra and chorus singing, with a faculty led by Itzhak Perlman. In addition to the summer program, students receive year-round mentoring and participate in international studies and performance tours.

Summer Program

The summer residency program, an intensive six-week summer residency at Shelter Island, serves approximately 32 of the worlds most exceptionally gifted students, ages 11 to 18, drawn from all over the world. Led by Toby and Itzhak Perlman, the SMS faculty and staff work to create an environment where young musicians feel welcome and supported, where musical talent is nurtured in a rigorous yet noncompetitive fashion, and where concern for the development of the whole person is always foremost at hand. This is accomplished, in part, by maintaining a student to faculty ratio of better than 2 to 1. Students typically practice 4 hours every morning and attend rehearsals, coachings, and master classes in the afternoons.

Throughout the duration of the summer program, students and teachers perform in "Work In Progress" concerts which are free to the public on site. Orchestra/chorus rehearsals and the annual "Children's Concert" are also open to the public. "Benefit Concert" takes place at the end of the summer program at Shelter Island, and occasionally at concert venues such as Carnegie hall.

Seats in the program become available to new students every year when older students reach 18 years of age and leave the program. Hundreds of prospective students apply to the program by submitting an application form which includes a VHS tape or a DVD of their performance, often with hundreds applying for a single spot. Applications are reviewed by faculty members on musical abilities only. Qualified students who could not attend without financial assistance are given scholarships.

The Chamber Music Workshop @ PMP

In 2003, the Perlman Music Program (PMP) added a two-week Chamber Music Workshop to its summer program. This workshop is designed for gifted musicians between the age of 18 and 30. The workshop accepts both solo musicians and musicians with pre-formed groups. All applicants must submit tape or DVD of their performance for a rigorous selection process. The evening master classes are open to the public, and members of the workshop give open concerts throughout the duration of the program.

External links

* [http://www.perlmanmusicprogram.org/ The official website of Perlman Music Program]