A Summer Festival to provide access & showcase the distinctive personality of California, July 5-15, 2023

Highlighting a different focus each year, California Orchestra Academy combines a premier orchestral experience, mentorship, conducting fellowships, masterclasses, leadership training, and more to participants of all backgrounds. Open to ages 14 - 24.

COA faculty and Festival Orchestra players hail from professional orchestras and top universities around the country and perform side-by-side with Academy participants.

Past performers and instructors include members of the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, Monterey Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, and professors from Indiana University, Michigan State University, New England Conservatory, UCLA, and more.

In addition to musical instruction, participants ages 19-22 attend leadership workshops and may mentor younger students, giving them the opportunity to develop skills and gain experience needed to be hired as a music Teaching Artist.

This year, the focus will be on Latin composed and inspired music. The participants will play a world premiere Mariachi Symphonic Overture, composed by a native of Monterey County.

Funds will help bring students to the Central Coast and allow them to participate in the Academy, no matter their financial background.

For more information about the program, please click HERE.

Your support will allow us to offer full-tuition scholarships to those students from the underserved, at-risk population.

The California Orchestra Academy is a partnership between music organizations and Co-Sponsored by a number of local non-profits. The Fiscal Sponsor for the event is El Sistema USA/Salinas Inc. (DBA YOSAL), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with EIN #27-2306206. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

California Orchestra Academy

Summer Music Festival

Team Members