The Music Academy of the West advances the development of 21st century classically trained musicians and cultivates discerning, appreciative, and adventurous audiences. Founded in 1947, the Academy operates on a 10-acre, ocean-side campus in Santa Barbara, California. Music Academy of the West’s world-renowned eight-week Summer Festival comprises nearly 200 public events. Programs comprise voice, vocal piano, collaborative piano, instrumental, and solo piano. The Academy began a four-year partnership with the London Symphony Orchestra in 2018 focused on education and performance on both continents. An Innovation Institute supports alumni entrepreneurship with the Alumni Enterprise Awards and an annual residential. In the local community 200 young people participate in the Academy’s expanding choral program, Sing!.
Music Academy
Santa Barbara, CA
Special Events
Takács. That single word conjures so many others: Legend. Grammy. Magic. Experience what The Washington Post calls “one of…
Isabel Leonard, mezzo-soprano and Academy alumna, has won a Grammy for “Best Opera Recording”. Now hear the voice that…
Jorja Fleezanis was a loved and admired violin teaching artist who taught at the Music Academy for many years. This is a tribute befitting…
An evening of Comedy, Conversation, and Clarinet. So a clarinetist and comedian walk into a bar....Classical clarinetist…
Imagine as an aspiring tennis pro, you get an hour on the court with Venus Williams or Rafael Nadal. Or, as an emerging golf talent,…
Multi-grammy winning opera star Ana Maria Martinez and renowned pianist César Cañón present an immersion into Spanish…
Stéphane Denève conducts Berlioz with mezzo-soprano & Lehrer Vocal Institute co-chair Sasha Cooke. This season’s…
Academy artist Jeremy Denk is one of America’s foremost pianists. Winner of a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, and the…
Long ago, small groups of classical musicians entertained nobility in the elegant salons where they held court. The music was designed for…
x2 Series: Apprentice meets Legend. Imagine as an aspiring tennis pro, you get an hour on the court with Venus Williams or Rafael Nadal.…
What could be more delightful than pre-concert picnic in the gorgeous Academy gardens? This series features our most fellow driven music.…
Osmo Vänskä conducts Bernstein's Overture to Candide, Holst's The Planets, and a West Coast Premiere. This…
These brilliant teaching artists pair pianos with unexpected instruments, from oboe, to bass, to cello, to yes, another piano. Click here…
Long ago, small groups of classical musicians entertained nobility in the elegant salons where they held court. The music was designed for…
Imagine as an aspiring tennis pro, you get an hour on the court with Venus Williams or Rafael Nadal. Or, as an emerging golf talent,…
What could be more delightful than pre-concert picnic in the gorgeous Academy gardens? This series features our most fellow driven music.…
Anthony Parnther conducts Academy Festival Orchestra featuring Shostakovich's Ninth Symphony & the "Psycho" Suite This season’s…
Academy teaching artist and Chairman of Juilliard’s collaborative piano department Jonathan Feldman shares the stage with Mosher…
Long ago, small groups of classical musicians entertained nobility in the elegant salons where they held court. The music was designed for…
Imagine as an aspiring tennis pro, you get an hour on the court with Venus Williams or Rafael Nadal. Or, as an emerging golf talent,…
The time: 2011. The place: Brooklyn, New York. This is the setting for this unique vision of Puccini’s most famous opera. A time of…
The unsung heroes of the classical world finally have their place in the sun. From the loud and proud sounds of the drum to the softer…
Rich and complex pieces from Schubert and Messaien showcase a multitude of instruments, including violin, piano, clarinet, and…
Long ago, small groups of classical musicians entertained nobility in the elegant salons where they held court. The music was designed for…
Imagine as an aspiring tennis pro, you get an hour on the court with Venus Williams or Rafael Nadal. Or, as an early career golf talent,…
Picnic Concert #3 features the world premiere of Samuel Carl Adams' Études for solo piano What could be more delightful than…
What happens when you get 3 cellos on a stage? How about 4? 8? Or even 12? Take advantage of a unique opportunity to hear complex,…
London Symphony Orchestra Chamber Showcase presents the latest experience from their years long partnership. Five visiting principals from…
Long ago, small groups of classical musicians entertained nobility in the elegant salons where they held court. The music was designed for…
Get transported to the late '70s. Experience a cabaret set circa 1979, Laurel Canyon. This unique vocal journey features music from the…
What could be more delightful than pre-concert picnic in the gorgeous Academy gardens? This series features our most fellow driven music.…
JoAnn Falletta conducts Academy Festival Orchestra: Symphonic Dances This season’s superstar conductors have led the most acclaimed…
If you love shows like “American Idol” but wish there was a classical version – we have an event for you. In the final…
Elena Urioste in Recital with pianist Tom Poster. From Carnegie Hall to Hahn Hall, violin phenomenon Elena Urioste takes the stage with…
These world-class pianists navigate the keyboard with unparalleled skill, creating an unforgettable performance that will leave you in…
Imagine as an aspiring tennis pro, you get an hour on the court with Venus Williams or Rafael Nadal. Or, as an early career golf talent,…
What could be more delightful than pre-concert picnic in the gorgeous Academy gardens? This series features our most fellow driven music.…
Hannu Lintu conducts Academy Festival Orchestra: Strauss & Tchaikovsky featuring Strauss' Ein Heldenleben and…