New York Philharmonic to partner with Rice’s Shepherd School of Music in 2015-2016

The New York Philharmonic and Rice’s Shepherd School of Music have entered into a partnership for the 2015-16 season, marking the third collaboration in the New York Philharmonic Global Academy — customized collaborations with partners worldwide that offer intensive training of pre-professional musicians by New York Philharmonic members.

The New York Philharmonic and Rice’s Shepherd School of Music have entered into a partnership for the 2015-16 season. (ThinkStockPhotos.com)

Under the partnership, Philharmonic musicians will travel to Rice to present master classes this fall, and a group of student string players from the Shepherd School, selected by audition, will travel to New York to participate in the New York Philharmonic Global Academy Fellowship Program in May 2016.

As part of the fellowship program, the Shepherd School students will participate in a week of immersive activities in New York as Zarin Mehta Fellows, including training and playing alongside Philharmonic musicians, conducted by David Robertson; mock auditions; individual lessons and chamber music sessions coached by Philharmonic musicians; and participation in the Philharmonic’s educational programs. The program will culminate with a chamber music concert featuring the fellows.

The Global Academy Fellowship Program was inaugurated in January 2015 when 10 instrumentalists came to New York from the Music Academy of the West, a summer music festival in Santa Barbara, the first U.S. partner in the New York Philharmonic Global Academy.  Of the 10 initial Music Academy Fellows, four were from the Shepherd School.

“The Shepherd School of Music prides itself on the exceptional quality of its orchestra program,” said Dean Robert Yekovich. “The invitation to participate in the New York Philharmonic Global Academy is recognition of our success in preparing orchestral musicians at the highest professional level. The Global Academy’s intensive week filled with performing, auditioning and mentoring experiences is an ideal blend of educational activities for young musicians aspiring to win positions in major symphony orchestras. We feel privileged to partner with the Philharmonic as they endeavor to broaden the impact of their educational efforts.”

“We are very proud to welcome Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music as the second U.S. partner in the New York Philharmonic Global Academy,” said President Matthew VanBesien. “This dynamic organization has established a first-rate orchestra program over its 40 years, with graduates winning positions in many of the country’s great orchestras. Our partnership with The Shepherd School of Music expands the Philharmonic’s footprint in the area of orchestral training through immersive collaborations in New York, across the U.S. and throughout the world that allow the Philharmonic musicians’ experience and insight to serve as a resource to a new generation of orchestral players.”