There was never a dull moment at The Aspen Music Festival and School. With concerts, classes, lectures, and special events, it was impossible to run out of things to do.
To start, the faculty and staff always made us feel welcome. I was particularly impressed with the piano faculty, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time working with Anton Nel. Professor Nel’s expertise and guidance made my stay at Aspen even more fulfilling. Studio members were very close and supportive of each other, and the teachers frequently organized group classes and fun get-togethers. The student services staff and resident advisors were very approachable and always prompt with emails and communication. Even the culinary staff was very accommodating. (Not that they shouldn’t be, but I’ve heard horror stories about cafeteria food…) They offered friendly company and displayed concern for the options and quality of each meal. Speaking of food, there were plenty of places to enjoy a meal in town with friends. Many Aspen residents even hosted student dinners at their homes. You could sign up and spend an evening with good company and a nice meal. The residents throughout the community love music and were so enthusiastic about attending concerts and supporting the students. This community element allowed me to quickly adjust to Aspen.
In general, I enjoyed every aspect of the festival. I never had problems finding a practice room, as there were several available on campus. If those were in use, I would just take the bus to the music school where there were plenty of other rooms and even another cafeteria. There were also many opportunities to learn about other instruments and music professions, such as strings and vocal master classes, and lectures on conducting and practice techniques.
Festival guest artists were another huge source of inspiration. Highlights included Jeremy Denk, Garrick Ohlsson, Inon Barnatan, Nikolai Lugansky, Augustin Hadelich, among others. The faculty also performed and conducted classes in addition to the guest artists. The nice thing was that the audience was always welcome to greet and interact with the performers backstage. Don’t be afraid to talk to the guest artists and faculty. They are there because they love music! Ask questions and tell them what you like!
Additional concerts included several student spotlight recitals each week. While the availability could be limited and your pieces had to be screened by your teacher and jury panel first, it was a great opportunity to prepare and perform repertoire in nice venues throughout the community. It was also very rewarding to perform for such an enthusiastic and supportive community, so bring repertoire for use in recitals and master classes. There were a huge amount of concerts at Aspen, so I had to review the schedule daily and plan carefully. Don’t feel obligated to attend every concert, because that produces a lot of travel time. Be open-minded though – you may not know what you will like or find interesting.
One of the biggest pieces of advice I have concerns transportation in Aspen. You had to factor travel time into the schedule and attempt to remember the bus times. In general, students could only purchase concert tickets the day of, and for many events, only within an hour before they started. We would take the bus to town and walk to the music tent or recital hall, or see if there was a bus going straight to the concerts. Buses leaving the music tent were even more infrequent, so I would have to walk back into town to get a bus back to the campus. I never got used to the bus schedule, but when in doubt, ask the driver where it’s going!
I would highly recommend Aspen as a great environment to spend the summer studying and performing music. Get to know as many people as possible because it will make your stay there even more exciting. Also, develop a set of goals for each day. Four or eight weeks is a long time, but it goes quickly. Don’t spend all your time practicing though, because the scenery is amazing. Take a walk or sign up for a hike. There is also a gondola to take you up the mountain. As far as the high altitude, drink a lot of water and bring an umbrella and sunscreen. Explore the town and eat there on occasion. Definitely stop at Paradise Bakery with friends, perhaps after a concert! Find out and let your friends know when you or they are performing – support each other!
The Aspen Music Festival and School has so much to offer. It was a great experience for me, both personally and professionally, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves music.
