The TSM Academy – Emerging Artist Program is designed for musicians who are launching their professional careers and provides unique educational opportunities for chamber musicians and singers from 18 to 35 years old.
Our highly selective enrolment allows our Academy Fellows to build lasting professional relationships with their mentors and peers. Academy Fellows receive advanced training and mentorship from internationally acclaimed artists from across Canada, the United States, and Europe.
The program balances study and performance: Academy Fellows participate in one-on-one coaching, self-directed ensemble rehearsals, group mentoring, and masterclasses. Performance opportunities include TSM Festival mainstage concerts, special events, and our popular ReGeneration Concert Series, in which the Academy Fellows perform on stage with their mentors. All Academy Fellows will receive a full fellowship covering tuition.
Academy Fellows can also enjoy the benefits of attending the TSM Festival, which features a wealth of renowned Canadian and international artists in a wide variety of concerts: classical and contemporary chamber music, art song, orchestral music, opera, dance, and more.
The Emerging Artist Program consists of two streams:
Chamber Music Institute (for string players and pianists)
Art of Song (for singers and pianists)
Chamber Music Institute
Program dates: July 7 – August 2, 2025
Applications to the 2025 Emerging Artist Program will close on January 23, 2025.
The Chamber Music Institute welcomes string players and pianists for intensive coaching sessions, rehearsals, and performances. Musicians have the option of applying for the program as individuals or as pre-formed ensembles. With limited enrolment, participants work with distinguished international faculty in an intimate, collegial atmosphere and are placed in chamber groups with at least one faculty mentor per group.
- Rosamunde Quartet
- Calidore Quartet
- Andrew Wan, violin
- Jennifer Frautschi, violin
- Jonathan Crow, violin
- Yura Lee, violin/viola
- Juan-Miguel Hernandez, viola
- Rémi Pelletier, viola
- Sharon Wei, viola
- Brian Manker, cello
- Efe Baltacıgil, cello
- Matthew Zalkind, cello
- Charles Richard-Hamelin, piano
- Michelle Cann, piano
- Philip Chiu, piano
- Program dates: July 7 – August 2, 2025
- Application period: December 5, 2024 – January 23, 2025
- Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35.
- All applicants will be informed of their application status by February 20, 2025.
- Applicants may apply as individuals or as a pre-formed ensemble.
- Applicants who apply as a pre-formed ensemble must submit an ensemble application for the group.
- Upon acceptance, repertoire to be performed will be decided in consultation with the Artistic Director.
- All accepted applicants will receive a full fellowship covering tuition. Housing will be provided for participants attending from outside of the Greater Toronto Area. Note: transportation is not included in the fellowship.
Returning Participants: Please note that as of January 2018, participation in the Academy is limited to two summers.
VIDEO SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Video recording(s) should include a minimum of three selections of your choice in contrasting style and character. Selections may be complete works or movements. Please see the specific requirements below for your instrument.
- Recordings are the primary adjudication tool and should be of the highest possible audio quality.
- Each selection must be completed in one take with no editing.
- Recordings must have been completed no more than 1 year before the application deadline.
STRINGS
String players applying as an individual, please note:
- You must submit at least one (1) chamber music work (sonatas included) as your selection. Two contrasting movements are required.
- You may submit up to two (2) selections of solo repertoire (with or without accompaniment).
PIANO
Pianists applying as an individual, please note:
- You must submit at least one (1) chamber music work (trio, quartet, or quintet) as your selection. Two contrasting movements are required.
- You may submit up to one (1) selection of duo repertoire (sonatas with another instrument included, but excluding piano duet/duo and collaborative piano with a singer). Two contrasting movements are required.
- You may submit up to one (1) selection of solo repertoire.
ENSEMBLES
Applicants applying as a pre-formed ensemble (trio, quartet, or quintet) must submit up to three (3) recordings of chamber music repertoire with the entire ensemble and current members. Selections may be complete works or movements, but each selection must be from a different work.
NON-REFUNDABLE APPLICATION FEE:
$115 CAD for individual applicants
$150 CAD for ensembles
Chamber Music Institute Fellows participate in daily rehearsals and coachings, as well as weekly performances. Fellows will also attend occasional workshops with experts in the field and social gatherings with faculty members and festival supporters. At the end of each day, fellows have the opportunity to attend Festival concerts and meet the renowned artists from around the world.
Chamber Music Institute Sample Week 2 Schedule :
Note: Each Chamber Music Institute Fellow is assigned a total of 6 chamber groups: Four “ReGeneration” groups with a mentor as a playing member and two “Academy” groups with fellows only that will be coached by mentors.
Monday
9:00am-9:30am – Welcome Session for Week 2 Mentors
9:30am-11:00am – ReGeneration Rehearsal (with a playing mentor in the group)
11:30am-1:30pm – Special Academy Lunch with all fellows, faculty members, staff, and fellowship donors
2:00pm-4:00pm – Academy Rehearsal (fellows only)
7:30pm – Attending a Festival Concert
Tuesday
9:30am-11:30am – ReGeneration Rehearsal
11:30am-12:30pm – Lunch on your own
12:30pm-2:30pm – Academy Coaching (fellows playing only with a mentor coaching)
3:00pm-4:30pm – Public Chamber Masterclass
7:30pm – Attending a Festival Concert
Wednesday
9:30am-11:30am – Academy Rehearsal
12:00pm-1:00pm- Academy Concert 1
1:00pm-2:00pm – Lunch on your own
2:00pm-4:30pm – ReGeneration Rehearsal
7:30pm – Attending a Festival Concert
Thursday
9:30am-11:30am – Academy Rehearsal
12:00pm-1:00pm- Academy Concert 2
1:00pm-2:00pm – Lunch on your own
2:00pm-4:30pm – ReGeneration Rehearsal
7:30pm – Attending a Festival Concert
Friday
9:30am-11:30am – Academy Rehearsal
12:00pm-1:00pm- Academy Concert 3
1:00pm-2:00pm – Lunch on your own
2:00pm-4:30pm – ReGeneration Rehearsal
7:30pm – Attending a Festival Concert
Saturday
1:00pm – Art of Song and Chamber Music Institute Concert 4
(Concerts 1-3 would have happened in week 1)
4:00pm – Art of Song and Chamber Music Institute Concert 5
7:30pm – Art of Song and Chamber Music Institute Concert 6
9:30pm – Post-concert celebration!
Sunday
Rest day!
For program and application questions, please contact Academy Director, Jennifer Mak, at jennifer@torontosummermusic.com.
Art of Song
Program dates: July 7 – 19, 2025
Applications to the 2025 Art of Song program will close on January 23, 2025.
The Art of Song Program is devoted to the study and performance of art song. In order to foster collaborative intimacy among the artists, it is designed for a small group of eight singers and four pianists. During this two-week session, all Art of Song Fellows study with voice and piano faculty members, receiving guidance from a variety of musical traditions and perspectives. The session also offers detailed study of text, and diction.
Steven Philcox – Art of Song Program Director, is generously supported by Joy Levine.
- Program dates: July 7 – 19, 2025
- Application period: December 5, 2024 – January 23, 2025
- All applicants will be informed of their application status by February 20, 2025.
- Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35.
- Upon acceptance, repertoire to be performed will be decided in consultation with the Artistic Director.
- All accepted applicants will receive a full fellowship covering tuition. Housing will be provided for participants attending from outside of the Greater Toronto Area. Note: transportation is not included in the fellowship.
Returning Participants: Please note that as of January 2018, participation in the Academy is limited to two summers.
VIDEO SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Video recording(s) should include a minimum of three art songs in contrasting style and character.
- Singers should submit recordings of collaborative performances with a pianist.
- Pianists should submit recordings of collaborative performances with a singer.
- Recordings are the primary adjudication tool and should be of the highest possible audio quality.
- Each selection must be completed in one take with no editing.
- Recordings must have been completed no more than 1 year before the application deadline.
NON-REFUNDABLE APPLICATION FEE: $115 CAD
Art of Song Fellows participate in daily classes and coachings, as well as weekly performances. Fellows will also attend occasional workshops with experts in the field and social gatherings with faculty members and festival supporters. At the end of each day, fellows have the opportunity to attend Festival concerts and meet the renowned artists from around the world.
Art of Song Program Sample Week 1 Schedule :
Note: Each singer will be paired up with one pianist each week. Each pianist will be paired up with two singers each week.
Monday
9:00am-10:00am – Orientation and Welcome Session
10:00am-11:30am – Full Group Class
11:30am-1:00pm – Lunch on your own
1:00pm-2:30pm – Full Group Class
3:00pm-4:30pm – Individual Coaching Sessions
Tuesday
10:00am-11:30am – Full Group Class
11:30am-1:00pm – Lunch on your own
1:00pm-2:30pm – Full Group Class
3:00pm-5:00pm – Individual Coaching Sessions
7:30pm – Attending a Festival Concert
Wednesday
10:00am-11:30am – Workshop
11:30am-1:00pm – Lunch on your own
1:00pm-2:30pm – Full Group Class
3:00pm-4:30pm – Full Group Class
Thursday
10:00am-11:30am – Full Group Class
11:30am-1:00pm – Lunch on your own
1:00pm-2:30pm – Full Group Class
3:00pm-5:00pm – Individual Coaching Sessions
7:30pm – Attending a Festival Concert
Friday
10:00am-12:30pm – Full Group Class
12:30pm-2:00pm – Lunch on your own
2:00pm-3:30pm – Public Masterclass
3:00pm-5:00pm – Individual Coaching Sessions
7:30 – Attending a Festival Concert
Saturday
1:00pm – Art of Song and Chamber Music Institute Concert 1
4:00pm – Art of Song and Chamber Music Institute Concert 2
7:30pm – Art of Song and Chamber Music Institute Concert 3
9:30pm – Post-concert celebration!
Sunday
Rest day!
For program and application questions, please contact Academy Director, Jennifer Mak, at jennifer@torontosummermusic.com.
Additional Information
Fellows are chosen through a rigorous selection process by an international jury panel of specialists, led by Artistic Director Jonathan Crow. Candidates are selected based on their potential to make a significant contribution in the professional milieu. Candidates are selected by a jury based on their online application including video recordings, biographies, and repertoire lists.
All accepted applicants to the Emerging Artist Program will receive a full fellowship covering tuition. Housing will be provided for participants attending from outside of the Greater Toronto Area if necessary. Note: transportation is not included in the fellowship.
Returning Participants: Please note that as of January 2018, participation in the Academy is limited to two summers.
These fellowships are provided thanks to the generosity of our Fellowship Donors. To become a Fellowship Donor, please click here.
Rehearsals, classes, and coaching take place in the Edward Johnson Building, home of the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto. Individual practice rooms and several rehearsal spaces with pianos are available to Toronto Summer Music Academy Fellows.
The Edward Johnson Building houses a music library which is the main research music collection in Canada and includes a vast collection of sound recordings in the Sniderman Recording Archives, and Walter Hall, one of the city’s major chamber music halls. It is located on the main campus of the University of Toronto in midtown Toronto, on the subway line, and close to the city’s libraries, concert halls, galleries, museums, and theatres.
Aside from the Edward Johnson Building, Fellows will have the opportunity to either perform in or attend concerts at other Festival venues including Koerner Hall and Heliconian Hall.
Fellows of the Art of Song and Chamber Music Institute come together to perform at the Festival’s popular ReGeneration concerts. Fellows will have the opportunity to perform in private and public masterclasses as well as outreach concerts in the community. In addition to performing in ensembles with their mentors at the ReGeneration concerts, Chamber Music Fellows also perform in ensembles that receive coachings from mentors at our Academy concerts.
Fellows of the Art of Song Program and Chamber Music Institute participate in daily rehearsals and classes, as well as weekly performances. Fellows will also attend occasional workshops with experts in the field and social gatherings with faculty members and festival supporters. At the end of each day, fellows have the opportunity to attend Festival concerts and meet the renowned artists from around the world.
Art of Song Program Sample Week 1 Schedule :
Note: Each singer will be paired up with one pianist each week. Each pianist will be paired up with two singers each week.
Monday
9:00am-10:00am – Orientation and Welcome Session
10:00am-11:30am – Full Group Class
11:30am-1:00pm – Lunch on your own
1:00pm-2:30pm – Full Group Class
3:00pm-4:30pm – Individual Coaching Sessions
Tuesday
10:00am-11:30am – Full Group Class
11:30am-1:00pm – Lunch on your own
1:00pm-2:30pm – Full Group Class
3:00pm-5:00pm – Individual Coaching Sessions
7:30pm – Attending a Festival Concert
Wednesday
10:00am-11:30am – Workshop
11:30am-1:00pm – Lunch on your own
1:00pm-2:30pm – Full Group Class
3:00pm-4:30pm – Full Group Class
Thursday
10:00am-11:30am – Full Group Class
11:30am-1:00pm – Lunch on your own
1:00pm-2:30pm – Full Group Class
3:00pm-5:00pm – Individual Coaching Sessions
7:30pm – Attending a Festival Concert
Friday
10:00am-12:30pm – Full Group Class
12:30pm-2:00pm – Lunch on your own
2:00pm-3:30pm – Public Masterclass
3:00pm-5:00pm – Individual Coaching Sessions
7:30 – Attending a Festival Concert
Saturday
1:00pm – Art of Song and Chamber Music Institute Concert 1
4:00pm – Art of Song and Chamber Music Institute Concert 2
7:30pm – Art of Song and Chamber Music Institute Concert 3
9:30pm – Post-concert celebration!
Sunday
Rest day!
Chamber Music Institute Sample Week 2 Schedule :
Note: Each Chamber Music Institute Fellow is assigned a total of 6 chamber groups: Four “ReGeneration” groups with a mentor as a playing member and two “Academy” groups with fellows only that will be coached by mentors.
Monday
9:00am-9:30am – Welcome Session for Week 2 Mentors
9:30am-11:00am – ReGeneration Rehearsal (with a playing mentor in the group)
11:30am-1:30pm – Special Academy Lunch with all fellows, faculty members, staff, and fellowship donors
2:00pm-4:00pm – Academy Rehearsal (fellows only)
7:30pm – Attending a Festival Concert
Tuesday
9:30am-11:30am – ReGeneration Rehearsal
11:30am-12:30pm – Lunch on your own
12:30pm-2:30pm – Academy Coaching (fellows playing only with a mentor coaching)
3:00pm-4:30pm – Public Chamber Masterclass
7:30pm – Attending a Festival Concert
Wednesday
9:30am-11:30am – Academy Rehearsal
12:00pm-1:00pm- Academy Concert 1
1:00pm-2:00pm – Lunch on your own
2:00pm-4:30pm – ReGeneration Rehearsal
7:30pm – Attending a Festival Concert
Thursday
9:30am-11:30am – Academy Rehearsal
12:00pm-1:00pm- Academy Concert 2
1:00pm-2:00pm – Lunch on your own
2:00pm-4:30pm – ReGeneration Rehearsal
7:30pm – Attending a Festival Concert
Friday
9:30am-11:30am – Academy Rehearsal
12:00pm-1:00pm- Academy Concert 3
1:00pm-2:00pm – Lunch on your own
2:00pm-4:30pm – ReGeneration Rehearsal
7:30pm – Attending a Festival Concert
Saturday
1:00pm – Art of Song and Chamber Music Institute Concert 4
(Concerts 1-3 would have happened in week 1)
4:00pm – Art of Song and Chamber Music Institute Concert 5
7:30pm – Art of Song and Chamber Music Institute Concert 6
9:30pm – Post-concert celebration!
Sunday
Rest day!
All information available in French, upon request.
Toutes les informations sont disponibles en français, sur demande.
Photo by Lucky Tang.