Autumn enrollment opens Sept 10 — and watch for our Advanced Baroque Workshop in January!
Enroll: Early Music Youth Academy
Programs for varying ages & levels
Discover the thrill of historical performance style in small chamber ensembles where everyone's sound matters.
Age 14-18: Baroque Chamber Music
Enjoy the fanciful and sophisticated delights of early Baroque chamber music, with a real Baroque bow in your hand! A lot of the most fun and expressive material from the Baroque era is unknown to most classical students — it's one of music history's best-kept secrets. Coachings with SHAK instructors lead to a final performance with continuo accompaniment by SHAK guest artist Jillon Dupree, harpsichord.
Limited spaces remain!
Who can participate: Late intermediate to advanced bowed strings students,14-18. Participants need to have strong basics: good intonation, good reading and rhythm, fluent use of all parts of the bow, and regular practice habits.
- Late-intermediate to advanced students: Those who are experienced with solo, orchestra, and one-on-a-part chamber music will love what they can accomplish here! If the notes are easy for you, you can experience the repertoire like professionals do, focusing on the joy and intellectual richness of the music and on exploring sophisticated stylistic details of sound, articulation, ensemble, and phrasing. Learning how to use a Baroque bow will give you new agility and power in your bow arm for everything you play.
Rehearsals and coachings:
- Most Saturday afternoons Oct 4 - Nov 22. Each group receives a regular slot between 2pm-6pm, usually 90 mins or 2 hours.
- Students who are new to the Baroque bow may also receive one or two individual or small-group coachings with a SHAK teacher of their instrument, and these can begin as soon as you sign up!
Performance:
Nov 23 afternoon (details to come!)
Below: EMYA students play Baroque chamber music
Age 10-14: Renaissance Consorts
Autumn 2025: English country dance & Shakespeare tunes
Presented in conjunction with Seattle Fiddlesticks
Some of the catchiest music ever comes from Shakespeare's time — joyful dance tunes that are adaptable to almost any ensemble sizes and playing levels. Join SHAK director Shulamit Kleinerman and 2025-26 teaching artist in residence Nick Chrisman (SHAK alum '21) for an autumn adventure exploring this rich and satisfying repertoire together!
Who can participate: This program is open to players of bowed strings, plucked strings, and winds.
- Typical participation is from minimum three years' experience through high intermediate level, with ability to read music at their playing level.
- ADVANCED musicians may wish to participate as new viola da gamba players — please inquire!
- Players will receive repertoire in small groups suited to their levels.
Classes:
Most Saturday afternoons Oct 4 - Nov 22. Students will be assigned a 75- to 90-min slot between 2-6pm. Held at director's studio in the Lake City neighborhood of Seattle; address and final schedule given upon enrollment.
Performance:
Nov 23 afternoon (details to come!)