I was at Heifetz Institute in 2008. Mostly every summer I attend to some summer academies and Heifetz Institute was the best one for me. I learned lots of things and met with great artists. Its so unique and incredible. Every young musician should be there at least once in their lifes :)
We sent our son to the Heifetz Institute when he was 16 and 19. We felt of all his summer music camp experiences this was the best by far! He came back with a noticeable difference in his tone quality and his abilities had soared!
The faculty were amazing! It was two summers very well spent!
Heifetz International Music Institute Artistic Director Daniel Heifetz is truly a visionary. Inside his six-week music intensive are a series of classes that offer young musicians training in public speaking, drama, improvisation and movement.
For the past five summers I have had the pleasure and privilege of teaching the week-long movement component, introducing basic functional anatomy, exploring musicality through movement, connecting thinking and sensing.
The Institute supports interdisciplinary thinking, exploration beyond the practice room and fosters artists in dialogue. Not only is this inspired educating but also setting a model for artists as citizens of the world.
JoAnna Mendl Shaw
I am both the parent of a student who attended Heifetz international Music Institute and a teacher and performer as well. My daughter went to Heifetz as a fairly reserved, shy 15 year old and came home a confident young adult who does not shy away from any challenge - even when it takes her outside her comfort zone.
I attribute this to the excellent teaching - twice a week lessons with outstanding faculty, frequent masterclasses, small enrollment (making it a very personal experience), communication classes, concerts and performance opportunitites that are unique to this festival. I have never seen such a dramatic change in any young adult - including my own students who attend summer music festivals and camps throughout the US.
My daughter takes her music into the community and enriches the lives of those around her. The investment we made (which was considerable for our family with a modest income) to send our daughter to Heifetz Institute last summer, is coming back to us many times over.
All of this is accomplished within an environment that fosters respect and support and most of all excellence. It is important that this Institute continue each year and receive funding that would enable the Institute to offer tuition scholarships to deserving students.
Fostering an environment of excellence among young people will serve to enhance our world.
the Heifetz Institute was an amazing experience for me. It's really a unique experience in the way it focuses on communication and expressing yourself to an audience. The communication classes, something no other institute has, helped me to grow both musically and personally and it is thanks to the Institute that I am the musician that I am now.
My first summer at Heifetz Int'l Music Institute (HIMI) was unlike any other music festival/school I had attended before, and I have had the privilege of attending several.
The program at HIMI is centered around individual lessons, chamber music, and a series of 'Communication Training' Classes were we'd explore a different area of the arts, for example, singing, drama, dance, public speaking, and improvisation.
HIMI helped me realize and develop my ability as a performer to more fluently communicate and express myself - on the violin, and also, in areas outside of music, particularly in public speaking.
Because of the calibre of students HIMI attracts, it makes for an amazing mix of students, faculty, and visiting teachers/performers. There is a lot of teaching and learning happening all around - in the lessons, at the tri-weekly concerts, and all over campus! There are also many opportunities for musical outreach to neighbouring schools/elderly homes/etc. For musicians, it's a wonderful chance to share music, practice performances, and get to know some people from town.
Brewster Academy by Lake Winnipesaukee is where all the magic happens. The campus is incredibly scenic. Adding to the beauty of that, several times, I've seen/heard fellow students practicing on the open fields. It makes for a dreamlike atmosphere!
My two summers spent at HIMI among fellow musicians are precious memories to me.
My two summers at the Heifetz Institute were incredible. The 6 weeks flew by like 6 days, yet at the end I felt like I had known these musicians for a year. Spending so much time together and sharing an absolute love for music I think helped me make this special bond. Performing a solo and being able to feel comfortable enough to share my deepest joys and sorrows with the audience through my music was incredible. Getting to meet people from across the world, who speak different languages, have different cultures, study at different schools, and have different families and backgrounds, and then being able to overcome these "different" barriers and still sing/play/create/perform/love music together was absolutely phenomenal.
Additionally, the location of the campus is absolutely gorgeous and inspiring. The people of the town of Wolfeboro come week after week to hear the musicians play and their faithful support is incredible.
Everybody, whether as a student or an audience member, should have the opportunity to experience the Heifetz International Music Institute!
Imagine 75 of the most talented young musicians from South and North America, Europe and Asia gathered for six weeks to learn and perform for live audiences throughout a beautiful New England town. Imagine forty professional musicians and artists mentoring the students and performing each week themselves. Imagine one singularly gifted leader guiding this entire happening and you have a small picture of the energy, vitality and beauty of the Heifetz Institute in Wolfeboro New Hampshire.
The campus of Brewster Academy slopes down to the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee and a panorama of breathtaking beauty. For six weeks each summer the campus resonates with music. From nearly any window I can hear a soaring violin or a growling cello or an articulate piano. But this program differs from other music camps I know because of the vision of Daniel Heifetz. Of course he wants students to master their instruments - and all of these young people play exceptionally well - but he urges them to communicate to the audience their love of a piece of music, to express how they feel, to share their delight. From an early age these musicians have worked to master notes and rhythms and tonality. Heifetz helps them take off from there and make music - wonderful, lovely music. I am glad they come to my town every summer and let me listen in.
The Heifetz International Music Institute "summers" in Wolfeboro, NH which is where I live. For six weeks, we are treated to two student concerts a week (free admission) and one professional concert a week (nominal admission price). The quality is superb; the musical choices and their execution are thrilling.
The faculty and professional performers are well known and add very special experiences to our lovely New England summer. We are "transported" to Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall with very little fuss and expense. The caliber of these people as well as their group and one-on-one instruction with the students has a profound effect.
As delightful as the professionals are, it is the students who steal my heart each year. Daniel Heifetz says, "Each student knows how to play perfectly." They are at the Institute to learn to play expressively. It is wonderful to watch them develop stage presence and communication technique. As the Institute progresses, their comfort and confidence increases and can be measured through their performances each week.
The Heifetz Institute is a treasured gift to our community each summer as well as a pivotal force in the development of these young, very talented musicians.
I loved my experience at the Heifetz Institute. My summer has never been so productive as this one. I loved meeting new faculties every week, getting to see them perform, getting an opportunity to get lessons from them twice per week, and of course! going to communication classes where you can go wild and actually learn something at the same time. I also thank the Institute for giving me generous scholarship which enabled me to participate in this music program. I loved it so much that I am planning to go back again this summer!
The Heifetz International Music Institute was an incredible place to spend 6 weeks learning about music both from a very specific angle, (as a violin student), as well as from a broader perspective (as a human).
I view music, performing, and practicing in a completely different way; the Heifetz Institute allowed us to begin to view music from a much more well-rounded point of view. It allowed us to see how essential music and its sharing are for communities and individuals alike, and to begin to understand how music is integrated within all other fields of study. Because the faculty was such an inspirational and well-rounded source, what I learned at the Heifetz Institute can be applied to my practicing and performances for the rest of my life. The wealth of understanding they were able to share both within their own disciplines and out allowed the entire festival to run with a clear purpose - developing the artistic potential of each of its students.
The Heifetz International Music Institute has been, without any doubt, one of the greatest influences in my development as a musician. The overall concept of the Institute is to develop the feeling and emotions of the player when he is performing the music, as well as continuing to focus on honing the technical proficiency. One word I would especially like to give about Mr. Daniel Heifetz himself is that I have NEVER seen an director of a large, important music program care as much as he has for every single student. I know for sure that if it wasn't for his going the extra mile I never would have been able to financially make it to the institute. All in all, the Heifetz international Music Institute is worth any donation anyone could possibly give, and would without doubt put that donation to a very, very worthy cause: the development of the souls of the next generation of artists.
The Heifetz International Music Institute is a great place for you to learn a lot about the music. It is great how all the things are perfectly organized and most of all, you have a quite a lot of chance to perform. This festival is not only just having lessons, practicing, and performing. You learn how you can really understand music. Also, its not just you playing solo all the time, but you also get to study about the chamber music(which is a great experience). I would love to go there again!
The Heifetz International Music Institute is one of the greatest summer festivals I have ever attended. However, it really isn't just a summer festival. The concepts and ideas taught at Heifetz impact your playing for the rest of your life. Not a day goes by where my practicing does not include many of the techniques I learned from Heifetz. Also, the size creates an environment of nurturing and community. I believe nothing is more important than a community-focused situation when it comes to music. Every single teacher had this vision. It was as if all the teachers and their students were in harmony (pun intended). I was blown away by the professionalism and order that was within every facet of the camp.
This is definitely one of the best summer music programs I have ever taught in. The student level is superb, the staff is extremely helpful and organized so well, that from the point of view of the faculty and students, it feels like a really well tuned and oiled machine - there is nothing to worry about except just doing your work - everything else is taken care of.
The mission of the festival is very clear and inspiring to all involved. This mission also creates a feeling of everyone working towards common goal, rather than just teachers coming to teach their students, which is rare in a summer program.
The Heifetz International Music Institute provides a yearly infusion of classical music performed by extremely talented, engaging and energetic youth from around the world. The exuberance and dedication of the Institute’s founder, Daniel Heifetz, emanates – to the students, throughout the campus and town. The program is unique – challenging and intense – the students thrive on it! Individual development is witnessed via weekly performances as a comradery between the students and the audience evolves – a comfort communicating not only through music, but through the spoken word and visible relaxation/comfort on stage. The Institute is easily accessible to any in the community and the outreach by the Institute into the community increases yearly as does individual involvement by members of the community. The caliber of the instructors and staff Mr. Heifetz attracts speaks to the reputation the Institute has gained in the world of music. Such a void occurs when the Institute ends each season, matched only by the anticipation of the next year’s arrival of the Institute.
Daniel Heifetz, the founder and guiding light of this organization is one impressive individual. He is the leader we all would love to have working in our businesses. Daniel through his hard work and charismatic personality has contructed an organization of professionals that is truly amazing. The qualtiy of his teaching staff and his students attests to the high standard he has set for his institute. Daniels enthusiasm can be seen on the faces of his students when they are perfoming or merely walking around the campus. The same may be said for the staff. Daniel has really reached out to his Board and Guild for guidance, an unusual charcturistic for a founder of ths type of organization. Daniel is always looking for ways to expand the Institutes influence and encourage people to get involved. The Heifetz Institute is the best of the best primarily due to the leadership of Daniel Heifetz. As with most non-profits raising money, especially in these hard times, is the Intitutes greatest challenge. Much of tis falls on Daniel's shoulders. Other than that Classical music never sounded so sweet!
I have worked with the Heifetz International Music Institute as a consultant for four years. The Institute's fundamental philosophy is to train young musicians to be communicative artists by combining high quality musical instruction with classes in communication. It is a fantastic curriculum that uses drama, public speaking, voice and movement to improve the students' musical expression, their self-awareness, and their ability to convey their emotions and personalities to diverse audiences in a variety of settings. This is a great idea and has significant impact on participants. The Institue also offers pedagogy fellowships to teachers so that they can learn these concepts and incorporate them into their lessons for their own students. I'd like to see the Institute develop more extensive programs that apply these principles throughout the music industry. Good work!