Eastman Community Music School (ECMS)

There is a very specific kind of joy that happens when young children make music together!

And making music comes naturally when we create an environment where kids can play, interact, and discover their own creativity alongside new friends.

That's why we're thrilled to add a Summer Session of Early Childhood classes (that starts June 27th)!

If you're looking for joyful exploration and a friendly community, we'd love to have you at Eastman Community Music School.

These classes notoriously fill up fast, so grab your child's spot before the summer rush. 🧡🎵

P.S. Go Bills! 🏈💙

A 3-day transformation you can hear! 🎸

"This was perhaps the best summer camp we have ever signed our child up for... an excellent experience for him both socially and musically." — 2024 Parent

Got a young guitarist who spends hours practicing alone in their bedroom? Or maybe one who just needs inspiration to pick the instrument up consistently?

The ECMS Guitar Intensive Workshop is exactly where they belong this summer. In three days, they will level up their skills alongside kids who share their exact passion.

We are accepting applications through July 1st!

🎶 ENCORE Chorus 🎶

ENCORE is an intergenerational chorus serving people living with early-to-middle-stage dementia and their caregivers. Offered through the Eastman Community Music School, the group rehearses together with a host of community volunteers of all ages. The initiative is guided by the Giving Voice Network, which fosters the creation and operation of independent choruses that bring joy, well-being, purpose, and community understanding to people with Alzheimer’s Disease and their care partners.

The ENCORE Chorus meets weekly for one hour of singing, followed by 30 minutes of structured social time with refreshments. Participants sing familiar favorites—especially hits from the mid-1960s—that often spark vivid, meaningful memories, while new songs are introduced to inspire curiosity and the joy of learning. But ENCORE is much more than a sing-along: rehearsals incorporate light physical movement, storytelling, and moments of connection designed to nurture cognitive, emotional, and social well-being. Each session of ENCORE (spring, summer, and fall) concludes with an informal performance that celebrates what the group has accomplished together, while keeping the emphasis on shared experience rather than polished results.

ENCORE is the first chorus of its kind in the United States to be offered through a community music school connected to a world-class conservatory, in collaboration with a major research medical center. This unique partnership ensures that participants and their care partners benefit from both expert musical leadership and the latest insights from dementia care research.

Voted on by its members, ENCORE is an acronym that stands for “Every New Connection Offers Resonating Experiences”.

📅 06/22/2026 - 08/10/2026
🕖 Monday, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
📍 First Unitarian Church, Sanctuary

For more information, check out https://www.esm.rochester.edu/community/course/encore-chorus/

🎶 Summer Vocal Symposium 🎶

This exciting program features a 5-week course (10 sessions) of lectures and master classes that covers various aspects of classical and musical theater singing. Included are topics such as: opera and musical theater vocal techniques, song preparation and interpretation, performance practices, and vocal health. The course concludes with a performance in Kilbourn Hall. Performers and observers ages 17-adult are welcome. When registering, participants will submit a link to a recording of their singing and a repertoire list, for casting purposes.

📅 06/30/2026 - 08/06/2026
🕖 Tuesday and Thursday, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

For more information, check out https://www.esm.rochester.edu/community/course/summer-vocal-symposium/

This Saturday, join us for a Masterclass with violinist and ECMS alumnus, Addison Teng! 🎻

📅 Sunday, April 26, 2026
🕥 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
📍 Miller Center 135

This Saturday, join us for a Masterclass with violinist, Robin Scott! 🎻

📅 Saturday, April 25, 2026
🕔 5:00 - 7:00 PM
📍 ESM 209

Join classical guitar aficionados in our immediate community and beyond in this inspiring 3-day immersive workshop dedicated to the classical guitar! Designed specifically for adults (18+) with some prior experience on the classical guitar, the workshop features technique sessions, masterclasses (for those who wish to sign up), and ensemble playing at the heart of the experience. Participants will receive personalized small-group coaching and come together for a final large-ensemble performance showcasing the music we have rehearsed. 🎶

And don’t forget! The May 1 application deadline for the Adult Chamber Music Workshop is only two weeks away! Join fellow adult musicians for an inspiring weekend of music-making. This immersive experience offers a weekend of rehearsals, chamber coachings and masterclasses from American cellist Matthew Zalkind. Whether you’re returning to chamber music or looking to deepen your ensemble skills, this workshop provides focused instruction, collaborative rehearsal time, and a supportive musical community. Applications are open for all string instruments and piano.

Visit https://www.esm.rochester.edu/community/course/adult-chamber-music-workshop/ and https://www.esm.rochester.edu/community/course/adult-guitar-workshop/ to apply today!

This Saturday, join us for a piano masterclass with Professor Elinor Freer! 🎹

📅 Saturday, April 18, 2026
🕞 3:30 pm
📍 Miller Center 5

This Sunday, join us for a Q&A Session and Percussion Masterclass with RPYO alumna Pattie Niemi 🎶

RPYO, ECMS, and Eastman students are welcome to attend both sessions!

📅 Sunday, April 19
🕞 3:30 pm - Q&A Rehearsal
🕟 4:30 pm - Percussion Masterclass
📍 Eastman East Wing, Room 415

Looking to keep your skills sharp or rediscover your love for performing? 🎶 Here at ECMS, we offer a range of options for large ensembles this summer:

High School Wind Ensemble Workshop:
This five-day intensive Wind Ensemble Workshop is for students currently in grades 8–12. Students graduating from high school in Spring 2025 can enroll at no cost. In addition, college students who reside in the Rochester area and are music majors or minors may enroll in the class without cost to assist and perform with the students. The class is offered to Level 5 and 6 NYSSMA soloists on all wind, brass, and percussion instruments. A concert on Friday will represent the culmination of the week’s exploration of some contemporary and traditional works for wind ensemble or symphonic band. Instrumentation may be limited in certain sections, so early enrollment is encouraged.

Summer Studio Orchestra:
Open to all area players of orchestral instruments, the Eastman Summer Studio Orchestra celebrates Rochester’s contributions to Hollywood history. The ensemble will rehearse and perform a variety of film scores, new studio compositions, and popular songs from the Great American Songbook with special appearances by guest vocal artists. Please contact the director at [email protected] with any questions.

Music Educator’s Wind Ensemble:
Open to all area music educators, college music majors, private music teachers and related professionals. In some cases, there are openings for qualified community members. This ensemble will rehearse and perform some contemporary wind literature as well as some classic repertoire. No fee for participation; please contact the director at [email protected] with any questions.

More information can be found at https://www.esm.rochester.edu/community/ecms-summer-offerings/