Honors Music Program
Alison Neely, Director
Craig Levesque, Academic Coordinator
Elena Panova, Chamber Music Coordinator
John Paul Velez, Jazz Coordinator
Carolyn Dwyer, Program Assistant

• Young Artist Program
• Young Musicians Program
• Young Artist Academic Program

To recevie an audition packet, please email the Conservatory at wccConserv@rider.edu or call 609-921-7104 and include your full name, mailing address, and which brochure you are interested in.

• Download the Honors Music Program brochure (PDF)

Young Artist Program (YAP)
Ages 8-18

Westminster Conservatory’s premiere, performance-oriented program is designed for gifted and highly motivated students who seek a comprehensive music program in addition to private study. The instrumental program accepts piano, string, and wind students ages 8-18, and the vocal program accepts students ages 14-18. The program is open to students who study privately with Conservatory faculty as well as with teachers outside the Conservatory.

The YAP instrumental curriculum includes four weekly courses: Chamber Music, Music Theory and Ear Training, Music History, and Jazz Improvisation. Students showcase their achievements in five performances each year: two YAP Solo Recitals, two Honors Program Chamber Music Concerts, and the YAP Jazz Concert.

The YAP vocal curriculum includes four weekly classes: Diction, Vocal Repertoire, Music Theory and Ear Training, and Music History. YAP singers showcase their achievements in four performances each year: two YAP Solo Recitals, and two Honors Program Chamber Music Concerts. Vocal students are also required to enroll in or test out of a piano skills course, Piano for Singers.

Academic courses prepare students to take the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) theory exams through grade 5. Following these exams of fundamentals, students prepare for the Advanced Placement Music Theory exam. Students progress to advanced, college-level theory courses in Counterpoint and Analysis, Orchestration, and Composition. Grades are given each semester, and a transcript is maintained. Under the guidance of their private teachers, YAP students prepare programs of solo repertoire, outlined in the YAP Performance Curricula. Students’ repertoire is evaluated in May in performance evaluations. Additional opportunities include master classes and workshops presented by distinguished artists.

The YAP curriculum culminates in a special senior year, which includes an individual project or recital and Senior Seminar, a course tailored to the interests of the senior class. Seniors graduating from this program receive college admissions support, and packets including the student’s transcript and a recommendation from the director are provided to accompany music school applications and Arts Supplements to colleges and universities.

Schedules are customized according to age and course levels. Most students attend the full program for four hours on Saturdays, with elementary and middle-school students attending classes from 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and high-school students attending from 12:00-3:30 p.m. If a shorter Saturday schedule is required, some Theory and Chamber Music classes may be available during the week and during summer session. The YAP core program is offered at the Princeton location only.

Students must commit to the full nine-month program.  No more than two absences per term are allowed. All students are required to study privately in weekly 45- or 60-minute private lessons.

An audition is required for admission to the Young Artist Program. Students interested in auditioning should contact the program’s director, Alison Neely by e-mail at youngartists@rider.edu. A registration form must be completed and the $30 audition fee paid before the audition. Upon acceptance, the registration fee and tuition deposit are due before the student will be placed in classes. Audition materials, a brochure, and the program handbook are available in the Conservatory offices and may also be found on the program’s web site www.ya-mp.org.

Number of weeks: 30
Tuition: $2,550 (includes materials; additional fees are charged for ABRSM exam registration and for additional theory workbooks if the student requires more than one per year; private lesson tuition not included.)

Young Musicians Program (YMP)
Ages 8-18

The Young Musicians Program is designed for highly motivated instrumental students interested in deepening their musical study through participation in the Honors Program in addition to private study. The program is open to students who study privately with Conservatory faculty as well as with teachers outside the Conservatory.

The YMP curriculum includes three weekly courses: Chamber Music, Music Theory and Ear Training, and Music History. YMP students showcase their achievements in two performances in the Honors Program Chamber Music Concerts.

Academic courses prepare students to take the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) theory exams through grade 5. Following these exams of fundamentals, students prepare for the Advanced Placement Music Theory exam. Students progress to advanced, college-level theory courses in Counterpoint and Analysis, Orchestration, and Composition. Grades are given each semester, and a transcript is maintained. YMP students have a performance evaluation each May in which they perform two contrasting pieces and an etude, prepared under the guidance of their private teachers. Additional opportunities for students include master classes and workshops presented by distinguished artists.

Schedules are customized according to age and course levels. Most students attend the full program for four hours on Saturdays, with elementary- and middle-school students attending classes from 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and high-school students attending classes from 12:00-3:30 p.m. If a shorter Saturday schedule is required, some Theory and Chamber Music classes may be available during the week and during summer session. The YMP core program is offered at the Princeton location only.

Students must commit to the full nine-month program.  No more than two absences per term are allowed. All students are required to study privately in weekly 45- or 60-minute private lessons.

An audition is required for admission to the Young Musicians Program.Students interested in auditioning should contact the program’s director, Alison Neely by e-mail at youngartists@rider.edu. A registration form must be completed and the $30 audition fee paid before the audition. Upon acceptance, the registration fee and tuition deposit are due before the student will be placed in classes. Audition materials and a brochure are available in the Conservatory offices and may also be viewed and downloaded from the program’s web site www.ya-mp.org.

Number of weeks: 30
Tuition: $1,890 (includes materials; additional fees are charged for ABRSM exam registration and for additional  theory workbooks if the student requires more than one per year; private lesson tuition not included.)

Young Artist Academic Program (YAAP)
Ages 8-18

The Young Artist Academic Program is a non-performance-oriented program comprised of two weekly classes in Music Theory and Music History. The program accepts students ages 8-18. YAAP students are accepted based on a teacher recommendation, an interview with the director, and on class availability in their age and level. (An audition is not required.)

Academic courses prepare students to take the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) theory exams through grade 5. Following these exams of fundamentals, students prepare for the Advanced Placement Music Theory exam. Students progress to advanced, college-level theory courses in Counterpoint and Analysis, Orchestration, and Composition. Grades are given each semester, and a transcript is maintained.

Schedules are customized according to age and course levels. Information is available in the Conservatory office and may also be viewed and downloaded from the program’s web site www.ya-mp.org.

Number of weeks: 30
Tuition: $1,020 (includes materials; additional fees are charged for ABRSM exam registration and additional theory workbooks if the student requires more than one per year; private lesson tuition not included.)

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