Students (K-12 and Collegiate)
Philharmonia Baroque’s programming for students encompasses a comprehensive approach to music education that extends far beyond traditional concert attendance, creating meaningful pathways for young people to engage with classical music at multiple levels. Student-focused programming typically includes educational concerts with curriculum-aligned content, Side-by-Side performances where students play alongside professional musicians, Masterclasses led by orchestra members, and instrument demonstration sessions that introduce various orchestral families. Partnering with local schools, Philharmonia Baroque has offered in-school visits that connect musical experiences to broader academic subjects. Advanced programming may include youth orchestra partnerships and mentorship opportunities that support aspiring young musicians on their artistic journeys. By offering diverse entry points ranging from introductory exposure to intensive artistic development, Philharmonia Baroque’s student programming cultivates the next generation of both performers and audiences while demonstrating music’s relevance to contemporary student life and learning.
Partners include: UC Berkeley, Stanford, SF Girls Chorus, SF Conservatory of Music, Community Music Center, California Youth Symphony and Young People’s Symphony Orchestra
1.Masterclasses
A Philharmonia Baroque masterclass offers students an immersive experience in historically informed performance practice, where world-class period instrument specialists guide musicians through the authentic techniques and interpretive choices that bring Baroque and Classical repertoire to life as originally intended. This unique educational opportunity bridges historical scholarship with practical musicianship, teaching participants not just how to play the notes, but how to understand the musical language of the 17th and 18th centuries through period-appropriate ornamentation, articulation, bowing techniques, and tuning systems.
Whether for advanced students, professional musicians, or music educators, the masterclass provides hands-on experience with historical performance techniques, insights into primary source materials and Baroque treatises, and collaborative learning in an ensemble setting that mirrors professional period performance groups. Participants explore improvisation skills, continuo realization, and the art of musical conversation that defines chamber music from this era, gaining both technical expertise and deeper historical understanding that transforms their approach to early music performance with scholarly rigor and the joy of musical discovery that makes period performance so compelling.
2. Side By Sides
Side by Sides brings together student musicians and artists from Philharmonia Baroque in a collaborative concert experience that merges mentorship with live performance. Student musicians sit directly alongside the professional period instrument specialists, learning through real-time modeling as they navigate the nuances of historically informed performance together. This unique format allows students to absorb the subtle techniques of Baroque interpretation—from the gentle lift of a bow stroke to the precise timing of ornamentation—while contributing to a full ensemble sound under professional guidance.
The Philharmonia Baroque musicians serve as both section leaders and mentors, offering immediate feedback and demonstrating period-appropriate articulation, phrasing, and musical dialogue as the performance unfolds. For students, this represents an invaluable opportunity to experience the collaborative spirit and technical demands of professional period performance, while for audiences, it showcases the continuity of musical tradition as emerging artists learn directly from master practitioners.
To request Masterclasses or Side by Sides, please contact [email protected].
3. Student Tickets
Philharmonia Baroque offers $20 tickets to students under 30 years old.
