Tuition for the 2013 Montecito International Music Festival is $3,600, which includes room (double or triple occupancy), all meals, two one-hour private lessons per week, two chamber music coaching sessions per week, accompanists, concerts, master classes (including opportunity to audition for master classes), recreational activities and ample opportunity for individual and ensemble practice time. Students accepted to the program must send a non-refundable $750 deposit by April 15, 2013. The balance of $2,750 is due by May 15, 2013. The full tuition will become non-refundable on June 15, 2013. An additional $100 security deposit will be collected from students staying on campus.

Conduct Requirement: Upon admission to the Festival, students must follow the code of conduct required by Westmont College as well as expectations of the Festival itself.  Any student violating any of these behavioral rules will be removed from the Festival and asked to return home.  According to Westmont's rules of conduct, students are prohibited from engaging in the following specific behaviors:  occult practices, sexual relations outside of marriage, theft, profanity, dishonesty, harassment, possession or use of illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia, purchase or consumption of alcoholic beverages by persons under the age of 21, driving under the influence of alcohol, drunkenness, and use or possession of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages on campus or when attending a college-related student activity.  For an explanation of Westmont's behavioral rules, please visit this web page.  A student violating any of Westmont's rules will be expelled from the festival immediately.  In addition, the Festival expects its students to practice regularly, to refrain from disruptive behavior, and to follow all instructions of the Resident Advisors.  If Festival authorities feel a student is failing to follow these expectations, he or she will be so advised to provide a warning before expulsion.  If the behavior(s) persist after the warning, the student will be removed from the Festival and sent home.  

Scholarship opportunities:

All scholarship applications must be postmarked by March 1, 2013.

Applicants with the highest musical qualifications may apply for one of the eight full-scholarship Westmont Fellowships (two each for violin, viola, cello, and piano), sponsored by Westmont College. Fellowship students will be required to fulfill additional duties, which may include performing in a Fellowship chamber ensemble, coaching younger students and serving as an assistant to a faculty member. Finally, all fellowship students will participate in chamber music groups with other esteemed faculty. In addition to the general application requirements, Westmont Fellowship applicants must submit a 30-minute DVD of at least two contrasting pieces demonstrating musicality and technical ability as well as two letters of recommendation from professionals in a related field, with an increased application fee of $120.

Junior High and High School students may apply for one of six Junior Fellowships, awarding a $1000 scholarship to a student in each instrument group (violin, viola, cello, bass, clarinet and piano). Junior Fellowship students will perform in a special Junior Fellowship Concert. In addition to the general application requirements, Junior Fellowship applicants must submit a 30-minute DVD of at least two contrasting pieces demonstrating musicality and technical ability as well as two letters of recommendation from professionals in a related field, with an increased application fee of $95.

Students may also apply for a general merit scholarship, of variable amount. Merit scholarship applicants must submit all requirements of the general application, plus an additional letter of recommendation from a professional in a related field. Be sure to submit the highest possible quality recording of your audition selections.

For need-based scholarship consideration, applicants must submit all requirements of the general application, plus an additional letter of recommendation from a professional in a related field, plus an explanation of financial need, along with either a copy of the 2010 IRS-1040 or equivalent documentation of income. Be sure to submit the highest possible quality recording of your audition selections.

Applicants who are at least 18 years of age may apply for a Work-Scholarship position. Work-Scholarship recipients receive a $1,000 discount off the regular tuition, but they will have limited time available for lessons and individual practice since they will be required to work up to eight hours per day (or night) as resident counselors in the dormitory. Work-Scholarship recipients will have full access to concerts, master classes and other activities, as long as those activities do not conflict with their work hours. Applicants for the Work-Scholarship positions should complete the Work-Scholarship application in addition to the general application.

International Applicants (not U.S. residents) should obtain a Non-Immigrant Visa (NIV) through their closest U.S. embassy. Obtaining a visa can take several weeks, so applicants are encouraged to begin the process as soon as possible. Montecito International Music Festival cannot assist in the application process or make allowances for delays or cancellations because of visa processing.

The Festival is happy to provide a formal letter of invitation for use in the visa application process for non-U.S. residents. However, we do not provide such letter unless you specifically request it. Please send us your request before you begin your visa application process.

You can find a list of links to embassies here.  Once you find the embassy closest to you, click on the links for Visas/Non-Immigrant Visas for instructions on obtaining a visa.

If you have any questions about the application procedure or requirements, please do not hesitate to call or email us.