Our Focus

INTENSIVE ENVIRONMENT

Student alumni of the Rushmore Music Festival have been accepted into prestigious institutions such as The Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, Oberlin Conservatory, Indiana University, Yale University, Harvard University, Brown University, among others. Some have received full scholarships at music conservatories and others made a conscious choice to keep music in their lives by forming their own chamber groups while pursuing other dreams. What is truly special about our program is its ability to forge lasting friendships and build community through the shared experience of artistic passion, unparalleled work ethic, and the highest standard of musical excellence.

ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY

Each summer, the students and faculty come together to inspire and uplift our communities through classical music by offering both in-person and livestreamed concerts. Rather than adhering to the traditional use of program notes, every work is introduced by one of the performing artists, who leads the audience through their own brief interpretation and the piece’s historical and emotional highlights. This introduction serves as a launching pad for the listeners’ imagination and understanding of the work and allows them to absorb a more creative, meaningful, and personal rendering of the performance. Through the Audience Engagement curriculum, students are empowered with skills in public speaking, stage presence, and freedom of expression.