Join us in Bassano del Grappa for an immersive artistic journey in the heart of Veneto — where music, culture, and collaboration converge.


The VAMS Performance Academy welcomes advanced performers from around the world for an intensive program focused on artistic growth, ensemble collaboration, and performance excellence. Participants will work closely with world-class faculty and conductors, culminating in performances across Bassano del Grappa and Venice — two of Italy’s most inspiring musical cities.


Program Overview

The Performance Academy provides an exceptional opportunity to refine technical mastery, deepen musical expression, and perform alongside composers and conductors in a dynamic international setting. Through rehearsals, chamber projects, and orchestral performances, musicians gain a holistic perspective of the modern performer’s craft — from score preparation to stage artistry.


Faculty Collaboration

Performers will work under the mentorship of distinguished VAMS faculty and guest artists, including members of the Quartetto Nôus, our Conducting Faculty, Sophie Till and the Till Project faculty, and distinguished performers Juliana Athayde, Michael Kaufman, and Lauren Hodges. The program emphasizes direct collaboration between performers, conductors, and composers, fostering a shared creative environment that reflects professional artistic practice.


Performance Opportunities

Participants in the VAMS Performance Academy engage in a variety of artistic settings designed to develop versatility and collaboration.

Musicians will take part in chamber music projects, faculty-led collaborations, and orchestral performances as members of the VAMS Orchestra — an ensemble uniting performers, conductors, and composers in shared artistic dialogue.

The VAMS Orchestra will perform two concerts, one in Bassano del Grappa and one in Venice, featuring both classical and contemporary repertoire. These performances are complemented by smaller chamber concerts and interdisciplinary collaborations that reflect the creative and communal spirit of VAMS.


Italian String Heritage

While VAMS welcomes musicians from every background, it also embraces the heritage of its setting. The Veneto region — birthplace of Vivaldi and central to the evolution of Italian string making — provides a natural connection to centuries of artistry and craftsmanship. Performers experience this living tradition not as nostalgia, but as inspiration for shaping the future of performance.


Cultural Immersion

Participants explore the artistic and architectural treasures of the region through guided visits to Bassano del Grappa, Asolo, Possagno, and Venice, including a special tour of the Gypsotheca Antonio Canova — one of Italy’s most extraordinary artistic landmarks.


The Till Project Collaboration

As part of the Performance Academy, participants will engage with sessions led by faculty from The Till Project, an internationally recognized initiative devoted to healthy, sustainable musicianship. Through workshops and individualized instruction, players learn the principles of the Till Approach — a method that aligns natural physical movement with musical expression, fostering technical precision, injury prevention, and artistic freedom.


Why Join the VAMS Performance Academy

VAMS offers a distinctive experience: a professional-level artistic environment in a setting defined by beauty, focus, and collaboration. Performers leave not only with new repertoire and stage experience, but with meaningful artistic connections and renewed purpose.


Performance Faculty: