Our Mission
Enriching the lives of youth and Building Community through classical music
“Attending Lyra was one of the most inspirational, transformative, and exciting experiences I have ever had. ”
Lyra Music was founded in 2010, with the vision of enhancing the lives of young musicians and enriching communities through classical music training and performance. A multi-faceted, non-profit organization, Lyra Music produces a summer pre-professional performance training program, summer music festival, and youth music competition for string players and pianists.
The Lyra Music Young Artist Performance Program is a residential, conservatory-style classical summer music program. Originating in Vermont in 2010 and moving to Western Massachusetts in 2016, the Lyra Music Festival relocated and settled in New York’s Hudson Valley in the summer of 2022. Lyra students are young musicians, ages 13-18, immersed in a supportive, nurturing community where they live, work, and play with their peers and the dedicated Lyra faculty, staff, and guest artists-in-residence. Lyra’s Hudson Valley Festival is a performance-based program, providing a pre-professional touring experience for string players and pianists seeking an opportunity to hone solo and chamber performance and related skills. Young musicians will be inspired by the intensive study of solo and chamber music repertoire with Lyra Music Guest Artists-in-Residence and a focus on performance technique in a variety of settings, including indoor and outdoor outreach concerts, a final gala student event, and invaluable opportunities to participate in and attend masterclasses and concerts produced for the Lyra Music Festival and performed by world-class guest artists. Lyra Music supports the musical, emotional, and personal development of every participant through a non-competitive environment where students are encouraged to reach their full potential. Need-based financial aid is available.
The Lyra Music Festival presents world-class musicians in concert and masterclasses with Lyra Music young artists and provides an opportunity for Lyra’s young musicians to experience the life of a professional musician on tour, through an intensive chamber and solo performance schedule in a variety of settings. The Lyra Festival comprises traditional classical chamber performances and engages new audiences and classical music lovers alike through free outreach concerts bringing live classical music out of the concert hall and into the community.
The Lyra Music Youth Competition motivates young musicians to work to their full potential, while providing invaluable experience and meaningful performance feedback, as well as cash prizes or scholarships to the Lyra Music Young Artist Program.
We design every component of Lyra Music programming to work synergistically towards the goals of training young classical musicians and building community through world-class concerts and free-outreach events. Lyra is proud to inspire and nurture tomorrow’s musicians and music audiences today.
Lyra Music is a 501c3 non-profit organization grateful to a community of dedicated supporters whose generosity helps Lyra thrive. Join us!