Michigan Youth Performing Arts Pre-College Program
The Michigan Youth Performing Arts Pre-College Program (MYPAP) provides world class instruction for elementary through high school violin, viola, and cello students. Students who participate in the MYPAP will receive the following:
- Weekly private lessons with renowned U-M string faculty, guest artists, and/or graduate students
- Regular group classes with MYPAP program faculty
- Monthly masterclasses with MYPAP program faculty and guest artists
- The opportunity to perform student recitals held twice during the MYPAP program season (once in Fall, once in Winter)
All events take place at the Earl V. Moore Music Building on the beautiful University of Michigan North Campus.
Resources
Announcements
(3/1/23) MYPAP Applications Open for 2023-2024!
Applications are now available for MYPAP’s 2023-2024 Season! See below for information on how to apply to next year’s program.
Rehearsal Information
Time: Saturdays, 11:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Location: Earl V. Moore Music Building
(U-M North Campus, 1100 Baits Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48109)
Season Schedule
*NOTE: Dates and times for MYSO 2022-23 Season Events are subject to change
Faculty
ARTISTIC MANAGER / CELLO INSTRUCTOR – LEO SINGER
Dr. Leo Singer is an active American cellist, teacher, administrator, and scholar. Leo was recently named Artistic Manager at the University of Michigan Performing Arts Pre-college, and also currently serves as Distinguished Artist of Cello at the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings in Macon, GA (part of the Townsend School of Music at Mercer University). In the summer, Leo is on faculty at Center Stage Strings on the University of Michigan campus. As a performer, Dr. Singer has enjoyed a multifaceted career collaborating with many of the great artists of our time. An experienced orchestral musician, Leo has played principal cello of the Aspen Philharmonic Orchestra, the Yale Symphony Orchestra, the Juilliard Pre-College Orchestra, and others. As a teacher, Leo has seen his students attend the finest music schools and summer festivals in the world, including the Juilliard School, Rice University, Manhattan School of Music, The Aspen Music Festival, Pacific Music Festival, Music Academy of the West and many more. An avid scholar of technical studies, Leo authored his own book “Changes of Position,” which focuses on principles and concepts for the left-hand.
Previous artistic leadership include founding and serving as Artistic Director of the Ann Arbor Chamber Fest, a series of chamber music concerts performed by doctoral students and professional musicians in the Ann Arbor area. During his college years, Leo was the music director of the Low Strung cello ensemble, the largest all-cello rock and pop ensemble in the world. This group has recorded three albums, toured around the United States and the globe, and continues to perform today. Also at University, Leo was granted the Richter Summer Research Fellowship as well as the highly coveted Bates International Research Fellowship, which he used to study original Brahms’ manuscripts in Vienna. Leo received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University, where he graduated with distinction in the Intensive Music Major. He went on to receive his Master’s Degree and Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Michigan, serving as teaching assistant for world renowned pedagogue Richard Aaron. Previous primary instructors are Ole Akahoshi, Andre Emelianoff and Sibylle Johner. Leo plays an award-winning cello made by Lawrence Wilke in 2012.
Additional Instructors
VIOLIN
*Danielle Belen, *Aaron Berofsky, *David Halen, Zoie Hightower, *Fabiola Kim, Will Thain, *Kathryn Votapek
VIOLA
*Caroline Coade, Zoie Hightower,*Yizhak Schotten
CELLO
*Richard Aaron, *Amir Eldan, Nathaniel Pierce, Megan Yip
*Current SMTD Faculty
Auditions | Eligibility
Applications for the 2023-2024 MYPAP Season Are Now Available! Applications are due by
5:00 P.M. SUNDAY, APRIL 16, 2023
Apply for the 2023-2025 Michigan Youth Perfomring Arts Pre-College Program by clicking the button below. Application requirements will be included in the application. For questions about applications, feel free to contact SMTD Engagement & Outreach Staff via email at smtd-youthandadult@umich.edu.
*A piano accompanist is not required for your audition.
ELIGIBILITY
Students interested in the MYPAP Program must be enrolled in grades Pre-K through 12 for the 2023-2024 academic year.
MYPAP accepts students who perform the following instruments: Violin, Vola, Cello, Bass.
For questions about applications, audition requirements, or the audition process, feel free to contact SMTD Engagement & Outreach Staff via email at smtd-youthandadult@umich.edu.
Tuition | Fees | Scholarships
MYPAP Participant (Studying with SMTD Faculty) – $5,500
MYPAP Participant (Studying with Guest Instructor / Graduate Student Instructor) – $3,677
Non-refundable application fee – $55
*Need-informed scholarships and tuition payment plans are available. Feel free to contact Engagement & Outreach Staff via email (smtd-youthandadult@umich.edu) for more information
+Tuition covers all lessons and events for the school year: September, 2023, through April, 2024.
NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
A limited number of need-based scholarships are available to families with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $100,000 or under in the previous calendar year, or with special circumstances due to the pandemic. To be considered you must upload your financial aid materials by the application deadline as part of your application. This includes:
- Monthly Expenses
- Previous Year’s Tax Return
- Statement of Need
REFUND POLICY
Full refunds of MYE tuition are only available before the first regularly scheduled rehearsal of the current concert season. Those wishing to learn more about the MYE Refund Policy can do so by clicking here: SMTD Engagement and Outreach refund policy
Contact Us
Email at smtd-youthandadult@umich.edu
Phone at (734) 936-2660