Charged with the mission to foster an environment of intensive mentorship for young musicians, Music Academy of the West welcomes around 140 Fellows into its program every summer as it has for over 60 years. The Academy also produces its annual festival in conjunction with the training offered through the school, featuring a fully-staged opera as well as masterclasses given by the faculty and performances by the Academy’s Festival Orchestra and visiting artists. Many of the instrumental masterclasses are free and open to the public while the piano, strings and voice masterclasses often charge a small fee for entry (however, Masterclass Series passes are available for discounted admission to many of these events). If you live in the Santa Barbara area, Music Academy of the West can provide almost a full two months of free or cheap classical entertainment right in your own backyard.