14 Instrumentalists + 4 Composers + Akropolis

Instrumental and Composition Program Application Deadlines

Early Application Deadline (NO FEE): February 1, 2025
Late Deadline ($35 application fee): March 1, 2025
Scholarship Application Due: March 5, 2025
Notification of Acceptance: March 15, 2025
Letter of Agreement and Deposit Due: April 1, 2025

Scholarships are available!

Attending ACMI

The Akropolis Chamber Music Institute at Bay View is a 9-day summer festival that brings together creative composers and innovative performers in the picturesque lakeshore town of Petoskey, MI. A small and close-knit gathering, ACMI's goal is to launch your career as a 21st century artist through the highest level of performance, dedicated 1-on-1 mentorship, direct collaboration with Akropolis including performing side by side with Akropolis members, and lasting relationships.

For 9 days, the 14 instrumentalists and 4 composers selected will work intensely with Akropolis: living, working, performing, and forming a community as an artistic collective. ACMI is housed within the Bay View Music Festival, the longest continuously operating chamber music festival in the United States, situated at the heart of one of the country's most beautiful vacation areas, including beaches, bike paths, hiking, and downtown Petoskey. 

Akropolis welcomes individual instrumentalists and pre-formed ensembles to apply for ACMI. Pre-formed ensembles are also guaranteed a world premiere commission from one of the 4 selected ACMI composers.

What ACMI offers you

  • Extensive rehearsal, instruction, & mentorship with Akropolis

  • Instruction and conversation with 2x Grammy-nominated composer/performer, Jeff Scott

  • Multiple recitals on which to perform brand new and pre-existing contemporary works side by side with Akropolis members

  • Community engagement opportunities in northern Michigan

  • Studio edited recordings and videos of the world premiere works

  • Personalized career advancement strategy workshops

  • 1-on-1 mentoring with Akropolis members

  • Private lessons with Akropolis members

  • For composers, 3 workshops with Akropolis on a new work composed for Akropolis

  • Opportunities to perform/share music with ACMI fellows

  • Time for informal social and artistic gatherings

  • Ample leisure and community building time

Guest Faculty

  • Jeff Scott is a French hornist, composer, and educator.  As a composer, he creates works that he calls "Urban Classical Music." His mission is to broaden the scope of American music theory and composition, with the intention of introducing performers, teachers, students and audiences to the richness and value of our very own, American music. A GRAMMY winning artist, Jeff Scott is the Associate Professor of Music at the University at Buffalo and was a member of the Imani Winds for more than 20 years.

    In 2019 Jeff composed a 25-minute composition for Akropolis, Homage to Paradise Valley, after receiving a coveted Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning grant. Recently he has composed for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and his Für Meinen Vater was premiered at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall. He serves on Akropolis' Board of Directors. At ACMI he will not only provide instruction to performers and composers, but detail his collaborative process with Akropolis, talk about his many recent commissions as a composer, and his many years on the road with Imani Winds.

What people have to say…

  • "ACMI is an incredible experience."

    "What other festival allows you to collaborate with amazing artists and composers, have the opportunity to learn from the amazing Akropolis Reed Quintet, be directly next to Lake Michigan, and experience a professional recording session playing alongside Akropolis members. I highly recommend this festival to anyone interested in chamber music, music business, premiering new works, and working directly with composers and professional chamber musicians."

  • "Attending the Akropolis Chamber Music Institute was one of the best decisions I ever could have made."

    “I'm very thankful to have been given the opportunity to work with the phenomenal musicians of Akropolis. The small, intimate nature of this festival was a highlight for me because unlike other larger festivals, the fewer number of participants allowed each of us to truly meet and get to know not only each other, but the faculty as well. I have not attended any other festivals where this level of interaction was possible. All of the composers and instrumentalists were incredibly talented and a joy to work with. I truly believe every participant deserved to be there and this contributed to a very high level of musicianship. Personally, ACMI 2023 was truly the best festival I have ever attended, and I am so grateful to have been able to spend 10 days making music near the beautiful Lake Michigan with an amazing group of musicians and friends. Thank you, Akropolis, for such a wonderful and enjoyable experience!tter experience of it."

  • "Incredible festival – truly the ultimate gathering for wind enthusiasts!"

    “I've had the privilege of experiencing numerous exceptional performances and securing invaluable recordings. Moreover, this event paved the way for an exciting future collaboration with none other than the Akropolis Quintet!"

  • "close-knit environment"

    "The close-knit environment that ACMI provides made connections with fellow musicians, composers, and faculty incredibly meaningful. It was great to have the opportunity to converse with everyone involved with the institute, and made it unique to other festivals I have played in. This festival is great for anyone with any interest in new music!"

  • "I couldn’t have asked for a better experience "

    "I had a wonderful time at ACMI! Getting to work closely with Akropolis members and the composers offered a huge insight into what the commission process looks like”

  • "ACMI was a wonderful and rigorous week of music-making, learning, and hanging out by the beach. "

    "Akropolis cultivated a beautiful community centered around new music and has created a platform for both presenting new chamber as well as building strong friendships."