Experience the joy of learning at Colburn School’s summer group classes. Discover the perfect opportunity to explore our acclaimed music, performing arts, and dance programs, suitable for ages 7 months to adults. Dive into a variety of group classes, from piano to ballet, and see firsthand why Colburn is renowned for excellence in arts education. With our summer sessions, you can sample different disciplines and find the perfect fit before committing to our year-long classes in the fall. Unleash your potential this summer at Colburn School.
Sing, move, and play through a specially designed curriculum which supports cognitive, creative, and social development.
Ages 7 months–6 years
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Build confidence and be inspired to take creative risks in a program featuring improvisation, body movement, theatre games, monologues, scene work, script analysis, and character development.
Ages 5–16
Beginners can learn the fundamentals of technique and develop musical literacy in a supportive group setting.
Ages 5–12 and 18+
Join other experienced jazz musicians to explore various styles of jazz repertoire, theory, and approaches to improvisation. All instruments, including strings and vocalists, are welcome!
Ages 18+
A four-week singing-based intensive designed to enhance and support instrumental and vocal study through active engagement and kinesthetic exploration.
All ages
Existing students can join us for four Saturdays beginning June 29 to keep up their training over the summer, and new students are welcome to register for this four-week program to try out classes before registering for the fall semester. Classes include:
Creative Dance I and II
Pre-Ballet
Ballet Prep I and II
Beginning Ballet
Modern I and II
Tap I, II, and Beginning Teen Tap
Students from the Ed and Mari Edelman Chamber Music Institute perform dazzling chamber works.
The Business of Dreams
Richard D. Colburn, the School’s benefactor, had long dreamed of a small, tuition-free conservatory where young artists pursued music at the highest level. For this conservatory to succeed and become the West Coast’s answer to schools like Curtis and Juilliard, Mr. Colburn believed faculty must lead the way. Three faculty currently teaching at the Colburn School were on his radar: Yehuda Gilad (clarinet), Ron Leonard (cello), and Robert Lipsett (violin). Their students were engaging with music at an extraordinarily high level, which profoundly moved Mr. Colburn, who had never experienced this depth of teaching when he was a young violist. “He melted,” Gilad says, reflecting on Mr. Colburn’s reaction whenever he, Leonard, and Lipsett talked about their students. “He would literally be reduced to tears hearing about my students’ successes and challenges,” says Lipsett. “I just saw that deep connection with wanting students to study great music if that was what they wanted.”
However, Mr. Colburn wasn’t ready to bank on what his heart wanted; he was a businessman and needed to be convinced he was making the right investment. Enter Executive Director Toby Mayman who fought tirelessly alongside Dean Joseph Thayer to convince Mr. Colburn that his concept for a conservatory aligned with the School’s, and that it would be done in the best way possible. When it came to closing the deal, Gilad calls Mayman “the architect” and Thayer “the engineer.”
Shortly after the Colburn School moved to Grand Avenue, Mr. Colburn pledged $165 million to endow a future conservatory and the Board directed Thayer to prepare a strategic plan. In fall 1998, the Board approved Thayer’s plan, whose title captured the program’s vision in simple, vivid terms: “The Colburn Conservatory: A Community of Musicians.” Thayer then assembled the Conservatory Planning Group, which included Gilad, Lipsett, Leonard, and theory faculty Warren Spaeth. The five met weekly to discuss their vision for the Colburn Conservatory of Music. “There was a common purpose between all of us who were working to put it together,” Leonard shares.
Founding faculty member Yehuda Gilad with Mstislav Rostropovich.
Mission and Philosophy
The foundational principles of the Conservatory fall into the following four categories.
1. Faculty
Faculty are the nucleus of the Conservatory’s teaching model: they are directly responsible for their students’ artistic growth. Their dedication to teaching is paramount, as is their consistent presence on campus, which brings the opportunity to understand their students holistically, not just how they are in lessons and performances. By establishing resident faculty as the standard, the Conservatory diverges from teaching models common to other conservatories, where faculty jump from school to school, often week to week, to teach students.
With few exceptions, there is only one faculty member per instrument, so it is crucial faculty work well in a small team and believe in the Conservatory’s mission. “It is important,” Leonard recalls, “that they really want to be a member of the faculty of this particular school.”
About the faculty, Mayman adds: “They are devoted to the wellbeing of the Conservatory as a whole. The faculty are treasures as teachers and human beings.”
2. Full Scholarships
Conservatory students receive free tuition, room, and board—the goal being to remove financial barriers and increase accessibility. The endowed gift from Mr. Colburn, with additional support from the School’s community, allows students to focus on their education, not school bills.
The Conservatory’s independence from tuition income directly affects other aspects of the program. As Thayer explains, “Most music schools in the U.S. admit far more students than Colburn, in part to generate tuition. The Colburn Conservatory is based on a non-tuition revenue concept, which allows maximum performance opportunities for all students, a great deal of flexibility in everything that we do, and extraordinary selectivity in terms of standards for acceptance.”
3. Student Population and Size
The target size of the Conservatory is small: keeping studio numbers tight creates more performance and learning opportunities for students across the board. For example, as Thayer mentions earlier, orchestral students routinely play in each concert cycle.
The residence hall, a huge draw for recruiting students, had always been on the table, but it wasn’t a reality until funds were secured for the Olive Street Building. Anecdotally, what convinced Mr. Colburn to support a residence hall in the new building was hearing that students would lose precious practice time commuting to/from campus.
4. Performance Curriculum
The Conservatory curriculum is designed to prepare students for careers as working musicians. “We cater to the needs of young performers,” Gilad shares, “without overburdening them with classes unrelated to their music studies.” Performance opportunities—including orchestra concerts, chamber forums, and masterclasses—therefore take center stage. Performance Forum, the weekly recital series where Conservatory students perform solo and chamber works for the School’s community, has been around since the very beginning. The inspiration for Performance Forum came from Lipsett, who spent summers as a young violinist at Meadowmount, where Ivan Galamian curated weekly concerts. “I saw how powerful and motivating it was for students to hear their colleagues,” Lipsett says.
Founding faculty member Bob Lipsett in a lesson with 2013 Conservatory graduate Elicia Silverstein.
When Lipsett brought the idea of Performance Forum to the faculty, they all recognized that if the concert were to become a mainstay of the Conservatory, the level of playing on stage would consistently need to be at a high level. “For those who perform,” Lipsett explains, “it is as daunting as it gets because you’re playing for an audience who are all musicians. Their experience in Forum really prepares them for performing in the outside world.”
A Conservatory is Born
In fall 2003, the Colburn Conservatory of Music was official. “There was a pretty big buzz about this new school,” Thayer remembers.
Although hundreds auditioned in the early years, the plan was to enroll small and grow gradually. In 2003, 15 students were offered a spot and all 15 accepted. There were 33 students in the second year and then 56 in the third. By 2006, the Conservatory had a full orchestra, which debuted at Walt Disney Concert Hall. In 2007, the new Olive Street Building was up and running, and became the locus of Conservatory activities. Boasting Thayer Hall, the Café, a twelve-story dormitory, and sixty practice rooms and teaching studios, everything about the Olive Street Building was designed with acoustics, aesthetics, and function in mind. Reflecting on teaching in the new building, Leonard says: “All the years I was there, it felt good to be there.”
Present Day
Twenty years in, the Conservatory still operates with a mission to provide exceptional instruction and performance opportunities to young artists. The teaching model and rigorous criteria for the faculty remain the backbone of the program.
Founding faculty member Ron Leonard with students on campus.
Many of the classes that existed in 2003 are part of the curriculum today. Importantly, however, the Conservatory has grown a larger footprint in the community. With 2018’s creation of the Center for Innovation and Community Impact, Conservatory students have greater outreach and advocacy opportunities. Colburn’s robust Philanthropy department provides pathways for students and supporters of the School to share their love of music. Most recently, construction began on a Frank Gehry-designed campus expansion to include five dance studios and the 1,000-seat concert hall named for Terri and Jerry Kohl, which will provide a home for the Conservatory’s orchestra and encourage collaboration and interdisciplinary educational partnerships.
Perhaps Lipsett sums up the founding and development of the Conservatory best: “It’s a great school because of the faculty, the students, and the administration. And, in the end, that’s what Richard Colburn understood.”
Today’s Livestream is made possible by viewers like you. To support programs like this as well as the Colburn School’s nonprofit mission of access and educational excellence in the performing arts, visit www.colburnschool.edu/give today.
Conservatory of Music Commencement
Join us as we confer degrees at the Conservatory of Music’s 2024 Commencement. The ceremony will feature a keynote address by violist and Colburn School alumna Nokuthula Ngwenyama.
Join us for an enlightening evening featuring short lectures on modern violins and cellos by world-renowned experts Peter Beare and Mario Miralles. The event will also highlight performances from some of the finest string players in Los Angeles, including Martin Chalifour, Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Margaret Batjer, Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.
The Colburn campus has many versatile spaces that can accommodate everything from intimate recitals to small meetings and more. Below you will find more information about our smaller performance spaces, dance studios, classrooms, chamber rooms, and practice rooms.
Many visiting music programs, festivals, and schools use Mayman Hall for auditions. With a smaller seating capacity, the hall is also an ideal space for solo recitals.
Seating capacity: 100, with ADA accessible seating on the stage floor
Olive Rehearsal Hall is most often used for rehearsals and can accommodate an orchestra of up to 100 members. It can also be used for performances with theatre-in-the-round style seating.
Colburn Dance studios can easily accommodate auditions and rehearsals for ballet, tap, and other performing arts. Dance studios can be used as a filming location.
For small group meetings, lessons, or additional holding space, classrooms can accommodate approximately 20 people and contain essential audio/visual equipment such as projectors, screens, and speakers. There are also chamber rooms available that can accommodate up to four performers and practice rooms for single performers. Almost all rooms contain pianos that are regularly maintained.
The South Plaza can accommodate large groups for outdoor dinners, receptions, or more casual events such as lunches for school groups. The Olive Building’s fifth floor terrace includes indoor and outdoor spaces with views of downtown LA. Permits may be required for large outdoor receptions and additional security staff are required when serving alcohol. Permits are the responsibility of the renter.
Depending on the layout, furniture, and design of your reception/event, the South Plaza can accommodate up to 200 people. Also dependent on the design of your event, the Olive Building Lobby and Terrace can accommodate up to 50 people each so a total of 100 people if both spaces are being used with an open layout.
The Colburn Café offers a wide variety of catering options for all types of events including receptions, office lunches, breakfast meetings, and more. You can choose from the existing catering menu or request a custom proposal. Reception space fees will be waived if the Colburn Café is providing the catering for your event.
Thayer Hall contains seating for 189 persons, with 4 dedicated ADA/wheelchair spaces.
The Thayer Hall stage is approximately 550 square feet. It is excellent for solo events or events with a small number of participants. The stage can accommodate up to 20 performers.
Concert grand pianos are available for Thayer Hall events. A Colburn School piano technician will tune the piano specifically for your event.
Thayer Hall is equipped with high-definition audio recording and sound reinforcement systems, as well as a 4K remote controlled video recording and live streaming system and an HD video projection system.
Recording and Sound Reinforcement
The audio recording system is based on Merging Technologies interfaces and Pro Tools. It can provide multitrack recording and a live stereo mix.
An extensive microphone collection is readily available and includes DPA, Neumann, Schoeps, Sennheiser, Shure, and more to use with both reinforcement and recording applications.
The sound reinforcement system features an L-Acoustics Kiva/Kilo Line Array and an Allen and Heath SQ7 mixer along with 4 channels of wireless mics.
Projection
The Projection system includes a Panasonic DLP 10k lumen projector with a native resolution of 1080p and a motorized 324-inch screen, which covers the stage wall and stops a few inches above the floor when deployed. File playback is handled via QLab.
Video Recording and Live Streaming
The video recording and live streaming system includes 4 readily available remote-controlled Canon 4K cameras and an ATEM switcher with program recorders.
The system can provide a live cut, comprehensive graphics, as well as ISO files.
At least one Colburn Audio/Visual Engineer is required for use of the hall’s sound system, microphones, projector, screen, etc. Additional engineers may be required for larger, more complex programs. The renter will be billed on an hourly basis for all audio/visual personnel. Arrangements to use Thayer Hall’s A/V systems must be arranged through the Rentals Manager. You may also bring in your own audio/visual equipment with permission from the Rentals Manager.
Thayer Hall is equipped with a complete stage lighting system. The lighting system has several existing pre-set functions that can accommodate a variety of programs. The stage manager can operate these pre-set functions to highlight parts of your program. Additional theatrical lighting is available by hiring a Colburn School Lighting Engineer. Arrangements to use the Colburn School’s lighting system and lighting engineers should be made well in advance through the Colburn School’s Rentals Manager.
Thayer Hall’s green room is equipped with a private restroom and is located backstage. Several classrooms of various sizes near Thayer Hall may be used as dressing rooms and/or rehearsal/warmup spaces. Please check with The Colburn School’s Rentals Manager to determine the availability of these spaces.
Zipper Hall can comfortably seat 430 people. Of these seats, 56 are located in the balcony. Handicapped seating is available for 4; with 2 wheel-in spaces and 2 transfer seats.
The Zipper Hall stage is approximately 1,100 square feet. Dimensions for the Zipper Hall stage are 48-ft. wide by 23-ft. deep
Concert grand pianos are available for Zipper Hall events. A Colburn School piano technician will tune the piano specifically for your event.
Zipper Hall is equipped with high-definition audio recording and sound reinforcement systems, as well as a 4K remote controlled video recording and live streaming system and an HD video projection system.
The sound reinforcement system features an L-Acoustics ARCS WiFo Line Array and an Allen and Heath dLive mixer along with 12 channels of wireless mics and a Waves Extreme SoundGrid Server.
The Projection system includes a Christie 14k lumen projector with a native resolution of 1080p and a motorized 324-inch screen, which covers the stage wall and stops about four feet above the floor when deployed. File playback is handled via QLab.
The video recording and live streaming system includes 4 readily available remote-controlled Canon 4K cameras and an ATEM switcher with program recorders. The system can provide a live cut, comprehensive graphics, as well as ISO files.
At least one Colburn Audio/Visual Engineer is required for use of the hall’s sound system, microphones, projector, screen, etc. Additional engineers may be required for larger, more complex programs. The renter will be billed on an hourly basis for all audio/visual personnel. Arrangements to use Zipper Hall’s A/V systems must be booked through the Rentals Manager. You may also bring in your own audio/visual equipment with permission from the Rentals Manager.
Zipper Hall is equipped with a complete stage lighting system. The lighting system has several existing pre-set functions that can accommodate a variety of programs. The stage manager can operate these pre-set functions to highlight parts of your program.
Additional theatrical lighting is available by hiring a Colburn School Lighting Engineer. Arrangements to use the Colburn School’s lighting system and lighting engineers should be made well in advance through the Colburn School’s Rentals Manager.
Zipper Hall’s green room is equipped with a private restroom and is located backstage. Please note, the green room does not have a shower. Several practice rooms and classrooms of various sizes near Zipper Hall may be used as dressing rooms and/or rehearsal/warmup spaces.
With exceptional facilities located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles’s Bunker Hill, the Colburn School is the ideal place to hold your event. It is centrally located and close to public transportation and multiple parking facilities.
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Our concert halls offer extraordinary acoustics creating the ideal space for performances of all kinds including solo recitals, chamber music performances, orchestra concerts, recording projects, and more. Built-in recording and livestreaming capabilities with an experienced, professional staff allow you to share your event beyond our walls.
The versatile performance spaces are well suited for public events such as lectures, book signings, and speaking engagements.
Colburn is a popular West Coast audition location. Top music and dance training programs, dance companies, festivals, and presenters hold auditions at Colburn each year. Spaces are also available for music or dance rehearsals.
Our outdoor spaces offer a beautiful setting for receptions, dinners, and parties. The South Plaza can accommodate large groups in the heart of the Colburn campus. The Olive Building’s fifth floor terrace is ideally suited for intimate groups with indoor and outdoor spaces and views of Downtown LA, including Walt Disney Concert Hall. These spaces are also suitable for more casual events such as lunches, meetings, or retreats.
The Colburn Café offers a wide variety of catering options for all types of events – receptions, office lunches, breakfast meetings, and more. You can choose from the existing catering menu or request a custom proposal. Reception space fees will be waived if the Colburn Café provides catering for your event.
The Colburn School campus is open to filming opportunities, including photo shoots and commercials. For inquiries, please contact UnReel Locations. Note: licenses may be required, which are the responsibility of the renter.
Parking on the Colburn campus is reserved for students, faculty, and staff, or by special permission. Many convenient public parking options are nearby. We recommend the nearby Walt Disney Concert Hall garage. You can find a map and directions to the lots on our website here.
Colburn will provide experienced and professional stage managers, ushers, and security for all concerts and public events to assist your patrons and provide a safe environment during your event. Please fill out the form to contact the rentals manager and receive more information about staffing requirements.
Colburn can share your event with our community with a web calendar listing, e-newsletter inclusion, digital signage, and flyers placed on-campus.
For more information and to inquire about availability with our rentals manager, please complete the following form or email facilityrentals@colburnschool.edu.
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