The Aspen Music Festival and School is an intense pre-professional experience for serious musicians. It demands a self-motivated, mature student who can take advantage of all the offerings, musical and extra-musical, without individual guidance.

The town of Aspen is a small resort community, population approximately 5,000, set among millions of acres of wilderness in Colorado's Rocky Mountains. There is a multitude of summer activities, from other arts offerings of dance, theater, film, and more, to outdoor recreation such as hiking, biking, and rafting, to town amenities such as restaurants, pool halls, discos, and the like.

The following frequently asked questions may help you prepare for your first time in Aspen.

• What's the climate like in Aspen during the Festival and School?
• What do I wear to perform?
• How do I get to Aspen?
• I am an international student; how do I get an I-20 visa?
• Tell me about School housing facilities.
• Where should I send mail?
• What is housing like if I am under 18 years old?
• How do I check into School housing?
• Can I move into School housing early?
• What if I don't want to live in School housing?
• How do I register late?
• Will I be able to work in Aspen to help with expenses?
• What kind of transportation is available in Aspen?
• Can I get a bike for the summer?
• What kind of performance opportunities are available other than my orchestra assignment?

What's the climate like in Aspen during the Festival and School?
Aspen lies at an elevation of 7,900 feet above sea level. The air is thin and the sun is very strong. Students should give themselves several days to acclimate to this new environment. Also, students who are sensitive to the sun should take extra precautions to avoid burning or more serious sun damage. Voice students in particular should remember that the climate is much drier than that to which they may be accustomed, so drinking more water than usual is recommended.

While Aspen's summer climate typically includes warm, sunny days, the weather can be unpredictable. Brisk evenings are common and occasional mountain showers, sometimes snow showers, may move in. Dress in Aspen for daily activities is generally casual. While there might be opportunities for more formal attire, you will spend most of your time in jeans, shorts, or other casual wear. Sweaters and a raincoat should be adequate for cooler times in Aspen; you may wish to bring a hat and gloves, just in case.

What do I wear to perform?
There are no special dress requirements for rehearsals; however, in performances students are expected to provide and to wear the appropriate concert attire.

Women (all ensembles)
Long black skirt or pants, black dress shoes and hose, and long-sleeved white blouse. A black turtleneck or shirt with black skirt or pants is required for some performances.

Men (all ensembles)
White (or cream) jacket, black pants, white shirt, black dress shoes and socks, and black bow tie. A black turtleneck or shirt with black pants is required for some performances.

Women (Opera Theater Center/Festival Chorus Performances)
Long black skirt and white blouse for women. A long gown may also be useful for women who may be featured in solo performances.

Men (Opera Theater Center/Festival Chorus Performances)
Black pants, white shirt, black bow tie, white jacket, and black jacket or tuxedos for men.

In addition, all opera students should also bring dancewear or sweats and a small make-up kit.

How do I get to Aspen?

I am an international student; how do I get an I-20 visa?
International students requiring an I-20 form to obtain a visa must notify the Office of Student Services as soon as possible. Please refer to the Aspen Music School Catalog for more information on international students. Requests for an I-20 cannot be accommodated after mid-May. You will need to submit the I-20 form to the U.S. Consulate for final visa approval. All questions should be directed to the U.S. Consulate.

Tell me about School housing facilities.

The AMFS housing facilities are staffed by Resident Supervisors and Resident Assistants who are available throughout the summer to assist you and to promote a sense of community. School housing is overseen by the Dean, the Assistant Dean, the Director of Residence Life, and the Office of Student Services. All students living in School housing are required to enroll in the meal plan.

All facilities of the Aspen Music Festival and School are smoke-free, which means there is to be no smoking in any School housing facility.

Adding Room and Board
If you wish to add room and board after Registration, you must make arrangements with the Manager of Student Services. School housing can be very limited. Rooms will be assigned subject to availability, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Marolt Ranch
The Marolt Ranch is a 94-unit facility located one mile from campus and 1.5 miles from downtown Aspen . Each suite consists of two bedrooms and a bathroom. Students are generally housed three to a suite; however, the AMFS reserves the right to house four students to a suite if necessary. Students should bring standard twin sized sheets, standard pillowcases, and towels. A pillow and blanket are provided. Local telephone service is available but you must bring a phone. Due to the limited cell phone reception on the Marolt property, students are encouraged to bring answering machines to receive messages. Telephone numbers for each suite will be provided at Registration. For long distance calling, phone cards are required. Pay laundry facilities are available; however, there is no change machine onsite. A refrigerator and microwave are provided in each suite. 

Burlingame
Burlingame is located approximately three miles west of downtown Aspen . This facility consists of 68 two-bedroom suites with a common living area; two students are housed per suite. Preference is given to students over 21 years of age. Students should bring standard twin-sized sheets, standard pillowcases, and towels. A pillow and blanket are provided. Local telephone service and phones are provided. Students are encouraged to bring answering machines to receive messages. For long distance calling, phone cards are required. Direct bus service to Marolt Ranch and school are available. Pay laundry facilities are available on site. Food service is available at the Marolt Ranch and at the campus cafeteria. Parking is available on site for the first 50 students who register their car AT SCHOOL.

Laundry
The Marolt Ranch and Burlingame are equipped with laundry facilities.

Where should I send mail?
School Housing: Mail MUST be sent to the Post Office Box provided by the AMFS; the mail will be distributed at the Marolt Student Information Center . Mail should not be sent to individual residence halls.

Off-Campus Housing: Send mail in care of: General Delivery, Aspen , CO 81612 . Students are responsible for picking up mail from the Aspen Post Office ( 219 Puppy Smith Street ). Students interested in renting a post office box can contact the Postmaster in Aspen at 970-925-7523. Many residences in Aspen are not equipped with home delivery receptacles; please check with the rental agent or landlord in question before arranging to have mail sent directly to your Aspen address.

Federal Express, UPS, and non US-Mail Services: Express mail should be delivered to the AMFS campus (see address below). Students are responsible for picking up these items. 

Large Items: Any large items (linens, bicycles, etc.) should be sent no earlier than June 1 to the AMFS Campus: 2 Music School Road, Aspen, CO 81611, and must be clearly marked with the student’s name.

Leaving Aspen : Students should notify correspondents of a forwarding address. It is important to NOT submit a forwarding request with the Post Office as your mail will be “returned to sender” after 30 days.

What is housing like if I am under 18 years old?
STUDENTS AGE 15-17: If parents are unable to accompany their children, the Aspen Music Festival and School provides specially supervised housing on a limited basis for students age 15-17. Students age 15 to 17 who wish to live in the School’s supervised housing must send written parental permission on the Housing Questionnaire and on the Underage Agreement provided in the acceptance packet. Students living in the residence hall for underage students are subject to the special rules and regulations of that residence hall. These rules and regulations will be posted, distributed, and discussed with the underage student. Violation of these regulations or demonstration of a lack of sufficient maturity by any student will result in a meeting with the Resident Director and/or the Dean. In the event of expulsion from School housing, the parent is responsible for all arrangements necessary to remove the student within 48 hours of notification. Parents of students 15-17 who will be in residence with their children must indicate on the Housing Questionnaire that they do not require underage housing arrangements to be made.

STUDENTS UNDER AGE 15: There is no School housing available for students under the age of 15. The Aspen Music Festival and School requires a parent or a legal guardian to be in residence for any student under the age of 15.

Underage students whose parents cannot accompany them to Aspen , but whose parents grant permission to live outside of School housing, must be accompanied by a legal guardian. The guardian must be over the age of 21 and cannot be a student of the Aspen Music Festival and School.  An Authorization of Guardianship form must be submitted to the Dean which includes a statement signed by the parent giving responsibility of the child to a guardian. This form must also be signed by the guardian, stating that s/he will accept responsibility for the child. Each case will be considered separately and approval given on an individual basis.

The City of Aspen maintains a strict curfew policy which the AMFS enforces. No one under the age of 18 is permitted on city streets between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, or on legitimate business as directed by an adult. All underage students of the AMFS are expected to comply with these regulations. Underage resident students who are in violation of the curfew hours will be subject to disciplinary action and/or dismissal.  The AMFS requests that parents who are living in Aspen with their children be aware of and observe these regulations. The AMFS strictly enforces the City ordinance in its underage residence hall.

As students under the age of 18 who live in School housing must abide by the city’s 11:00 p.m. curfew, it is imperative that the AMFS’s Director of Residence Life be made aware of any situation which will cause the student to return to his/her room past this hour. A permission form (available at the Marolt Information Center ) must be signed by the parent or approved guardian and submitted to the Resident Director at least 24 hours in advance. Additional information regarding this policy will be distributed to all underage students at the time of check-in.

Recognizing the varying levels of ability and talent of our underage population and acknowledging the professional standard of the AMFS orchestral program, including schedule and repertoire demands, it may not always be possible to place every underage student in a performing ensemble.

How do I check into School housing?
If you are arriving before 5 pm on June 13, please go directly to your assigned housing facility. If you are arriving after 5 pm on June 13, go directly to the Marolt Student Information Center located below the cafeteria.

Can I move into School housing early?
The earliest you can check in to School housing is Tuesday, June 10 at 5 pm. Please go directly to the Marolt Information Center. Meal service will not be provided until noon on June 11.

What if I don't want to live in School housing?
Students interested in living outside of School accommodations are encouraged to make their housing plans as early as possible. Students should check the classified sections of The Aspen Times 970- 925-3414, www.aspentimes.com, the Aspen Daily News 970-925-2220, www.aspendailynews.com, and/or consult with the various rental agents in Aspen for housing.

The Office of Student Services maintains a list of realtors and outside housing accommodations which is available to any student upon request. Please note that the Aspen Music School serves only as a referral for available housing and does not guarantee the quality of any listing. The Aspen Music School is not responsible for any problems with housing obtained from this listing.

Students wishing to minimize the cost of living in Aspen may wish to consider sharing an apartment or condominium with other students. Students interested in being added to and/or receiving a list of students seeking roommates and sharing apartments should email the Housing Coordinator at msippey@aspenmusic.org. Please include the following information:

• Name, address, and phone number
• Instrument
• Age/Gender
• Smoker or non-smoker
• Whether you wish to find an apartment to share, or you have an apartment and are seeking roommates
• Whether or not you are bringing a car
• Any special needs you have
• Number of weeks attending
• If International, indicate English fluency

To help us keep our list up to date, we ask that you notify us when the vacancy is filled. The Aspen Music School is not responsible for any problematic situations arising from using this list.

How do I register late?
If you are arriving after 4:30 pm on Friday, June 13, or over the weekend, you can register Monday, June 16 at the AMFS campus ($75 late registration fee). Instrumental students must see the Orchestra Manager immediately upon arrival to make arrangements for an audition time on Saturday, June 14 or Sunday, June 15.

Students arriving after Monday, June 16 must go directly to the Office of Student Services to register ($100 late registration fee.) A Late Arrival Form is required of all students arriving after June 15 and is available upon request from the Office of Student Services: studentservices@aspenmusic.org. Late Fee waivers will be granted only for school conflicts, and must be approved by the Dean.

Will I be able to work in Aspen to help with expenses?
Students who wish to work in town should contact local merchants upon arrival in Aspen. The AMFS offeres a limited number of work opportunities, however most jobs are only available a few hours a week and will not provide substantial income. Students interested in work opportunities should consult their student handbook and/or inquire at registration.

What kind of transportation is available in Aspen?
Although some students will bring their automobiles to Aspen, there is ample public transportation and bicycles available through the School's bicycle program. All students are encouraged to use these services, which are readily available and are often more convenient and efficient than driving a car.

Free bus service between the campus and Festival and School facilities is provided by the Roaring Fork Transit Authority (RFTA) and the City of Aspen. Schedules for Aspen bus service are available at Rubey Park transit center and on most RFTA buses, as well as at the Office of Student Services and the Marolt Student Information Center.

Can I get a bike for the summer?
Students are encouraged to bring bicycles (and locks and helmets) to Aspen for use as their major mode of transportation. The School also has a limited number of bicycles which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. At registration, students must schedule an appointment with the bicycle shop on campus. We strongly encourage all cyclists to wear a helmet at all times.

What kind of performance opportunities are available other than my orchestra assignment?
Master Classes: Master classes are hosted throughout the summer by members of the AMFS artist-faculty and visiting guest artists. All students are welcome to attend master classes. Please consult the 2008 Master Schedule and the weekly tear-sheets for times and locations of regularly scheduled master classes. Announcement of special master classes by guest artists will be posted. Students interested in performing in any guest artist master class must request a permission form from the Administrative Building . Students interested in performing in regularly scheduled studio/master classes should consult their teachers.

Spotlight and Open Door Recital Series: These two recital series provide students with chamber music and recital opportunities. Students wishing to schedule a recital must fill out an application available in the Administration Building . Please do so as far in advance as possible. The form must be signed by the major teacher or coach. Upon submitting the form, students should then meet with the series coordinator.

Chamber Music Program:Auditions take place during Registration weekend. Under the direction of Bärli Nugent, chamber music groups of all configurations will be formed after auditions. All ensembles will perform at least once during the summer, in the Aspen Chapel chamber music series, Spotlight and Open Door recital series concerts, COMPLINK composition concerts, Day of Music (and outreach concerts), fanfares, composers’ forums, chamber music bashes, community concerts, house concerts, and more. Ensembles should contact the Director of Educational Outreach for outside employment opportunities. Resident and visiting chamber ensembles, guest artists, and artist-faculty perform chamber music concerts every Monday evening and Saturday afternoon, occasionally joined by selected students, for concerts in the Benedict Music Tent and Harris Concert Hall.