Institute’s Summer Rivals

While sharing many aspects of their programs with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute, its most prominent summer rivals--Aspen and Tanglewood--differ as well, particularly in their economic foundations. Tanglewood has been in business 51 years and Aspen, 43. Both offer a more extensive curriculum than the Institute, particularly in the areas of composition and singing, with opera and choral programs.

Aspen, with offices in New York as well as its Colorado home, boasted 925 students, 130 faculty members and a $4.2-million budget this year. It offered more than $1 million of that in fellowships and scholarships. Tanglewood, with 150 students and a $1.5-million budget, charges no tuition, and provides assistance with housing expenses.

The Institute also collects no tuition to balance its $600,000 budget, relying on foundation and corporate grants, some earned income, and Philharmonic operating funds. Its program has evolved from an early emphasis on training conductors--out-going Philharmonic associate conductor David Alan Miller was a two-term fellow--to a focus on developing orchestral musicians.