Location

ACMI takes place within the Interlochen Center for the Arts, located at Interlochen Center for the Arts, 4000 J Maddy PKWY, Interlochen, MI 49643.

The majority of activities will take place within the many buildings located on the campus. Performances and recordings will take place in the Interlochen facilities, recital halls, and recording studio at Interlochen Public Media.

Application Fee

All applications submitted by February 1, 2026 are subject to a $35 application fee. However, if you are accepted into ACMI this $35 application fee will be applied as a credit towards your festival tuition. If you are not accepted, this application fee will not be refunded. Akropolis has an application fee to honor the hours of dedicated time the individual 5 Akropolis members spend reviewing 150+ applications, including intensive listening, ranking, and discussion. If you are in a financial position where this fee is prohibiting you from applying, please contact Akropolis at info@akropolisquintet.org and let us know.

Who Should Apply to ACMI?

In ACMI's fifth year, we are accepting approximately 16 individual instrumentalists, 4 composers, and 2 resident ensembles. All are welcome to apply.  We welcome international applicants if you are able to secure your own travel, but at this time, ACMI is not able to assist with travel or transportation, except for a free shuttle from the Traverse City Airport.

Individual Instrumentalists
The following instrumentalists are encouraged to apply! If you do not see your instrument or discipline in the following list, please send us an email at info@akropolisquintet.org and we'd be happy to consider your application. The following instrumentalists are encouraged to apply:

• Woodwinds

• Piano

• Percussion

• Brass

• Strings

Composers
Undergraduate, graduate, and professional level composers are encouraged to apply! If you are currently a student, a concentration or degree pursuit in composition is encouraged for applicants, but not required.

Pre-Formed Ensembles
ACMI encourages applications from pre-formed chamber ensembles. At this time, we are not able to offer a group tuition pricing, so each individual member is responsible for the individual ACMI tuition rate. Members of pre-formed ensembles are eligible for scholarships.

Materials Needed to Apply

There are three individual applications for the three programs at ACMI:

• Individual Instrumentalist Application

• Composer Application

• Ensemble Application

In order to apply, you will need...

• A computer with internet! The application is housed here on our website and takes around 45 minutes to complete. Please note, you won't be able to save your progress, so the application needs to be done within 1 sitting. We recommend visiting the “Apply” page here to see the application questions, and gather your materials prior to applying.

• Two video/audio samples (video preferred) demonstrating your performance or composition artistry (contact Akropolis immediately at info@akropolisquintet.org for help if you think you will have difficulty providing these two samples)

• A 500-word or less biography

• To answer two questions to help us determine your fit with ACMI

• Your contact information including name, email, and address

To apply for a scholarship you will need...

• To check the appropriate box within the ACMI application

• To check your email, then complete the scholarship application and return it to Akropolis by February 5th

Scholarships

To make ACMI accessible to applicants with financial need, Akropolis applies scholarships to the tuition of participants based on a scholarship application. You may indicate if you wish to receive this scholarship application by checking the box within the full ACMI application. After your ACMI application is submitted, you will receive the scholarship application via email, and we request that you submit it by February 5th, 2026.

Scholarships will be determined after receiving all applications and reviewing the need of all applicants accepted to the festival. Participants will be accepted without regard to their financial need. Then, among the accepted applicants, any scholarship applications will be reviewed.

For pre-formed ensembles, each individual will be considered for a scholarship separately, on their own, and any members of a pre-formed ensemble interested in a scholarship should apply individually for a scholarship. The person completing the ACMI application on behalf of the ensemble can indicate in the application if any members of the ensemble would like to apply for a scholarship.

ACMI Encourages Applications From

ACMI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or veteran status.

We welcome applicants who want to build long-lasting artistic relationships and who love to collaborate. We welcome open-minded individuals of different musical styles and backgrounds who will contribute to a supportive and collaborative environment.

Individual Instrumentalist Program Benefits

For the individual instrumentalists accepted, you will be given the opportunity to perform and premiere new music in multiple recitals side by side with Akropolis members, receive extensive artistic instruction from Akropolis, receive professional level recordings of your concerts and world premieres, discuss personalized career advancement strategies and entrepreneurial practices, and experience the warm support of the Interlochen community in a world-renowned arts institution.

Individual instrumentalists accepted will receive:

• The opportunity to perform in chamber ensembles side by side with Akropolis members

• Lessons and coachings with Akropolis

• Multiple performance opportunities

• Individual master class and studio opportunities

• The opportunity to give the world-premiere performance of a new work created by one of the ACMI composers

• High quality audio and video recordings of your performances

• Access to the world class facilities and recourses Interlochen has to offer

• Individualized entrepreneurship and career development sessions including with guest faculty Pascal Le Boeuf

• Professional connections

• Lifelong relationships with participant and Akropolis colleagues

Composer Program Benefits

The composers-in-residence at ACMI will create a new work for Akropolis which will be extensively workshopped at ACMI and premiered during the 26/27 season, as well as a new work for the ACMI instrumentalists which will be premiered at ACMI.

The composers accepted will receive:

• A live premiere of their newly composed work for ACMI instrumentalists and Akropolis members

• A live world premiere of their new work for Akropolis during Akropolis' 26/27 season

• Workshops with Akropolis on both works

• A high quality audio and video recording of the work created for ACMI

• Dedicated composing time

• One-on-one consultations with Akropolis

• A private lesson and additional workshops with guest faculty, Pascal Le Boeuf

• Access to the world class facilities and resources Interlochen has to offer

• The sheet music for both their works published in the Akropolis Collection catalog

• Individualized entrepreneurship and career development sessions

• Lifelong relationships and professional connections with participant and Akropolis colleagues

Resident Ensemble Program Benefits

A mentor for dozens of successful ensembles and an inspiration for many more, Akropolis designed a pre-formed ensemble track that they believe would have benefited them most during their critical development stage. The ACMI pre-formed ensemble track is designed for direct-with-Akropolis, in-depth instruction and organizational development for the next generation of chamber ensembles. The pre-formed ensemble track is for serious ensembles looking to take the next step both musically and organizationally, looking for direct feedback intended to make the biggest impact as quickly as possible. ACMI resident ensembles will not perform side by side with Akropolis or take part in premiering the works by the ACMI composers, but will interact closely with all other participants in workshops, meals, and beyond, and will receive a dedicated recording session produced by Akropolis, a dedicated shared recital, and multiple personalized workshops with Akropolis members.

The ensembles accepted will receive:

• A dedicated recital hosted at Interlochen Center for the Arts

• Extensive ensemble coaching from Akropolis members and guest artists

• Competition preparation, repertoire, and programming support

• In-depth business analysis and financial blueprint for a growing organization

• Touring and gig support, including fee structures and best negotiation practices

• A recording session produced by Akropolis at the state of the art recording studio at Interlochen Public Radio

• Access to the world class facilities and resources Interlochen has to offer

• Lifelong relationships and professional connections with participant and Akropolis colleagues

Composer New Works Requirements

For the composers accepted to ACMI, you will be invited to compose a new work up to 10 minutes in duration for camber ensembles comprised of ACMI individual instrumentalists and Akropolis members, working closely with these musicians during the festival. This work will be premiered by ACMI artists during the 2026 festival.

Prior to arriving at ACMI, composers are expected to have their composition completed (score and parts) by May 6, 2026 so the ACMI artists have 1 full month to prepare the music. Composers will be encouraged to communicate with ACMI artists and Akropolis during the composition process with any questions they may have. The composers and artists will have multiple opportunities to workshop and fine tune this piece while at the festival.

Composers will also compose a new work for the Akropolis Reed Quintet to be workshopped during the festival and premiered during Akropolis 26/27 season. However, this composition should not be completed prior to ACMI. Ideas will be workshopped extensively with the quintet at ACMI. Composers will use their additional time at ACMI to compose parts of this work and workshop sections with Akropolis. The premiere is guaranteed during the 26/27 season if the work is completed in enough time for Akropolis to prepare and premiere it during the 26/27 season. Otherwise, the premiere will occur during the next season.

Composers will receive a high quality recording and video of their ACMI composition.