Virtuoso Program
Study, live, and play with passion.
The internationally recognized Virtuoso Program (VP) at San Domenico is designed for high school students who are exploring their potential as professional string musicians and wish to dedicate themselves to a rigorous academic and musical curriculum.
San Domenico offers the only upper school in the nation with an integrated and intensive music program, combined with college preparatory academics, that prepares students for careers in music. Limited enrollment guarantees personal attention for every student.
Since 1977, our supportive environment, experienced music faculty, and state-of-the-art conservatory facilities have created an ideal artistic community for serious music students.
Musical Selections
Mozart: Allegro Divertimento in D Major, KV 136 for String Orchestra Movement I. Allegro.
Mozart: Allegro Divertimento in D Major, KV 136, for String Orchestra Movement II. Andante.
Mozart: Allegro Divertimento in D Major, KV 136, for String Orchestra Movement III. Presto.
Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings, Op. 48 Movement I. Pezzo in forma di Sonatina.
Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings, Op. 48 Movement II. Waltze.
Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings, Op. 48 Movement III. Elegie.
Mendelssohn: two movements from the Octet, Op. 30, arranged for String Orchestra.
Merit Scholarship
Students accepted to the Virtuoso Program may be eligible to receive merit scholarship funding. This remarkable opportunity not only provides an education of excellence for all deserving students, it also preserves the impeccable quality of the Virtuoso Program by freeing it to only consider students who demonstrate abundant talent and a vigorous commitment to their education and music. By accepting the scholarship, a Virtuoso student acknowledges the responsibility of completing the four-year program and fully complying with its intensive requirements.
Prepared for the Future
Our students consistently matriculate to—and receive partial to full merit scholarships from—the best-rated colleges and conservatories in the nation, a testament to the particular combination of instruction and experience they receive in the Virtuoso Program. Despite increasingly competitive college admissions, prestigious schools continue to accept Virtuoso Program graduates, because our students have a reputation for being intelligent, talented, and driven to succeed. Whether or not they pursue a career in music, Virtuoso Program graduates contribute to the community as professional and amateur performers, music educators, music therapists, and active patrons of the arts.
VP Faculty
At the heart of the Virtuoso Program is our exceptional music faculty, whose distinguished members are accomplished professional musicians from around the Bay Area. Students enjoy the privilege of studying closely under and being mentored by our faculty, as well as benefit from masterclasses with frequently visiting guest artists.
Join Us
The Virtuoso Program provides superior music instruction to talented Upper School string players (violin, viola, cello and bass) who wish to dedicate themselves to an intense course of music and academic study, regardless of their financial, cultural or religious background. Enrollment is kept highly selective in order to maintain an extremely low student / teacher ratio.
In addition to meeting San Domenico's academic admission standards, applicants to the Virtuoso Program are carefully screened for their musical potential and readiness to undertake intensive music study. The Program welcomes applications of string musicians who have achieved a technical level sufficient to perform standard solo concerto repertoire—which assumes 4-8 years of private study prior to their attendance at San Domenico. Applicants must audition, and although live auditions are strongly preferred, submission of a recording is accepted if distance prohibits a personal audition on the San Domenico campus.
To schedule your interview / audition, please contact Music Conservatory Director Rob DeNunzio: (415) 258-1921 | rdenunzio@sandomenico.org