Performance is where musicians truly grow. Each concert, festival, and assessment gives students the chance to build confidence, sharpen their skills, and experience the joy of sharing music with others. These moments in the spotlight shape not just better performers, but rising stars developing the perseverance and poise they’ll carry into every part of life.
We consider performance an essential part of music education. The skills gained are invaluable to students and will benefit them for years to come as they translate into school and later to their careers. The Academy offers formal recitals for all students in our Winter and Spring Concerts. We also offer several casual performances through our Blue Note Lounge series.
High school junior and senior students at The Academy are encouraged to perform solo recitals. Junior and Senior recitals require a strong commitment, and are an excellent way to showcase many years of dedicated music study. We also believe solo recitals are excellent preparation for college auditions.
The Academy is very proud to host the The National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) Piano Festival each year. The NFMC is an organization that has been promoting music education and providing opportunities for musical growth since 1898. NFMC began the festivals program to provide musicians of all ages and abilities an opportunity to perform and receive a yearly evaluation in a non-competitive environment.
Since its founding, the NFMC has grown into one of the world’s largest music organizations with club and individual members of all ages. The NFMC is chartered by the Congress of the United States, and is the only music organization member of the United Nations.
Many CAM students are active participants in competitions and assessments. These events are made available to our students via our professional associations with the Royal Conservatory, NFMC, MTNA, NCMTA and Charlotte Piano Teachers Forum. Receiving feedback from trained musicians, in addition to the student’s teacher, is an invaluable part of the competition/assessment experience.
The National Federation of Music Clubs, through its annual national Festivals, provide students of all ages with opportunities and encouragement for musical growth. Entrants do not compete against each other but are rated on individual merits. The Festivals are ideal for musicians at any level of advancement. Events include opportunities for Piano, Guitar, Voice, Strings, Woodwinds, and Percussion students. Many Academy students also choose to participate in the Festival Theory exams.
In addition to the NFMC Festival, CAM piano students have additional assessment opportunities through North Carolina Music Teachers and the Charlotte Piano Teachers Forum.
Many CAM strings students actively participate in auditions for Western Region Orchestra, Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra, and Union Symphony Youth Orchestra. CAM winds students annually take part in the RAFA Review and Contest, as well as All District and All State auditions.
Charlotte Academy of Music is proud to be the only music school in the state of North Carolina recognized as a Founding School of the The Royal Conservatory Music Development Program. This thorough assessment program provides a recognized national standard of musical success through an effectively sequenced course of study from beginner to advanced levels. The Music Development Program inspires excellence through individual student assessments and allows students to celebrate accomplishment and track their progress with others across the country. Students of all instruments can participate in RCM examinations.