Immerse yourself in all things percussion this summer with SFCM’s Percussion Academy for students ages 13–18. Hone your skills and connect with fellow young percussionists while exploring a wide range of instruments and techniques. Throughout this six-day program, students participate in classes that may include orchestral percussion, keyboard percussion, chamber ensemble, and global percussion.

Faculty for the Academy represent the upper echelons of the Bay Area's professional percussionists. SFCM's Percussion Department Chair and Percussion Ensemble Director Jacob Nissly has been Principal Percussion of the San Francisco Symphony since 2013, having previously held that position with the Cleveland Orchestra and the Detroit Symphony. Patti Niemi has been the percussionist for the San Francisco Opera for 33 years (and published an acclaimed memoir of her life as a percussionist, Sticking It Out), while Haruka Fujii is Co-Artistic Director of the GRAMMY-winning Silk Road Ensemble, founded by Yo-Yo Ma.
 
Ages: 13-18
When: Monday, June 22, 2026 - Saturday, June 27, 2026
Application Fee: $50
Tuition: $1095
Housing & Dining
    Shared Bedroom: $880
    Single Bedroom: $1,355
Registration Deadline: April 1, 2026
 

Requirements:
Admission is by video audition; Applicants should submit these four components: One two-mallet piece of your choice; One four-mallet piece of your choice; One Snare drum étude: Cirone, Peters, or Delecluse; One Timpani étude: Hochrainer, Goodman, Woud, etc. Mp4’s or youtube links accepted. 

Sample Daily Schedule

9:00 AM - Group Warm up
10:00 AM - Masterclass 
12:00 PM - Lunch & Practice Break
1:30 PM - Instrument specific classes 
3:30 PM - Ensemble Rehearsal
5:30 PM - Dinner Break
7:00 PM - Group Events and Concerts

Faculty

Haruka Fujii, Artistic Director
Jacob Nissly
Patti Niemi
Chris Thompson, guest artist