New York Invitational Music Festival

The New York Invitational Music Festival was established to allow young musicians the opportunity to perform on the world's greatest stage, Isaac Stern Auditorium / Ronald O. Perelman Stage in the famed Carnegie Hall.

This educational music festival was designed to enhance the performance ability of students through master classes delivered by nationally known clinicians while experiencing the musical prowess of professional musicians. Young musicians will enjoy meeting other talented musicians from around the United States, and often, from around the world!

Every ensemble has it's own performance on stage, performing the repertoire of their choice. Also included is a one hour clinic with one of our esteemed clinicians, sound check on stage at Carnegie Hall, an archival recording of your performance, souvenir gifts, awards and much, much more. 

Artistic Director

Terry Austin is Professor Emeritus, VCU Distinguished Career Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. Under his leadership, the Virginia Commonwealth University Symphonic Wind Ensemble has earned a reputation for musical excellence and has been invited to perform at many professional conferences including the American Bandmasters Association, MENC, the College Band Directors National Association, and the Virginia Music Educators Association.

He is an active guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator and is published in numerous journals and is the general editor of The Journal of Band Research, A Repertoire Anthology (1964-1989) published by GIA. Dr. Austin is a regular guest conductor of the Musashino Academia Musicae Wind Ensemble and is a Guest Professor of the Center of General Education of Guangdong University of Technology in Guangzhou, China. In 2018 he was appointed Interim Chair of the
Department of Music at VCU.