A key part of our Mission, for the last 30 years Musicfest has identified, supported, and promoted numerous aspiring Young Musicians from around the Valley of the Sun and Tucson area.
Through our highly-regarded Competitions, each year Musicfest supports Young Musicians with commentary, praise, and critique from some of the area’s finest musicians. Standout participants earn prizes and performance opportunities through our Young Musicians Concerts in the MIM Music Theater. These extraordinary students are also invited to Masterclasses and Private Lessons with some of our featured Festival Performers. As students transition their studies to the collegiate level, Musicfest proudly sponsors two first-year and four continuing students pursuing undergraduate studies through the Musicfest Scholarship Program.
Select from the tabs on the left to find out more!
Young Musicians CompetitionsThe Young Musicians Competition recognizes the outstanding talents of young musicians, provides a space where young competitors can perform for and receive evaluations from respected judges, and distributes monetary awards to winners who may also earn opportunities to perform as part of the Arizona Musicfest concert series.
Click below for competition details, rules, and applications:
Arizona Musicfest ScholarshipSince 2011, the Arizona Musicfest Scholarship Program has generously awarded over ninety thousand dollars to Arizona students pursuing college degrees in music.
Arizona Musicfest Scholarship recipients are currently pursuing or have recently earned degrees from the following distinguished institutions:The Juilliard School, New England Conservatory of Music, The Cleveland Institute of Music, USC’s Thornton School of Music, Biola University, Arizona State University, The Eastman School of Music, Vanderbilt University, and Curtis Institute of Music.
Learn about past recipients and find application information through the link below!
During the 2022-2023 season, Arizona Musicfest will produce a series of three Young Musicians Concerts at the MIM Music Theater in Phoenix. Join us and experience virtuosity from the start! Follow the links below to purchase tickets:
Free drum circles led by Frank Thompson
Join our introduction to West-African Handdrumming!
UPCOMING THEMES: Join us for AZ Musicfest's Summer Ukulele and Guitar Strummers Jams! A fun, relaxed setting to play together and perfect for all levels. The Summer Jams will be available online for anyone who is out of town but would still like to join. Sign up to be notified with any announcements and to receive the online link to join the jam as well as PDFs of the music. Paper copies will be provided at the Jam. Strummers Jams will take place at 1:00pm on the 3rd Tuesday of June, July & August with the following themes: June 16 - Musicals July 21 - Campfire Favorites August 18 - Beatles vs. Beach Boys
Piano Jam Sessions Join our Piano Jam Sessions for a dynamic and enjoyable class designed to enhance your piano skills! Whether you want to improve your technique, music theory, or ensemble playing, this class covers it all. What to Expect: - In-depth piano technique and solo repertoire pieces - Multi-level piano ensemble pieces for collaborative playing - Music theory lessons to deepen your understanding - Reading skills and coordination exercises to boost your performance - Use of Piano Marvel software alongside printed scores Who Can Join: Open to students from SASR 250 and above who want to develop their skills in a supportive and fun environment. Come be part of a creative, interactive class that will inspire and challenge you!
Music meets the magic of cinema at our Movies @ Musicfest series! This year, we’re bringing you an inspiring lineup of music documentaries—exploring iconic artists, unforgettable performances, and the stories behind the soundtrack of our lives. Grab some popcorn and a soda, settle in for the film, and stick around afterward for a lively discussion with fellow music lovers! Featuring rare interviews with his family and colleagues, never-before-seen footage, and state of the art Dolby Atmos sound, this look at a remarkable man and musical giant is directed by Academy Award(R)-winner Ron Howard.
Join us this summer for a special series on songs with Josh Condon, AZMF’s Resident Artist. Each session weaves together music history, thoughtful analysis, active listening, and engaging discussion—all designed to deepen your appreciation and enjoyment of great music. Come for the songs, stay for the coffee, conversation, and community, and rediscover some of the greatest music ever written! What began as a plea becomes, in its most famous form, a declaration. This song pulses with energy, attitude, and purpose, driven by its infectious rhythm and commanding vocal presence. We’ll look at how musical elements like groove, call-and-response, and emphasis transform the song’s message—and how performance can redefine meaning.
Music meets the magic of cinema at our Movies @ Musicfest series! This year, we’re bringing you an inspiring lineup of music documentaries—exploring iconic artists, unforgettable performances, and the stories behind the soundtrack of our lives. Grab some popcorn and a soda, settle in for the film, and stick around afterward for a lively discussion with fellow music lovers! Featuring cinema's most celebrated names in film music, SCORE: A FILM MUSIC DOCUMENTARY offers a candid look into how composers developed, and continue to develop, some of the most iconic scores in history.
Join us this summer for a special series on songs with Josh Condon, AZMF’s Resident Artist. Each session weaves together music history, thoughtful analysis, active listening, and engaging discussion—all designed to deepen your appreciation and enjoyment of great music. Come for the songs, stay for the coffee, conversation, and community, and rediscover some of the greatest music ever written! A poetic meditation on perception and experience, this song invites listeners to reconsider what they think they know. Its melody drifts with a reflective quality, mirroring the uncertainty and wisdom in the lyrics. In this session, we’ll explore how musical simplicity supports lyrical depth, and how reinterpretation over time can reveal new emotional layers.
Music meets the magic of cinema at our Movies @ Musicfest series! This year, we’re bringing you an inspiring lineup of music documentaries—exploring iconic artists, unforgettable performances, and the stories behind the soundtrack of our lives. Grab some popcorn and a soda, settle in for the film, and stick around afterward for a lively discussion with fellow music lovers! The award winning crowd pleaser that pays tribute to the inspirational true stories of the backup singers who shaped some of the most iconic songs of our time. Featuring Springsteen, Jagger, Sting, Bette Midler, Stevie Wonder and more.
Join us this summer for a special series on songs with Josh Condon, AZMF’s Resident Artist. Each session weaves together music history, thoughtful analysis, active listening, and engaging discussion—all designed to deepen your appreciation and enjoyment of great music. Come for the songs, stay for the coffee, conversation, and community, and rediscover some of the greatest music ever written! Smooth on the surface yet deeply urgent beneath, this song blends soulful textures with a powerful social message. Its flowing arrangement and layered vocals create a sense of conversation—both intimate and expansive. We’ll examine how groove, orchestration, and vocal delivery work together to communicate empathy, concern, and a call for understanding.