LYCEUM MUSIC FESTIVAL
July 14-19, 2025
at American Heritage School
We are beyond excited to announce that the 2025 LMF guest artist will be the internationally renowned French horn virtuoso, James Thatcher! For decades, James Thatcher has been a principal horn in Hollywood’s leading movie studios, and holds the enviable position of being the favored first horn for multiple-Oscar-winning composer John Williams.
A recipient of the prestigious Most Valuable Player Award from the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences, James Thatcher is arguably the most often heard horn player in the world, performing on 70 to 80 films per year for the last 20 years. As of 2020, he had participated in 291 movies nominated for Academy Awards—the most of any musician in history! His horn playing can be heard on countless movie soundtracks including Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Schindler’s List, Home Alone, The Last Airbender, X-Men, Spider-Man 3, Ice Age, Polar Express, Toy Story, Cars, Forrest Gump, Titanic, Pearl Harbor, National Treasure, Transformers, Night at the Museum, Star Trek, and many more!
Mr. Thatcher began his professional career at just 16 years old, studying and performing in Mexico City with his uncle, Gerald Thatcher, former principal hornist with the National Symphony of Mexico. In addition to his prolific studio career, Mr. Thatcher has been a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Utah Symphony, Pacific Symphony and Phoenix Symphony.
“I treasure the many years of our collaboration. Through those years, you consistently brought color, imagination, and life to every note that I’ve been privileged to ask you to play. Musically and artistically, I will always be in your debt.”
— John Williams
This July, LMF musicians will have the unique opportunity of learning from someone who has literally shaped the sound of modern cinema. During the Festival week, Mr. Thatcher will perform a stunning mix of iconic movie soundtracks and beloved classical works with all LMF orchestras – including our newest ensemble, the Festival Band! Register today to secure your place in another unforgettable summer at the Lyceum Music Festival!
Click HERE to enjoy a selection of James Thatcher’s movie music.
The Festival is located at American Heritage School in American Fork, Utah, with the beautiful Mount Timpanogos as its backdrop. LMF offers musicians ages 8 to 21 the rare opportunity to work with and perform alongside top industry professionals.
Students come from across the country to participate in this one-of-a-kind Festival. With the Festival’s Host Family Option, it has never been easier for musicians from across the globe to make music with our world-class faculty and guest artists. The intense musical schedule is supplemented with fun activities and recreation to help students build lasting friendships with other musically minded youth. See the Schedule for full details.
We enforce a healthy honor code at the Festival that prohibits smoking, alcohol, drugs and public displays of affection. LMF requires modest dress, clean language, and strives to create an environment that is family-friendly and allows students to openly practice their religious beliefs. See more in Supervision & Standards page and find out more about our sponsoring organization American Heritage School.
Registration for the 2025 Lyceum Music Festival is now open! Visit our Admission page for audition and registration details.
YOU MAY ALREADY BE ELIGIBLE TO ENROLL!
- Registration for the 2025 Festival now open!
- Returning students of LMF ages 8-21 may proceed to Online Registration. Those wishing to advance to a higher ensemble may submit an audition through the admission form. Welcome back!
- If you are a member of the Lyceum Orchestras Program at American Heritage School, login to your online Harmony account and click the “Register LMF 2025” button.
- Current members of Prelude, Crescendo and Debut will be placed in LMF’s Camerata orchestra.
- Current members of Chamber Orchestra, Symphonic Strings and Intermezzo will be placed in LMF’s Sinfonia orchestra.
- Current members of Concert Orchestra, Philharmonic and Symphony will be placed in LMF’s Festival Orchestra.
- Current members of Symphonic Winds will be placed in LMF’s Festival Band.
- If you participated in your state’s top All-State Orchestra, forward your proof of participation (concert program) via email to LyceumMusicFestival@gmail.com.
- If you received an invitation letter or email, proceed to Online Registration.
- Participants must be 8-21 years of age as of July 14, 2025.
ADMISSION VIA AUDITION – for new applicants
- Auditions for the 2025 Festival now open!
- Record your audition and load it to YouTube or Google Drive. Enter the link into the appropriate question in your admission form.
- In cases of technical difficulty, email your audition link to the Festival Manager at LyceumMusicFestival@gmail.com
- Auditions should include your choice of scale and a three-minute solo. The scale should highlight your mastery of range and tone. Please play the maximum number of octaves you can play with good tone. The three-minute solo or solo excerpt should demonstrate your strengths as a player, memorization preferred, accompaniment is optional. Percussionists must show proficiency on timpani and mallet instruments.
2025 INSTRUMENT AVAILABILITY
This is a symphonic orchestra festival. We have very limited openings for certain instruments and seats are filled on a first come, first served basis. Please check below to see if there are still slots open in your instrument for 2025 prior to enrolling. Seats are available unless otherwise indicated below:
Festival Orchestra
- 3 Flutes- 1 opening left
- 1 Piccolo- FULL
- 2 Oboes- 1 opening left
- 4 Clarinets- 1 opening left
- 1 Bass Clarinet- 1 opening left
- 2 Bassoons- 1 opening left
- 5 Horns- 1 opening left
- 3 Trumpets
- 2 Trombones- 1 opening left
- 1 Bass Trombone- 1 opening left
- Tuba- 1 opening left
- 5 Percussion
- 36 Violins
- 12 Violas
- 14 Cellos
- 3 Basses- 1 opening left
Festival Band
- 5 Flutes
- 3 Oboes
- 6 Clarinets
- 3 Bassoons
- 5 Saxophones (2 Alto, 2 Tenor, 1 Baritone)
- 6 Horns
- 6 Trumpets
- 4 Trombones (3 Tenor, 1 Bass)
- 1 Baritone/Euphonium
- 2 Tubas
- 5 Percussion
Sinfonia
- 28 Violins
- 10 Violas
- 12 Cellos- 2 openings left
- 4 Basses- 1 opening left
Camerata
- 24 Violins
- 8 Violas
- 12 Cellos
- 3 Basses
Tuition $479 / $349 / $349 /$299
Tuition includes all Festival activities, lunch Monday through Friday, and transportation to certain off-site activities. Festival Orchestra tuition is $479 and includes a 6-day, full symphony experience with additional rehearsal time, chamber music coaching, recreational activities and a performance in the historic Tabernacle on Temple Square. Festival Band and Sinfonia tuition is $349 and includes a 5-day, 9am – 5pm schedule featuring ensemble rehearsals, instrument sectionals, activities, crafts and collaboration with guest artists. Camerata tuition is $299 and includes a 5-day, 9am – 2pm schedule featuring all Sinfonia activities, but on an abbreviated schedule for younger musicians. Participants may elect to pay the total amount in full at registration or leave a $100 non-refundable deposit to save their seat in the Festival. All payments due are charged to the account on file May 31st. In the event LMF 2025 is cancelled or postponed due to health and safety concerns, all patrons will receive a full refund. To register, visit our Online Registration.
Host Family Discount $150 credit per family
Families wishing to host out-of-state students for the week will receive a $150 credit to their account for providing other students lodging, breakfast, and dinner each day, and transportation to and from the Festival each day as well as to and from the airport.
The Host Family Discount option can be added to your account prior to May 31st by emailing us.
Registration
Registration for the 2025 Lyceum Music Festival opens on January 20, 2025.
Registration closes on June 1, 2025, or when an instrument section is filled. Please register via our Online Registration page. All new students must be officially accepted either by audition or invitation prior to registering. Once an instrument section is full, additional applicants may be put on alternate status. See the “Instrument Availability” section for individual instrument availability.