Exceptional Standards
Supportive and Positive Environment
Numerous Performance Venues
World-Class Teachers and Performers
provides a supportive and positive environment where students of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels are offered a diverse array of performance and learning opportunities to achieve exceptional results under the guidance of world-class teachers and performers.
The Music School was established by Vera Holczer, a Hungarian pianist who came to the US after finishing her degree at the Budapest Bartok High School Conservatory. UCLA took her to California at the age of 19, and CIM to Cleveland four years later. During the six years of professional training Ms. Vera acquired tremendous teaching and performing experience. When she moved the Chagrin Valley area, Ms. Vera taught her students out of her living room. Her home-based piano studio quickly reached 100 students per week. She knew something more needed to be done for the sake of music education. To her, teaching music requires the right standards with the right approach flavored with passion.
Ms. Vera feels very privileged she is able to find and choose instructors and staff who have the same belief and passion. On November 8th, 2003 Ms. Vera opened the Aurora School of Music, fulfilling her dream of sharing her love for music to many more students. Today the Aurora School of Music is providing music education for nearly 600 students while striving to continuously grow the depth and width of her music program that gained respect and recognition throughout the region.
For a more intimate view on Ms. Vera's vision and principles, please read the Aurora Advocate's article " School of Music Marks Five Years" (click here)
Our current instructors are meticulously selected based on their education, their mastery of performance, and their passion for and specific method of teaching in Classical, Jazz or Rock.
Our Faculty's educational background in either Classical or Jazz is diverse and include:
The Cleveland Institute of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory, University of Akron, Kent State University, Manhattan School of Music, Eastman School of Music, Carnegie Mellon, Urbana-Champaign IL, Boston University, Northwestern University, UCLA, as well as international institutions such as St. Petersburg Conservatory in Russia, Koninklijk Vlaams Conservatorium in Belgium, and the Conservatoire National de Boulogne-Billancourt in France.
We believe that musicians who dedicate their lives to mastering their instrument will possess the long-term assessment skills in their methods of teaching.
Consequently, many Aurora School of Music students are accepted to Jazz and Classical Music programs in prestigious conservatories and universities, some of them even with full-scholarships. ASM was also able to prepare many young students for successful auditions to highly selective ensembles such as the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, The Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony, or the Akron Youth Symphony. In addition, ASM students have consistently achieved outstanding results at both local and regional competitions and at the local schools' Jazz bands, marching bands, orchestras and special ensembles.
We believe that effective teachers need a highly positive and nurturing communication that supports a tight working relationship with the parents and families. Our teachers are in touch with the "practicing home team," enhancing significantly and immediately the progress of our students.
Every faculty and staff member at the Aurora School of Music is fully CPR-certified.
The Aurora School of Music regularly invites internationally acclaimed artists to spend a day and evaluate a few students selected by their teachers. These guests have included Martha Aarons, Phillip Thomson, Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Alexander Ghindin, Sergei Babayan (pictured below), The Cavani String Quartet, Kenny Werner (Jazz), and Leo Blanco (Jazz).
These students have a rare opportunity to perform before world-renowned artists and receive detailed and personal feedback. Both students and teachers work very hard to prepare for this event. Based on performance, some students will be chosen and have the honor to receive private instruction during a public master class. These special events inspire our students for a lifetime and shape their outlook on musical studies forever. We are also proud to say that the feedback from these artists about our school's teaching methods and achievements has been exceptional.
Our students have the opportunity to participate in several performance venues, starting with four recitals per year.
All Recitals, Rock and Jazz Concerts are upbeat, energetic and encouraging. Participation is not mandatory, but strongly recommended as a means to get the most out of your musical instrument studies.
Our Classical music students perform at Aurora's Barrington Golf and Country Club. The environment is perfect for concerts, excellent acoustics, and friendly to families. Because of their popularity, 12 recitals are held during the weekend. All solo performers are accompanied by piano, and specific times are reserved for all chamber groups and ensembles. Students must be approved at a Studio Class prior to performing at the recital. (See Studio Class below)
The rock/pop music students participate in Rock concerts. These concerts take place either at the Aurora Community Theatre, the Aurora High School Auditorium, or the Walden Country Club. Most of the Rock students will perform as a band with our world-class faculty who will accompany them, exposing them to professional real-life stage performance.
Jazz Concerts are offered for those participating in the weekly Jazz Combo classes. At the end of each semester the Jazz Ensembles give a delightful concert along with refreshments at the Aurora School of Music. Our Jazz ensembles are regularly invited to perform at special events. (See special events)
Our classical music students participate in Studio Classes that are offered by their teacher before every recital. Students who are scheduled to perform at a recital are required to attend at least one Studio Class before the recital. However, anyone can participate in a Studio Class, even if he or she is not scheduled in recitals. The Aurora School of music offers approximately 20 studio times 1-2 week prior to Recital Weekend. All teachers offer 30-45 min of their time where their students play for each other, practice recital procedures and try out their prepared pieces in front of an audience. A Studio Class is a great opportunity for students to receive friendly and personalized feedback and assess their readiness for the recital.
Group classes are offered weekly, and students at early intermediate level can enjoy playing with their peers. Playing in a group has proven to be very efficient at keeping interest and enthusiasm high for students, their families, and the teachers. All group classes except ensembles with specific members (such as quartet, trio quintet, etc.) are subsidized by the school.
We offer two groups of advanced and intermediate String Ensembles for violins, violas, cellos and bass on a weekly basis. The program has 15-20 members and is ready to welcome new members at any time. The string ensemble is one of the most anticipated performance groups at concerts and special events.
Our Clarinet Groups are popular and are also offered in two separate levels: intermediate and advanced. The Clarinet ensembles are featured at every recital, special event, and occasionally perform live on Cleveland's classical radio station WCLV, 104.9 FM.
Flute Choir is similarly popular and offered on a weekly bases in two distinct level as well. Flute choir is presented at every recital and special events.
String Quartets, Piano Quartets, Piano Trios, Cello Quartets, and any other special ensembles are coordinated based on playing ability. All chamber music ensembles perform at the recitals and special events. String quartets have also been invited to perform live on WCLV 104.9 FM.
Jazz Combo is a special ensemble combination where each instrument has its function developed by the specific styles within the musical genre of Jazz. Only advanced students with a basic knowledge of the fundamentals of theory and may participate in the Jazz Combo. A basic course of Jazz Improvisation Classes is also a prerequisite. All Jazz ensemble combinations are featured at the end of semester concerts.
Rock Band ensembles are formed based on common musical style interest, age, and playing ability. Rock bands are featured in all of our Rock concert venues.
The Aurora School of Music is offering theory and ear-training classes where students are grouped based on the category of their primary instrument. We offer piano-theory, string -theory, woodwind-theory, brass-theory, and guitar/bass-theory. All classes are subsidized by the school and enrollment is based on the private teacher's recommendation.