Frequently asked questions FAQ

  • A Cappella Academy is a 10-day summer intensive for vocalists ages 12–18, founded by the musical minds behind Pentatonix and Pitch Perfect.

    Each summer, students gather in Southern California from around the world to develop their artistry across performance, arranging, music direction, songwriting, engineering, and production, guided by top industry professionals.

    Academy boasts a community of 500+ alumni from 28 countries, many of whom have gone on to perform professionally and build careers across the music industry.

  • To be eligible, you must be ages 12-18 by July 1, 2027. If you are graduating from high school (or equivalent) in the spring, you are eligible to apply. However, individuals who have attended college (university) are not eligible. We welcome international applicants and have had participants from 25+ countries around the world! If you have any questions about eligibility, please feel free to reach us via our contact page.

  • Definitely not! It doesn’t hurt of course, but as long as you are able to learn harmonies by ear, we encourage you to audition! We accept singers of all backgrounds and experience levels.

  • Yes and yes!

  • Your day will be filled with rehearsals, workshops, and performance opportunities. You’ll also have time for social activities and bonding with your fellow students. Each day is designed to help you grow musically and creatively. Check out our Curriculum page for an overview of a day in the life at Academy!

  • A Cappella Academy is our 10-day summer intensive for students from around the world.

    Academy Choir: LA (ACLA) is our year-round weekly a cappella ensemble for students local to the Los Angeles area. Students can join for the fall, spring, or both!

About A Cappella Academy

  • Full tuition is $2,950 which includes dorm room lodging and all meals for the duration of the program.

  • If you’re at all on the fence about auditioning for financial or logistical reasons, please audition! If you are accepted, we have an ample SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM to help you, and auditioning does not mean you are committing to attend, as we know plans and circumstances can change. We have been known to move mountains and do everything we can to ensure that our admitted campers are able to attend, regardless of financial circumstances.

  • The entire scholarship process happens after you have already been accepted, so don’t worry about that just yet. Everyone who needs it will get some amount of financial assistance from our fundraising efforts and generous donors. For more information, please see our Scholarship Fund page.

Cost & Financial Aid

  • Early Decision is our first admissions round. Students who apply Early Decision will either be Accepted or Deferred. Those Deferred will automatically be re-considered with our regular application pool. Early Decision is new this year, we are hoping it will allow students who are admitted early to finalize their summer plans sooner.

  • No. Applying Early Decision does not require you to attend A Cappella Academy if you are accepted. 

  • It means you are still being considered for A Cappella Academy! Your application will automatically move into our regular applicant pool, where you will be considered alongside the rest of applicants. You do not need to submit a new application.

  • Yes, however you will be required to resubmit and pay the application fee.

  • We will continue accepting applications after our February 1 deadline based on availability. 

    Late Applications will be reviewed as space allows and may also be considered for waitlist opportunities. 

  • We understand that plans can change! If you are no longer able to attend Academy for any reason, please let us know as soon as possible. Your acceptance materials will include important enrollment and deposit deadlines, including applicable withdrawal and refund policies.

Application & Admissions

  • Students will live in student dorms at our host campus Pitzer College. Past campuses have included Scripps College and Mount St. Mary’s University.

  • Students stay in dorms with communal bathrooms and share rooms with peers within 1-2 years of their age. Floors are grouped by gender identity, with at least two staff members on each floor. Our staff members also check in with all students in the morning and at curfew.

  • We provide three meals a day in the campus cafeteria, as well as catered meals, with a variety of options to cater to dietary preferences and restrictions, including vegetarian, vegan, nut-free, and gluten-free meals.

  • Yes, we have a trained nurse (RN) available for any health concerns or emergencies. We also ensure that all students' medical needs, including allergies and medication schedules, are managed carefully throughout our program.

  • The safety of our students is our top priority. Our staff is CPR-certified and trained to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies. We also coordinate with our host campus’ Public Safety team to support student safety throughout our program.

Life at Academy

  • We would like to expand eventually, but currently we only operate in the greater Los Angeles area.

  • Please subscribe to our mailing list (scroll down to the footer subscribe), and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube! @acappellacademy

  • If something wasn’t covered here, feel free to reach us via our contact page and we’ll be happy to help!

Other Questions