The AB Academy of Music is envisioned as a place where bright and talented young people come together to play, learn, listen, and exchange ideas—united by a love of music and a shared ambition to become the best musicians they can be and to continually push the boundaries of their art.

Being part of the Academy will mean more than attending a lesson or a masterclass, important though both are. At its heart, the Academy will be a community of gifted young musicians, mentors, and distinguished guests, brought together by curiosity, dedication, and a shared passion for artistic discovery.

We believe that music does not exist in isolation. It is part of a larger world of art and ideas. Our students will therefore be encouraged to deepen their understanding of different musical styles and the individual languages of great composers, while exploring the connections between music and painting, architecture, literature, poetry, philosophy, dance, and film. Through these connections, we hope to develop not only better musicians, but more thoughtful and complete artists.

We will ask fundamental questions about the music we play: What does it mean? What does it say to us? What do we want to say through it? Students will be encouraged to develop their own artistic ideas and then discover the most effective and compelling technical means to express them.

The Academy will create opportunities for students to listen to one another, play together, exchange ideas, and learn from each other, guided by experienced faculty and inspired by distinguished guest musicians. We want every gathering to become an opportunity for discovery—for a new idea, a new sound, a new perspective, or perhaps a new friendship.

Above all, I hope to pass on to a new generation something of what I was fortunate enough to inherit from my own great teachers: a love of music, a commitment to excellence, and the knowledge, principles, and aesthetic values that make music not simply an accomplishment, but a lifelong pursuit.

Alexander Braginsky, Founder and Artistic Advisor