Music Academy of the West

About Music Academy of the West

The Music Academy of the West was founded in 1947 by a group of visionary Southern California arts patrons and musicians, including the legendary soprano Lotte Lehmann and the famed conductor Otto Klemperer. Initially serving 54 young artists, the Academy’s first four summer sessions took place at Cate School in Carpinteria. To this day, Cate remains an integral part of the Music Academy, housing Fellows and the Academy’s Voice Program.