Hidden Valley Music Seminars was born in 1963 out of a deep concern for the development of extraordinarily talented young artists. Programs were offered to high schools as Summer Seminars in music, theatre, opera and dance. They outgrew their original location in Southern California and in 1967 moved to the Monterey Peninsula. For five years, they presented their summer seminars on the campuses of the Robert Louis Stevenson School and York School. In 1972 the Trustees found the perfect permanent home for Hidden Valley in its present location 12 miles east of the ocean, nestled in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range near the Carmel Valley Village. This rustic eight-acre campus includes Wright Hall (a residence hall and dining center), rehearsal gazebos, a dance studio and the 300 seat Hidden Valley Theatre.
Founder and General Director, Peter T. Meckel, notes, “As members of a wonderful local community and an international musical family, we treasure our connections to friends and supporters. We pledge our unwavering dedication to quality and substance in all aspects of our work.”
Educational Programs:
This institution’s year round focus is primarily on music education. The curriculum includes master classes, workshops, camps, and music education opportunities through long-term collaborations with other organizations. The Master Class concept has always been a part of the project and through the years, students from around the world have benefitted from the teaching of some of the great musicians of our time. The Dance Center was initiated in 1973 and, through enthusiastic community support, became one of the most popular of Hidden Valley’s programs.
Opera & Concert Events:
Hidden Valley began exploring the theatre field with a children’s theatre group and followed by a series of musicals (1972 and 1973). These explorations, coupled with the plan to develop into a year-round Institute of the Arts, eventually led to the establishment of the Hidden Valley Opera Ensemble in 1974. The opera program grew rapidly, becoming one of the most respected training ensembles in the country along with the summer Masters’ Festival Concert Series which features the master class teachers.
Road Scholars:
In 1983 Hidden Valley joined the educational centers worldwide which were offering Elderhostel, now called Road Scholar programs. Within four years Hidden Valley became one of the 75 super sites in America. Hidden Valley draws on deep community connections and its vast network of musicians and specialists to provide unique educational programs highlighting musical events, performance opportunities, and local cultural and natural history treasures.
private events available
HIDDEN VALLEY MUSIC SEMINARS
104 West Carmel Valley Road
Carmel Valley, CA 93924
ph 831.659.3115
