Music Academy Online, http://www.musicacademyonline.com, is a real world entity. Our goal is to stimulate interest in Western art music. Our approach is interdisciplinary.

Since January 2007, Music Academy Online has been involved in the virtual world of Second Life and has been developing a “Classical Music Disney World.” Our island, Utwig, includes areas dedicated to each of the time periods of music history, including Rosslyn Chapel for the Medieval Period and Lizzy Borden’s house for the Romantic Period. We do have attractions, including an ‘immersive environment’ cave, “From Monkey to Mannheim,” that presents an overview of early hominids and the first evidence of music making. One of our latest builds is the Philips Pavillion from the 1958 World’s Expo in Brussels, the setting for Edgard Varese’s Poem Electronique, and a 19th Century Literature Garden.

In May we held a festival, “Exploring Mahler,” that was sponsored in part by Telarc International. Gustav Mahler and his music is an academic interest of mine and so it seemed logical. The response was incredible as many of the 900+ attendees gained renewed interest in the man and his music while others found a kindred spirit in a composer whose music had been unknown to them prior to our festival’s events. 

In August, Music Academy Online held its 2nd Annual Festival in Two Worlds.  This 9-day event included lecturers, performers, composers, and artists from around the world, coming together to celebrate our ability to come together in the unique Second Life environment. This year’s theme was “Virtuality” and our featured guest was award winning composer Amin Bhatia.

We just wrapped up a Toys for Tots Benefit Music Festival that saw SLers donate more than $900,000L for the children of New Orleans.

Along with classes, recitals, lectures, and live performances, we also host a weekly live show in conjunction with SLCN that features personalities from the world of concert music, “Music Academy OnLIVE.” http://www.slcn.tv/programs/music-academy

Our sim is Utwig. Utwig (94, 116, 24)