Redmond resident Audrey Chen has been selected as one of 56 students to participate in this summer’s National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) National Trustees’ Summer Music Institute (SMI) 2012.

Chen, 15, attends Interlake High School in Bellevue and is one of two students from Washington to be selected for the program, which includes intensive coaching lessons with NSO musicians and performance opportunities.

Students will be coming from 32 states and Costa Rica and meeting in Washington, D.C. from July 2-30. A total of 246 students from 42 states, Washington. D.C., Australia, Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica applied. The institute runs for four weeks, during which participants will perform eight Kennedy Center concerts that are free and open to the public.

The Institute provides the students with training and experiences designed to aid aspiring musicians for futures in music and includes:

• Intensive coaching by members of the National Symphony.
• Private lessons.
• Rehearsals as an orchestra and as chamber ensembles (SMI participants constitute 20 ensembles this summer).
• Two side-by-side rehearsals with members of the NSO.
• Classes in conducting and Dalcroze Eurythmics.
• Master classes with NSO musicians.
• Seminars on public speaking, practicing, cadenza writing, and ensemble skills.
• A concerto competition, with the winner featured as soloist in the concert on July 29.
• The opportunity to perform at the Kennedy Center on the Millennium Stage and in the Concert Hall.

In addition to SMI participants, there will be additional musicians from the Washington D.C. area participating as needed in the SMI Orchestra rehearsals and concerts and in chamber ensembles.For more information, visit nationalsymphony.org.