The Des Moines Symphony Academy’s group lessons for young beginners provide aspiring musicians with the knowledge and skills for a lifelong appreciation of music.

The Des Moines Symphony Academy offers tuition assistance in the form of need-based scholarships to any student with no discrimination towards a student’s color, national origin, sex, age, religion or disability. The purpose of the Symphony Academy’s scholarship program is to ensure that family finances do not prevent any student from participating in private lessons, classes, or ensembles at the Symphony Academy. Click here to apply for a Symphony Academy Scholarship.

The Des Moines Symphony Academy offers tuition assistance in the form of needs-based scholarships to any student with no discrimination towards a student’s color, national origin, sex, age, religion or disability. The purpose of the Symphony Academy’s scholarship program is to ensure that family finances do not prevent any student from participating in private lessons, classes, or ensembles at the Symphony Academy.  

Apply for a Symphony Academy Scholarship
Scholarship Application Deadlines
Fall Semester: Sep 15, 2026
Winter/Spring Semester: Jan 15, 2027
Students enrolling mid-semester will have two weeks from registration date to submit a scholarship application

Scholarship Application Form

Scholarship Application Form (Spanish)

Scholarship Application Form (Vietnamese)

Scholarship Application Form (Myanmar Burmese)

Group Lessons

  • Beginning Strings Program
    Beginning Strings Program Age: 4-7 years old Dates: Sep 15 through Dec 12, 2026 Location: The Temple for Performing Arts

    The Des Moines Symphony Academy’s Beginning Strings Program provides young, aspiring musicians with their first instructional experience on violin. Beginning Strings classes are offered for musicians  4-7 years of age.

    Classes are offered in three semesters yearly—Fall, Winter/Spring and Summer. Students may join at the start of any semester. Each semester consists of weekly 45-minute classes culminating in a large group class taking place during the final week, which will provide students with ensemble experience early on in the learning process. 

    The Symphony Academy’s Beginning Strings Program is designed for students to begin instruction at age four or five and continue until they are prepared to begin private lessons at the Symphony Academy and participate in the Symphony Academy Youth Orchestras program. Through participation in the Beginning Strings Program, students will gain all of the skills necessary to move forward with productive weekly private lessons and to be fully participatory members of the Des Moines Symphony Youth Orchestras.

    All BSP classes take place at The Temple for Performing Arts. 

    Violin Classes with Aleksandra Nagorna (8 week semester)
    Mondays at 4:45pm, 5:30pm and 6:15pm
    Wednesdays at 2:00pm, 4:45pm, 5:30pm and 6:15pm
    Tuition: $208
    NOTE: Due to planned Instructor travel, Aleksandra’s fall semester will consist of (8) classes.  There will be no class on Sep 28, 30; Oct 19, 21; Nov 30; Dec 2 and 9.

    Mixed Violin or Cello Class with Emily Airhart (12 week semester)
    Saturdays at 9:30am
    Tuition: $312

    Violin Class with Emily Airhart (12 week semester)
    Saturdays at 10:15am
    Tuition: $312 

    Use the link below to register for a Beginning Strings Program class. We ask that you please include a 1st and 2nd Class Preference in the field marked: Preferred Class Times

    Register for Beginning Strings Program

Read the Des Moines Symphony Academy’s Tuition, Attendance and Student Safety Policy.