Learn about our story, mission, and commitment to excellence in music education.
Founded in 2025, Aurelianus Varro University emerged as a bold response to the growing perception that classical music had become an art form reserved only for the elite. Rather than retreat from tradition, AVU was established on the conviction that the great musical heritage of the past belongs to everyone—and thrives best when shared, questioned, expanded, and performed with fearless imagination.
AVU stands at the intersection of centuries of artistic tradition and the rapidly evolving cultural landscape of the 21st century. Our mission is both timeless and forward‑thinking: to cultivate musicians who can honor the past with intellectual rigor while shaping the future through innovative thinking, inclusive artistic vision, and a commitment to widening access to classical performance and scholarship.
From day one, our founders sought to build an institution that combined the intimacy of a conservatory with the expansive curiosity of a research university. Though young in years, AVU carries an academic ethos that rivals institutions many decades older—rooted in mentorship, exploration, and a relentless pursuit of artistic truth.
At AVU, excellence is not measured merely by technical perfection, but by the ability to bring music to life with integrity, insight, and curiosity. While young, the university has already developed a reputation for fostering the next generation of performers, scholars, and creators— individuals who are unafraid to ask difficult questions about tradition, authenticity, and the role of music in society.
Our faculty includes artists and thinkers with decades of experience performing, teaching, conducting, composing, and publishing. Their work forms the backbone of AVU’s identity: rigorous, compassionate, intellectually adventurous, and grounded in a belief that classical music grows stronger when new voices are invited to participate.
In just a short time, AVU has become known for its collaborative ethos, high academic standards, and flourishing artistic environment. What began as a vision has already become a vibrant center for performance, research, and cultural renewal across the West Coast.