Summer is a time for young musicians to focus exclusively on honing their craft, and CMPI Fellows willingly embrace this fun and exciting time. This year, CMPI is sending fellows to 13 major programs all over the United States.
CMPI provides financial assistance to high school sophomores and juniors to attend summer music programs that are at least four weeks long. While these high schoolers are required to attend a program, many younger students also participate in the same programs.
Find out about some of these programs in the information below.
A relative newcomer to the festival circuit, Ascent is a three-week festival for advanced string players and pianists held at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. The program focuses on lessons, chamber music, and practicing, and boasts a faculty of well-known teachers. The environment is small and includes seminars to develop the full musician. An audition is required for all students.
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp is a traditional camp complete with cabins in the beautiful woods of Michigan’s Manistee National Forest. It includes programs for students in grades 5-12, as well as a Suzuki Family Camp and an International Exchange Group. There are programs for all orchestral instruments, as well as art, writing, dance, and theater. This year, the international tour includes several weeks performing in France and Germany. This is a non-competitive camp focusing on orchestra, though advanced programs and scholarships are available for students who qualify and submit an audition.
Brevard, in scenic North Carolina, is home to the Brevard Music Center, an institute and festival for high school and college students. With separate programs for high school and college students, there is plenty of opportunity for mentorship and learning from older students and faculty. The focus of the six-week program is orchestral studies, but solo and chamber music opportunities are also available. This is a competitive program with a required audition.
Center Stage Strings, part of the MPULSE summer camps at the University of Michigan, is a summer program for exceptional violinists, violists, and cellists ages 12-24. The program focuses on chamber music, lessons, and individual practicing in a small, nurturing environment. Founded by a past Sphinx competition winner, the program is known to be especially welcoming to students and faculty of diverse backgrounds, including numerous past and present Sphinx winners and finalists.
For students looking for a program closer to home, Fulton Summer Music Academy is a four-week program held in Chicago for pre-college and pre-professional string students. The curriculum includes practicing, lessons, chamber music, lectures, masterclasses, choir, and string orchestra. An application and interview are required for admission. While many students commute, this year students may stay on campus at DePaul University if desired.
Taking place at Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, Virginia, Heifetz Institute is a highly competitive program for violinists, violists, and cellists. The program focuses on chamber music, lessons, practicing, and communication training. While most students under age 15 attend the junior program for three weeks, high school and college students attend a six-week senior program. The program boasts an exceptional faculty and frequent concerts.
Interlochen Center for the Arts
One of the largest programs in the country, Interlochen hosts a variety of music programs, along with programs in writing, dance, film, theatre, and visual arts in a traditional camp environment. Music programs are designed for students in grades 3-12, with a primary focus on orchestra, though instrument intensives and chamber music programs are available. Programs last one to six weeks. Held in a rustic environment in Michigan, admission is non-competitive for younger students, but competitive for older students, especially those in grades 10-12.
Kinhaven, in Weston, Vermont, is a chamber music program for all instruments. Programs include a two-week junior session for middle school students and a six-week senior session for high school students. The curriculum focuses primarily on chamber music, but also includes large ensembles, orchestra, lessons, and practicing. While admission requires an audition and is competitive, the program itself is known to be nurturing and non-competitive.
In a picturesque location in Lake Luzerne, NY, Luzerne Music Center is a moderately competitive program for students of all orchestral instruments. A four-week senior session for high school students complements a two-week junior session for middle school students. Students participate in chamber music, orchestra, lessons, and music theory. An audition is required.
New England Music Camp is held in Maine and features several programs, including a Core orchestral program for students 11-18, intensives, and a non-competitive junior program for string students in grades 4-9. While the program focuses on large ensembles, additional courses, chamber music, and lessons are also available. An audition is required.
National Youth Orchestra and National Youth Orchestra 2 (NYO and NYO2)
NYO and NYO2 make up two of the three national ensembles (the third being a jazz ensemble), based out of Carnegie Hall in New York City. NYO is for older students of all orchestral instruments, ages 16-19, while NYO2 is for ages 14-17. The focus of both programs is orchestral training, including performances with esteemed conductors and soloists. NYO begins with a residency at Purchase College followed by a national or international tour. NYO2 traditionally is just held at Purchase College; however, this year they will briefly tour for the first time. The selection process is very competitive and includes both audition and essay/video requirements.
Held on a university campus in Tennessee, Sewanee Music Festival is a month-long orchestral program for pre-college and college-age students of all orchestral instruments. The program focuses on its two orchestras, while also offering chamber music and sectionals. Since a large percentage of students are in college, pre-college students have many options for mentoring. Acceptance is competitive and based on audition.
Designed specifically for Black and Latino students, Sphinx Performance Academy is a small, tuition-free program for string players held at multiple sites. This year, two-week sessions are being held at the Juilliard School, Cleveland Institute of Music, and the University of Colorado Boulder. Intended for students 11-17, the program is moderately competitive and requires an audition. The curriculum includes lessons, practicing, masterclasses, chamber music, and other classes.
Images
Map of fellows