Starting Summer 2025 thread for Music Festivals and Camps: from middle school to grad school - what do your musicians plan to do next summer? How is application process going? My D23 will be applying to summer festivals, and jobs within summer music programs.
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@RussianMom thanks for starting this thread. My 9th grade cellist is working on audition vids for summer programs - aiming for Heifetz or Meadowmount. So painful.
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What kind of jobs within?
Mine is planning on summer festivals but is also applying to potentially transfer so everything is up in the air…
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My S17 is applying to Bowdoin and BUTI. Finally finished recordings & sending out applications this week.
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I have two applying for summer 2025 programs - violin and cello!
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So I learned a ton about HS programs but now we are onto college ones! What programs are there for college students who do not go to conservatories? I know about Brevard but are there others? This is for a wind player who prefers chamber music and orchestra.
Aspen has a lot of people each year but I’m not sure about how many are not music major. I think their application deadline has passed already for summer 2025.
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Anyone have suggestions for high quality Summer music programs in Europe or Canada? DD looked at the Port Milford program, but wondering if anyone had other recommendations.
My child received an early admission decision to attend the high school orchestra at Brevard this summer. She is very excited about Brevard but we are waiting to hear from a few other programs she applied to (e.g., Tanglewood and a few others). Any thoughts on whether we should contact those other programs to check on the decision status since Brevard is asking for an enrollment decision and deposit within next few days.
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It is very common for students to apply to more than 1 summer music festival program. The program staff are very used to this.
Absolutely a good idea to ask the other programs (Tanglewood, et al) when their decision date is projected. It is also ok to ask Brevard for an extension on their deadline.
My son did both Brevard and Tanglewood, by the way. Both were great experiences. Sounds like a fantastic summer ahead.
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I believe Music Academy of the West applications are still open. It’s phenomenal and tuition free.
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Anyone know when decisions go out for specific programs? Last year, for us, Greenwood Jr decision came 2/14. BUTI Tanglewood came 2/21. And Greenwood Sr came 2/28. Heifetz Jr came 3/12.
Hi! I’m hoping for some advice. My 9th grade cellist son (15) wants to do a summer program that’s 3 weeks or less (thus no Heifetz, Meadowmount, Kinhaven, or Greenwood) and has applied to PIMF solo, BUTI workshop, NEC chamber, Ascent, Bowdoin, and Port Milford. Yellow Barn and Center Stage Strings start 2 weeks before the school year ends here, so unfortunately too early. Can anyone recommend any other programs still accepting apps that he could apply to? For an idea of his level he’s been submitting Kabalevsky 1st mvmt and Elgar 2nd mvmt. Thank you!
International Cello Institute is 3 weeks.
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Thank you, we’ll check it out!
Thank you. We received a short extension of time before we pay the deposit for Brevard. Really glad to hear your son had an amazing experience. Our daughter is looking forward to this summer!
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Congrats to your daughter! If it comes down to a deadline and you are trying to decide, you may want to figure out which kind of experience your daughter would enjoy most. My son did both Interlochen and Tanglewood last year, for example, and he absolutely disliked Interlochen but thrived at Tanglewood. He’s very independent and cringed at the uniforms and regimented schedule at Interlochen for example. They are like free range chickens at Tanglewood. He loved the independence despite the horrible living space and food. I have only heard good things about Brevard. Good luck on all your daughter’s other applications!
I remember seeing Brevard instagram lately, maybe yesterday, that Yujia Wang was going to perform there this summer.
Any thoughts on whether a summer music orchestral program such as Tanglewood/Brevard is more useful for a rising junior strings student or a smaller chamber focused program such as Ascent/Green Mountain/Castleman? Our daughter has previously attended Interlochen and other orchestra summer programs but has not attended a more chamber focused intensive program. Thanks in advance.
Good question! I honestly have no idea. I’m not a musician. Based on what I heard from my son, his friends, and the student musicians in my classes, they mainly listened to what their private teachers recommended. My sample size is about a dozen. All but one did orchestra programs starting in middle school. Sometime in their sophomore year some of them started forming or joining quartets and chamber groups. The one exception is a cellist everyone thinks is on his way to be a great soloist. My son was invited to a student quartet in his freshman year, and started summer training in chamber music after freshman (following his private teacher suggestion). Every summer he spent 3-4 weeks in chamber programs and 4-6 weeks in orchestra programs. Apparently the two kinds of trainings benefit him in different ways (which I don’t understand), and he continues with both chamber and orchestra in college.