Hi @Pixieberto My S went to Madeline Island many years ago now, 2010 I think, and absolutely loved it! Definitely one of his favorite festivals he went to over the years. At the time it was a very small program, if I recall I think they had 8 quartets. They lived in cottage style “dorms”. I can’t remember the exact set up but they were in shared rooms of 2-4 boys and a few bedrooms in each house. They had a chef and I remember he thought the food was great. He loved the immersion in chamber music and was impressed with the level of coaching. They had the opportunity to do quite a lot of performing while they were there. They had quite a lot of freedom to explore the island in their free time as there is a limit to where they can go. Anywhere they went they had to go on foot and there are only a small number of shops and restaurants there. They did do some group outings but can’t remember specifics. I’m having trouble remembering specifics now but I do remember he just loved it and had a fabulous time. If you have any specific questions I can try to remember more.
Hi! I’m not sure if this is the place to post this question. My young S has been waitlisted at summer Tanglewood and Curtis (piano). What are his chances? Do they send out rejections? Or do they just put everyone they do not accept on the waitlist? Tanglewood says they keep their waitlist short, but Curtis said they’ve had a record number of applicants this year. I have no idea how long their waitlists are, if they’re ranked, or where he is on the list if they are. Can anyone give any insight into the process? This is our first time applying or looking at summer music programs (my son is still young, turning 14 in the summer). Any insight would be much appreciated!
@lta183 There are certainly no guarantees of being transferred over from those lists. If I was in your shoes (and have been in similar spots) I’d start looking into what other programs are still accepting apps. Bowdoin does some rolling admissions; and maybe check-out Luzerne, Kinhaven, Interlochen, or PIMF (soloist program). This is assuming he only applied to the two you mentioned, of course ?
I agree with above. If you aren’t getting helpful info from the programs, you are probably out of luck for any “hints”. No experience with the above programs for piano, but Been There, Done That for other programs.
Program waitlists operate in different ways. Some waitlists are maintained by faculty who have their own “list”, some programs balance by gender and age for housing concerns, others - who knows! Waitlist offers can also come at the absolute last minute to cover late changes of minds which makes any planning difficult. Past experience could be good to know - hopefully someone here can help out specifically - but situations in previous years don’t necessarily predict this year’s reality.
Good luck!
@MomOfSingers - apologies, as I am too new to PM, but looks like your S is two years ahead of mine, but, like mine, a Bari-bass. Can you tell me which summer pre college programs your S looked at/applied to/went to/declined? We are just beginning this process. Thank you in advance!
Just an update - my daughter was waitlisted at Brevard earlier this week. Rather than leave things to chance, we have enrolled her at Interlochen. She is really excited! So that was nice to see.
When I logged in to enroll her, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that she had been awarded a small merit scholarship. Now, the cynical side of me notes that a “merit scholarship” could be a reflection of my daughter’s musical talent, but could also just be strategic discounting for a first-time student who might potentially come back in future years. Nevertheless, it is substantial enough to take some of the sting out of the bill, which was my second biggest concern with Interlochen (after the disappointment of probably not being able to attend the concerts).
Someone posted in one of these threads about how they can only find very positive or very negative reviews about Interlochen, so although I’m sure our situation is not as anonymous as I might like it to be, I’ll try to keep posting both the positives and negatives about Interlochen as we go along.
Of course I still don’t have any firsthand knowledge of the musical side of things, but so far as a parent, my impression is that these people are very good at the organizational side of what they do. Within twenty-four hours of my paying the deposit, I had a voice mail and an email from a (non-orchestra) parent volunteer offering to help answer any questions I might have, or get me to someone who could. The handbook and other preliminary materials are excellent and indicate deep experience in getting campers set up properly and comfortably. I am very happy so far with what I see.
One thing I noted in many poor reviews I’d seen was Interlochen’s lack of flexibility with refunds due to cancellations and changes of plan. I don’t know how it compares to other organizations, but I would agree that the refund policy they make you agree to mean that you really have to know quite far in advance if your plans are changing, if you hope to get even a partial refund of your tuition. Also, the way it’s worded, I can see how a parent could agree to it and still be caught off guard. For example, this year, for a full refund, it says 91 or more days advance notice. Well, that means you’d have to let them know by March 28th if your plans were changing. That’s barely three weeks from now. (This year is a little different in one respect - they sent an email out saying they will refund if travel is not possible due to coronavirus.)
^^ Isn’t it nice to be set with an excited D!
I wondered if you/she looked at the one week Viola Institute that precedes the 6 week orchestra program? First man listed is one of the most highly desired teachers throughout the country. No idea if the faculty for the Institute will really be the same as they advertise. I know with 6 week program, faculty can be different than the website indicates.
I just thought I’d mention it - looks like those applications are still open.
We looked at the institute and decided we didn’t have enough time or money to do it all. That’s certainly interesting about the teacher though!
^^^. We understand that kind of decision making in our household also!!!
I think I’ve mentioned that the one time we considered Interlochen for a youngster (junior age program), the decision was pretty easy to make - it was simply too expensive! That youngster is now grown and fully employed as a working musician and has been for over 10 years. I still think the program might have been “fun” if we could have provided at the time and I would have liked to have been in a position to send the child, but the lack doesn’t seem to have made a difference in the long run.
Pins and Needles over here as D is still waiting for her summer programs to all come in.
Bowdoin fellowship program was a no but she was accepted into the regular program (tuition) with scholarship and they have given her an extension to respond (she went there last summer and she loves them and they seem to love her).
She was waitlisted at Taos (fellowship), Kneisal Hall (fellowship), and TMC (fellowship-we were excited about that one!!). Norfolk Chamber (Yale School of Music, also a fellowship program) has not yet responded so that is the last piece to the puzzle.
A note about waitlists - I saw some questions and discussions about how they “work” and from out experience (two years now!!) is that every program is so different. Taos for instance has notified my D exactly where she is on the list, how many violinists have yet to respond, etc to give her a very specific idea of what is going on. It is a very small program, so that may be why there is that level of communication. Kneisal Hall said waitlist and has had no communication. TMC says that they work on their list through March 31, and if someone says no, they will consider their pool of alternates and find the “best fit” and they said that they have been known to call people at the last minute (like in the summer) to see if they are still available! I imagine with so prestigious a program, they probably have people who jump on the opportunity.
My D was discouraged to be in the same boat as last summer but her teacher was very encouraging to her. Bowdoin is a great opportunity so that is not a “consolation prize” at all. I just know she was hoping for a fellowship somewhere. Praying that a bunch of people change their mind about Taos, honestly!
But we shall see. Hopefully we will know by mid week next week!
Anyone else need to make a decision about a US Festival now and are nervous about the Virus and if the festival will happen and making a plane reservation? Anyone going to Aspen with these concerns? Trying to decide between Festivals now. The other one we could drive too but kid has been too before. Still waiting to hear if he got in to another one not in US.
@cellocompmom, my cellist is returning to Aspen and very happy about it. We drove last year (27 hours). S got into Bowdoin also and that would have been amazing with the faculty assignments.
tableforsix, Aspen is one of the ones he is trying to decide about. It would require flying across the country for him and we need to decide, well now. Do you have any concerns the festival will go on? Would you have your cellist fly this year? On a side note this kid spent two very happy summers at Bowdoin a couple of summers ago.
@cellocompmom, Aspen was SO much fun last year with an insanely high level of play. My son would have jumped on Bowdoin (the opportunity to work with that cello faculty -wow) but was offered a fellowship to Aspen. Rather hard to beat that. No, I would not fly. I am privileged to have the flexibility to decide to drive, however.
I don’t want to say it, but yes we have concerns about cancellations. That’s any domestic festival though, yes?
My son says he’s thought about Aspen almost every day since last summer. Very much looking forward to going back. We’ve previously done Brevard (my daughter), Meadowmount, and BUTI.
PM me with any questions about Aspen. How old is your musician?
For those whose kids went to Bowdoin how old were they when they attended? Thx.
Anyone – What Festival is BUTI?
@eclecticViola My d just heard from EMF today. Accepted and some scholarship and work study.
BUTI is Boston University tanglewood institute.
@MomOD4 what instrument is your D?
Hi, all-- my s got an email today that Oberlin is canceling its summer vocal program. I assume the other Oberlin summer programs are cancelled as well. Anyone hear anything from other programs yet?
Yikes. That’s the first summer camp/festival cancellation I’ve heard of from the coronavirus situation