Great Summer Programs for Orchestra/Viola?

College Majors Music Major
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<p>Actually, our request is a little more specific than that! I'm going to double-post in the Summer Program area, but I thought Music Majors and parents would probably know a bit more about this.</p>

<p>We are looking for a great summer program for a rising senior violist who is interested in an engineering major. At the risk of being way too picky, but trying to find just the right fit, this summer program will preferably meet most, if not all, of the following qualifications:</p>

<p>Located in Texas or its bordering states.
Associated in some way with a college that has a good school of engineering.
Associated with a college that has a respected music program for music minors.
Only one to two weeks long.
(Could I possibly dream about scholarship opportunities at said program?!)</p>

<p>Of the 5 qualifications, the geographic restriction is the least important to us.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

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<p>^^^FYI, the “rising senior” is a rising HIGH SCHOOL senior …</p>

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<p>Round Top and Texas Music Festival are both in Texas, but I can’t remember the school affiliations but they are both of longer duration.</p>

<p>Karen Tuttle’s viola workshop is typically a week (ish) long event, and I don’t know this year’s location.</p>

<p>The Master list <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/510498-music-festival-master-list.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/510498-music-festival-master-list.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Both of these are searchable: [Strings</a> Magazine: Summer Study Guide](<a href=“Search Results for “ssg/default.aspx]Strings” – Strings Magazine”>Search Results for “ssg/default.aspx” – Strings Magazine)</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.thestrad.com/Summerplus.asp[/url]”>http://www.thestrad.com/Summerplus.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>^^Thanks, violadad! We’ll check those out!</p>

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<p>Roundtop and Texas Music festival are for those over 18. Roundtop is not associated with a university/college. </p>

<p>Have you checked the Music Dept. websites of Texas and bordering states universities that your violist-engineer might be interested in to see if they have a music “camp” or program for high schoolers? Don’t mean to be obvious or insulting, you probably started there, but perhaps not!</p>

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<p>American Mathematics Society has a listing of summer camps that specialize in math and engineering for high school students.
Icicle creek chamber music festival in Washington state (3 weeks) is largely scholarship supported. Marrowstone music camp, a 2 week off shoot of the Seattle Youth Symphony is a great musical experience. There may be something similar offered by the Texas youth orchestras…</p>

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<p>Thanks, wel! We’ll check out those Wash state camps.</p>

<p>@fiddlestix,
Not insulting at all. We have, naturally, looked at various music camps at universities around Texas. Problem is, not all of them are good! We know kids who have attended various ones, and my kids have attended one in particular. But most of the ones my kids know about are for all string players of all levels and don’t provide the demanding experience my son is looking for. He’s looking for a really good one that comes strongly recommended, one that will push him. It would be great if it took place at a “likely” engineering school. He loves to play, but he doesn’t like sitting around waiting for less experienced players to learn what he already knows … at the risk of making him sound intolerant or snobbish, which he truly isn’t! It’s just that if he’s going to spend his summer and the money doing it, he wants it to be a truly great experience. He participated in all-state this year and was thrilled with the whole experience, more than any orchestra experience before it – so much that he’s considering majoring in music instead of engineering. (We’ll see.) The thing he liked best about it … playing with kids who play at or above his level and push him along.</p>

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<p>Orford Arts Center has a fantastic one-week viola program led by Heidi Castleman in mid June…but it doesn’t really meet any of your criteria. D found it an amazing experience.</p>

<p>Eastman has a one week viola technique program for high schoolers but I don’t know anything beyond what they say on the website.</p>

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<p>Thanks, stradmom! We’ll check those out as well!</p>

<p>This music major forum is the best! We can always count on lots of good information from very helpful and friendly people.</p>

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<p>For the future (the application deadline has passed), check Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Program in Maine. They have great viola faculty, including the MET Opera’s Ira Weller.</p>

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<p>^^Cool! We’ll look into it … despite the fact that the deadline has passed.</p>