Summer Festival/Program Reports

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>In my lost luggage thread, a couple of posters asked for an account of the Hot Springs Festival.</p>

<p>A two-week full fellowship opportunity for pre-professional musicians, in existence from 1996. <a href="http://www.hotmusic.org/apprentices.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.hotmusic.org/apprentices.htm&lt;/a> Most fellows ("apprentices" in festival terminology) were undergrads, grad students, and few seeking GPD's. There were "a few" high school aged participants, and one 15 year old violinist. Festival rules stipulate those under 18 must be accompanied by a chaperone.</p>

<p>Housing was provided as part of the fellowship, in most cases each musician had a room to themselves.</p>

<p>Per my son, the overall quality of play was exceptional, and he felt it was one of the top orchestral experiences he's had. No one specific section outshone the rest, he defined all as "superb". He felt the faculty mentors were of very high quality.</p>

<p>Participants were drawn from all over the US, and included a couple of international participants as well. The strings seemed to have the widest geographic distribution.</p>

<p>The festival is very well locally supported, and seems to be a major area attraction.</p>

<p>The one drawback was meals were not provided, but many local restaurants offered discounts ranging from 10-15% for festival participants. </p>

<p>He'd have no problem going back as a participant in the future.</p>

2

<p>For comparison, when your S says it was one of the top he's had, can you tell us what other festivals or camps he's participated in? (I supposed I could search old threads, but I'm too lazy.)</p>

3

<p>binx- his actual quote was "this is the best orchestral experience I've had".</p>

<p>Honestly without actually thinking about it and to put this in proper prospective, now in looking back at his camp/festival attendance history the only orchestral festival playing he's previously done is at one verywell known opportunity that sits in Massachucetts near the NY state border, and begins with the letter "T". This was back 4, maybe 5 years ago.</p>

<p>Actually, most of his collegiate experience has been within the Hartt Symphony, although he has rregularly played in a number of other orchestras (collegiate, regional professional & semi-professional, and professional chamber orchestras on a sub & fill-in basis). To guage his level of proficiency, he has consistently sat principal or second chair in non-rotating seating orchestras, often ahead of grad students and GPD candidates.</p>

<p>All his other festival experience has been concentrated within the chamber literature, particularly the string quartet. These are usually one to three week high intensity programs concentrating on one, perhaps two pieces under the mentorship of a professional performing quartet. He's worked with the Manhattan, Miami, Lark, Chiara, and others.</p>

<p>He has been teaching in PA for two-three weeks at an adult amateur chamber program now going on four years and that timing downright conflicts
with the big name 4 and 6 week festivals. Every fall he does a matrix based on fellowship opportunities timed around that teaching committment, and first targets chamber opportunities that work and still allow him to teach and maintain that associated income. He only looks at fellowship opportunities. He's bypassed longer opportunities like Kneisel Hall, Manchester, Taos and Garth Newel and turned down a few "can you fill in requests" to keep that teaching gig, which he obligates himself to contractually in January. The free room and board, compensation, and level of play has made it worthwile for him to do so.</p>

<p>Once he's exhausted the chamber programs, he'll then pick whatever other (orchestral) performing opportunity is available timewise and apply. He'll then decline any conflicts. </p>

<p>This year, it just worked out that timing changed slightly so as to make Hot Spring his best option prior to PA. After PA, he goes to Virginia for two weeks, then a high intensity fairly local chamber venue in August. </p>

<p>The only orchestral opportunity he wishes he had gone to is NY String Orchestra Seminar. He only auditioned once, 3-4 years back, was accepted but waitlisted as an alternate, and never did get to play. School and personal commitments prohibited him from re-auditioning. </p>

<p>I think that will clarify things better. I'd be curious as to his reaction and comparison between Hot Springs and his Virginia fellowship.</p>

4

<p>I thought about starting a new thread, but decided to piggy-back onto this one. I talked to my S yesterday. He's nearly through the first week of his summer festival - Music Academy of the West, and I thought I'd share his reactions.</p>

<p>First, MAW is in Santa Barbara, and is 8 weeks long. It is free tuition, room and board for all participants. <a href="http://www.musicacademy.org/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.musicacademy.org/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Perhaps it is the contrast between this week and the previous week spent in Korea, but he is overwhelmed by the differences - in quality, professionalism, attitudes! He says he has never, ever been in an orchestra this good, including at Juilliard. He says the low brass coach told them they are probably the best brass section they've ever had. But S said everyone is wonderful - strings, woodwinds, etc. He said everyone is professional, and serious, and capable. It is fun to have 6 horns all playing in tune, and he's not sure he's ever had that experience before!</p>

<p>Granted he's only been there a week. But the housing is good, the food is good, the kids are nice, the girls are cute :) , the teachers are full of encouragment and praise. He has a weekly lesson, weekly master classes, and various ensemble and orchestra performances.</p>

<p>The students chose their ensembles by choosing what music they wanted to play - and he loves his woodwind quartet. Said the kids are professional and want to work hard, and no one takes any criticism personally (which, coming off his last experience, is especially welcome.) He has also been assigned to the Beethoven horn trio, which he is happy about. He has only ever played the first movement, so gets the chance to learn the whole thing.</p>

<p>He text-messaged my D yesterday, saying, "I'm listening to Gil Shaham play Schindler's list." A few minutes later he texted: "I forgot to mention, John Williams is conducting." He was at an orchestra rehearsal, but he wasn't playing in that particular piece. </p>

<p>Thumper, he did say the only thing CLOC did better was that at CLOC, the performance venue was inland, and the housing was on the beach. At MAW that is reversed. [For those who don't know the back story, my S did not especially enjoy his summer at College Light Opera Company in Cape Cod.]</p>

<p>Oh, and he was especially happy about scoring three soccer goals in yesterday's game - after having not played since 8th grade.</p>

<p>I'd love to hear about other students' festival and camp experiences this summer. Please post!</p>

5

<p>binx- I searched for the CLOC backstory thread, but nothing came up. Do you mind rehashing it, either here or via PM? Son has had it on his list in the event he doesn't have gainful employment (next summer). I'm just curious if the quality of the musicans makes it worth looking at, or if he should hit the delete key.</p>

6

<p>Violadad, I sent you a PM with more detail. For other readers:</p>

<p>CLOC [The members refer to it as "clock"] is a summer theater program in Cape Cod. They do a new musical every week - perform all week in the evenings while learning next week's show during the day. Singer/actors work very hard, and are not paid for the summer. It is an opportunity for them to gain performance experience.</p>

<p>There is a small orchestra, and those members are paid, and given room and board. The orchestra is made up of college students of mixed ability, leading to variable results. Housing is camp-like, and food is done by students, on a strict budget, so is mostly cereal, sandwiches, and spaghetti.</p>

<p>Students audition by tape - I think by February. Preference is given to students who have been there previously, which means that some really great players get turned down in favor of some repeaters, regardless of ability.</p>

<p>Plusses for instrumentatlists: Room, board, a small stipend, and a lot of playing time. A beautiful beach and a pretty light schedule. (Most afternoons free). Get acquainted with lots of musicals.</p>

<p>Negatives: Rustic housing, no teaching, limited private-practice areas. Kids without cars are kinda stranded. (S was able to get rides to laundromat, and occasional other trips.) Quality of performance varies.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.collegelightopera.com/company.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.collegelightopera.com/company.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>[And an edit to my previous post: MAW is actually 6 weeks for instrumentalists, not 8.]</p>

7

<p>Maybe one of the moderators can change the title to something along the lines of "Summer '07- share your camp/festival experience". It might be good to have them all in one place for info purposes for those thinking about next year(s).</p>

8

<p>My son, a cellist who will be a senior h.s. student next year, was asked to participate in Sherry Kloss's Music Institute for the Development of Personal Style, in memory of Heifetz, which is in its 14th year. It ends today. He has been to several chamber music camps--locally in Pittsburgh and at the now discontinued Point CounterPoint, and that's what we usually look for in the summers. Sherry Kloss studied with Heifetz and has written a book about it. This seminat is about 8 days and also is held in Pittsburgh; this year on the gorgeous campus of a private high school. My son has had a phenomenal time--the level of playing is very high, lots and lots of masterclasses and input. It is not conventionally well-organized but everything does seem to fall in place and there are kids and adults, all ages, who come back year after year. He's planning to return, too. Later this summer he is doing a chamber music program with the arts high school, Walnut Hill.</p>

9

<p>Mom4 - Is sounds like an interesting program. Would you mind sharing a bit more: what instruments go to this camp? Only strings? Only cellos? Is the program only for high school students? Do you have to be invited? Do you have to live locally?</p>

10

<p>My son is currently in Enfield, New Hampshire at the Center for Advanced Musical Studies at Chosen Vale. He is halfway through a two week International Trumpet Seminar. This includes trumpet players from around the world, and students range in age from 18 to somewhere in their 40's, some of them already professional players. The word my son used most in describing it was "amazing." (S has not been to any of the top summer musical programs, but he has heard plenty of excellent players.) The faculty at Chosen Vale includes Stephen Burns, Edward Carroll, Gabriele Cassone, Mark Gould, Thomas Stevens, and Markus Stockhausen. This seminar is a little different from most in that it emphasizes creativity, thinking in different ways about the trumpet, and creative ways to fashion a career on the instrument. (It is also rare in that it is totally focused on the trumpet.)</p>

<p>My son had nothing but good things to say so far--oh, only one complaint: the food is vegetarian. (I thought that sounded good, but son is a confirmed carnivore.) He said it is really challenging him, as one of the least experienced players there, to work hard on improving. And he is making new friends from Italy, Australia, and other faraway places.</p>

<p>It isn't free. I believe cost is $1900, although some partial scholarships are available, based on need. Participants are chosen, not by audition, but by letters of recommendation. For anyone interested, here is the site: <a href="http://www.chosenvalemusic.org/seminars.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.chosenvalemusic.org/seminars.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

11

<p>That reminds me of Kendall Betts Horn Camp, <a href="http://horncamp.org/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://horncamp.org/&lt;/a> also in New Hampshire. My S has attended 3 times - at the end of 10th grade, 11th grade, and freshman year of college. Horn teachers come from all over. It is where he first met Hermann Baumann, with whom he studied in Germany. S attended on scholarship all three times, and was invited back this year as a teacher's assistant, but already had made other plans. </p>

<p>The teachers are wonderful. It is where S received much advice about where and with whom to study in college. Students are divided into high school, college, and adult amateur. The program is two weeks in June, and you can go to either week, or both. (Scholarships only will pay for one week.) I highly recommend it for any horn student!</p>

12

<p>Here's one for the ensemble players: Chamber Music Institute @ UNL
<a href="http://www.unl.edu/music/news/072ChamberMusicInstitute/072ChamberMusicInstitute.shtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.unl.edu/music/news/072ChamberMusicInstitute/072ChamberMusicInstitute.shtml&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p>

<p>It's a one week chamber music experience (last two years, possibly longer) with the Chiara Quartet as the resident ensemble. The program is full ride... tuition, housing and board are covered. Preference is for preformed groups, but individual instrumentalists are encouraged to apply. My son applied and was accepted last summer as an individual.</p>

<p>The focus is on a high level chamber music experience, and they pair each ensemble with a fellowship composer, working on and presenting the new piece at festival close.</p>

<p>Another unique aspect is that the program devotes a daily session to the business of ensemble performing... marketing, copyrights, promotion, finances, etc. providing some insights and info many musicians don't have.</p>

<p>The level of playing was extremely high. Students hailed from Michigan, Indiana, Juilliard, Eastman, and Yale and were a mix of grad and undergrad students. The Sospiro Woodwind Quartet, at the program in '06 with my son, took a silver at this year's Fischoff Competition.</p>

<p>The housing was nice and air conditioned, the food was good, far better than standard, the performance/music facilities very good; my son found Lincoln more cosmopolitan than he had envisioned. If the timing works, the festival is sometimes overlapped with the area's Meadowlark Festival allowing some interaction. This was true in '05 & '06, but not this year.</p>

<p>His regret was not having gone as a preformed ensemble, as the experience is geared to the ensemble, rather than individual development. A worthwhile looksee for those with a strong chamber focus.</p>

13

<p>Hi Binx,
The program is really for violins although they welcomed (and sought out) the cellos that came (two) for chamber music. My son the cellist got more coaching than he's ever had! Ages and playing levels were all over the place; some were really awesome. This really seems like a place for motivated individuals who want to improve. I'm sure violas would be welcome and would benefit, too. Here's the website:
<a href="http://klossclassics.com/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://klossclassics.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

14

<p>Thanks, mom4 - I'll keep this in mind for violinist D next year! We used to live in Pittsburgh, so it would be fun to return. I looked at the staff, and lo and behold, Don Freund was my S's composition teacher at Brevard some 6 years ago or so!</p>

15

<p>If you read Binx's post about her son at MAW, just substitute Aspen and my son's name, and you have the same type of report. He says the music is outstanding, the conductors are outstanding, the musicians are outstanding, and everything about Aspen is wonderful. The other trumpet players are a talented group and DS loves that as well. His only gripe is the food which is says is awful. He'll cope. And he also fully agree's with Binx's son about CLOC...it was nice for three weeks (that's all DS did) but he would not have been happy there for the whole summer. The musicians were talented, underappreciated, and basically second fiddle to the music theater performers who DS felt were treated well. OH..did I say the musicians were underpaid? DS says they were. Still it was a nice way to spend a couple of weeks for free at the beach while paying one's music. However, when asked to compare that experience to Aspen, DS declined to make a comparison!</p>

16

<p>Binx----are you going to be able to drop in on your son at MAW? Nothings better than a weekend in Santa Barbara and the Music Academy setting in
Montecito is stunning. Congrats to you and your son.My D has her sights set on this years audition, as a Mezzo you cant beat 8 weeks of free study with Marilyn Horne. In boca'lupo!</p>

17

<p>Yes, musicamusica, we will be there in a couple weeks: July 11-16. I can't wait! It's way too expensive - plane flights (for 3), 5 nights of hotel, rental car - but I get to hear my S play very seldom, so I was determined to get there.</p>

18

<p>I live in So. Cal. and yes it is VERY expensive in Santa Barbara/Montecito,
but the weather is ALWAYS great and honestly I cant imagine a nicer venue
for music. Try the Wine Cask for a nice celebratory lunch and a souvenir bottle of central coast wine. Even better just head to Trader Joes, get some ready made salads and sandwiches and take advantage of the beach or the hills for your meals. I envy you.</p>

19

<p>I'll add a ditto on Aspen. D is very happy. The downside for us is the cost - so what else is new? I'm looking forward (I hope!) to when she'll be paid to perform (or at least can attend a summer program that will be free :)!)</p>

20

<p>A former piano student of mine who is a great oboe player, rising 10th grader, is looking for camps and programs for future summers. Money is an issue, so she's looking for places that might offer scholarships. Anybody got any suggestions?</p>