<p>My DD was accepted, enrolled and paid to attend the UMKC Cello Clinic (10 days) prior to heading off to Meadowmount for the summer. After purchasing $800 worth of non-refundable plane tickets to get her and her cello to and from UMKC, we were advised last week that the program has been cancelled for this year! In addition to her disappointment (she attended last year and LOVED it!), I am extremely frustrated and angry that UMKC did not give us any warning whatsoever that there was any possibility that the clinic would not occur. So now I am stuck with $800 in tickets that are worthless. This would have been the 10th year of the clinic, so it’s not like it was new, or there was any reason to think that it would be cancelled. Certainly nothing in the promotional materials or the audition process gave us any warning that the clinic may not take place. If I had any idea, I certainly would not have invested $800 in non-refundable airfare!</p>
<p>Sometimes non-refundable tickets can still be applied to another travel date. You just have to pay the difference. Worth contaminating the airline. And BTW - it is why we now use Southwest so much. No problems changing or canceling flights with them.</p>
<p>I’m sure many have thought of retribution against airlines given the angst they put us through, but that last thing a student or a performing musician needs to have happen is ending up on the “no fly” list.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I cobbled together the cheapest possible flights using several airlines. I was trying to be economical. It turned out to be the reverse! Because I used various airlines (coming and going), it really is economically impossible to try to apply the purchased tickets to other flights - the change surcharge is more than the cost of certain individual tickets in some cases. Anyhow, I posted this just as an FYI for other potential summer campers. I have also been extremely disappointed with the response of UMKC to my situation, which is basically “too bad, so sad”. Had UMKC even hinted that the clinic MIGHT not take place, I would never, ever have invested $800 in airfare! Live and learn, I guess.</p>
<p>kb. if you are still looking for some summer alternates, you could check out New York Summer Music Festival. It’s run by administrators from Curtis, with instructors coming from the Philly-NYC corridor. Our D goes for vocal, but she has roomed with string players, and they have all been thrilled with the level of instruction and the performance opportunities. It has the potential of involving some little, obscure airports, so maybe you can use those flights after all!</p>
<p>I am so sorry to hear about the cancelled cello clinic! My son had been looking into it and apparently we were lucky he didn’t apply. I hear you about your air reservations! With a cello, aside from the double cost of buying a seat for both cellist and instrument, there can be problems with airlines letting it onto the plane for certain types of planes. I spent 30 minutes waiting around to hear if United AL would take the cello on a nonstop flight, and they said no–only if we purchased $1,000 First Class ticket. Needless to say, son+cello are flying a different airline for that trip. (Southwest-with a 1-stop)</p>
<p>I sure wish you could get the Kansas people to do something to make up for this, especially because they know your daughter.</p>
<p>It sounds like most of her summer will be great, though. Best wishes from another cello mom.</p>
<p>Given the economy, I wouldn’t be surprised if this happened to other festivals and such. Grapevine rumblings are that expected attendance at the many festivals is down, the one my son is planning to go to was really, really late sending out information and of course the invoice for tuition, which I suspect was they weren’t sure they were going to do it. If they had cancelled, it wouldn’t have been as big a deal for us, because we drive our son there…</p>
<p>I am sorry that happened to you, though, that stinks. I suspect the administrators were hoping against hope until the last minute that they could pull it through, and then were forced to cancel. It many ways that isn’t fair to people who have to go long distances to get there, you would have thought they might have let you know earlier so you could try and do something about the airfare.</p>
<p>I have heard great things about the NY Summer Music Festival! But between the Chicago Camp (June 22-26) and Meadowmount (June 28-Aug. 15), my DD doesn’t have any time for more . . . and I don’t have the $$$ to shell out for more (especially with the $800 in non-refundable plane tickets that I am stuck with!)</p>
<p>MOM4, please tell you son that the UMKC cello clinic has been WONDERFUL in past years and my daughter would definitely go again (and again, and again) for the teachers and the experience. I’m just ticked off at the administration for not notifying me that there was any possibility that the camp might not occur. One assumes (I guess incorrectly in my case) that when you have an established camp, with a formal audition process, and you receive notification that you have been accepted that means you should make your travel plans. I’m also angry at the administration’s cavalier attittude about the last minute cancellation of the entire program, and the hardship that this has caused to our family (and others). Like I said, live and learn!!!</p>
<p>My daughter is attending the NY summer music fetsival and I doubt they have any openings now. We recieved her confirmation this weekend with a bill. Her friend was an alternate and also received mail informing her she would not be able to attend. </p>
<p>The auditions are held in January. Recordings are accepted howeve to attend, you need to be a NY state resident.</p>
<p>Andy’s_Music: DS (cellist) attended NEMC for three summers. In his words - “the best times of my life.” The level of instruction he received was outstanding. He came home and we couldn’t believe this was the same kid - his playing improved significantly. Faculty is top notch and they really like kids. S was actually recruited by one instructor and will be studying with her at college in September, with a nice financial aid package to boot. </p>
<p>Interlochen (from what I understand) is more of a total music immersion experience. NEMC balances music with other activities, although the music predominates. Attendees come from all over - S has stayed in touch with friends from Alaska, China, and South America. It’s a great place.</p>
<p>Suzukimomto2-
New York Summer Music Festival is only open to NY students now? My d attended the program two years ago…NYSMF. We must not be talking about the same thing, or I must be confused, since I live outside of NY. It is a wonderful program, by the way!!! </p>
<p>Interlochen is an arts camp. You will have students there for visual arts as well as music. Also writing. You can take elective classes, but if you are there for music, time could be an issue. It was the best summer of my d’s life…and we loved going up to visit. We wish she were able to go this year, but with college next fall there just would not be enough time!</p>
<p>Just to clarify – NYSMF is not the same thing as the NYSSSA School of Orchestral Studies, where I believe suzukimomto2’s D is going. NYSMF is in Oneonta and NYSSSA’s SOS, the state program with a state residence requirement, is in Saratoga Springs.</p>
<p>AsterMom is correct. These two programs often get confused. Last I heard, NYSMF was getting a lot of applications from campers, so they are good to go for all three sessions! (There may still be spaces available, it’s always worth an email!)</p>
<p>NYSMF had low brass openings as of a few weeks ago (maybe a month), specifically tuba. They were offerring a full ride for qualified tubists (I think they had none signed up at that point).</p>
<p>NYSMF is scheduled to have some great visiting artists this year, in the brass section – mostly trumpets, I think, but still. Anybody who knows a qualified tubist should snatch up that opportunity. It’s a terrific quality program, and you absolutely cannot beat the price/value ratio.</p>
<p>Posting a bit late as I don’t visit as often, now that D has her freshman year of music performance done. She decided not to go the big festival route this summer, but will stay home and earn some money, take lessons with her former private teacher, and attend two week long events. She will be a performer in a week-long Trevor Wye masterclass for flute and then will go to Lunenberg NS to the Boxwood Festival to revel in Celtic, Cape Breton, and Traditional American flute music. She had a great first year at Hartt and is looking forward to year #2.</p>
<p>I’ve been the accompanying spouse at the Boxwood festival. Chris North is a marvel and he brings in some excellent musicians. The town is gorgeous and the meals are quite good. It is probably one of my favorite summer music festivals out there.</p>
<p>We’ll be at Tanglewood again this summer, hopefully many times. It just happens that my kids and/or so many of their friends are at BUTI and TMC this year. Let me hear from CCers whose kids are going to be there, which group they are performing in and if they have anything special going on at a particular concert. We are trying to put together a schedule - already planning to see several BUTI, TMC and BSO concerts…at least as many as my recovering back will allow.</p>
<p>Late joiner here. Wow, another list of programs, just like the college list. Son had a great time last year at Walnut Hill’s summer opera program. With college applications being the big thing, he did think about summer programs because of the potential for conflicts with orientation programs.</p>
<p>Sorry I don’t have time to read the posts, but could anyone recommend any voice programs that might still be open? At Classical Singer, Son got a partial scholarship to go to Hawaii Performing Arts Festival this summer. Seems like the tuition is in-line with other programs, although travel costs are a little higher. We have no idea of the quality of the program. Too bad it is not in the middle of winter.</p>