Summer Music Camps

Attending a summer music camp is one of the fastest ways to improve musically on any instrument.  The EPCHS Band Boosters set money aside every year to award scholarships to current or returning EPCHS band students who wish to attend a summer camp.  The top recommended summer camps are listed below with links for more information.  Please contact Mr. Schneblin with any questions or to discuss the differences between these excellent summer music camps. 

University of Illinois
Illinois Summer Youth Music (ISYM)

Location: Champaign-Urbana, IL
music.illinois.edu/engagement/isym/sr-ensembles/
ISYM is one of the most highly regarded and well-known summer music programs in the United States.  Large wind/ban, choral, and string ensembles as well as intensive, specialized instrumental programs are available for senior and junior high participants.  Each seven day session takes place on the Big Ten campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Illinois State University
STATE Summer Symposium

Location: Bloomington, IL
finearts.illinoisstate.edu/bands/band-camps/
The Illinois State Summer Symposium sponsors camps for high school aged students for marching band and concert band activities. These camps offer students a place to develop their skills in a fun and exciting learning environment. Camp instructors will include nationally and regionally prominent guest clinicians, as well as faculty from the ISU School of Music.  The philosophy of the symposium is to offer a camp experience that is inspiring, high quality, life-changing and fun.

Western Illinois University
Summer Music Institute

Location: Macomb, IL
app.jotform.com/231986189491169/page/456
The primary purpose of the Summer Music Institute at Western Illinois University is to provide the best possible educational opportunity to young people for individual development in the knowledge, practice, and appreciation of the fine art of music in a nurturing musical environment. Any returning camper receives a reduced camp fee.

Music For All Summer Symposium

Location: Ball State University, Muncie, IN
camp.musicforall.org/
Spend an inspired, fun week with renowned teachers, exciting artists and fellow campers from across the country, and even from around the world. You’ll not only grow as a musician and performer, you’ll have a positively life-changing experience.

98% of all student evaluations received said that their overall impression of the Summer Symposium met their expectations and 91% said the Symposium exceeded their expectations. 100% would recommend it to their friends.

Smith Walbridge Clinics

Location: Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois
www.swclinics.com/
Smith Walbridge Clinics offers award winning summer camps/clinics and workshops for drum majors, marching band students, band directors, colorguard (flag and rifle), winter guard, mace/signal baton, marching band student leadership, sponsors and marching percussion.

Interlochen Summer Camp

Location: Interlochen, MI
www.camp.interlochen.org/music-summer-programs
Interlochen offers a wide range of summer music programs for high school musicians and attracts some of the world's most talented students and teachers.  In addition to large-ensembles, Interlochen also offers summer music programs geared towards individual performers.

Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp

Location: Twin Lake, MI
www.bluelake.org
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp is a summer school of the arts located on a 1,300 acre campus in Michigan’s Manistee National Forest, offers fine arts education for all ages. Each summer, the principal camp program annually serves more than 5,300 gifted elementary, junior high, and high school students with diverse programs in music, art, dance, and drama while offering more than 175 performances during its Summer Arts Festival.  Since its inception in 1966, Blue Lake has provided cultural enrichment to more than 300,000 gifted students and countless concert-goers.

Birch Creek Summer Camp

Location: Egg Harbor, WI
www.birchcreek.org 
Birch Creek Music Performance Center is a summer music school in Door County, Wisconsin, for advanced young musicians. With a performance emphasis, students are taught by nationally-known performers and educators during the day, and perform alongside them in concerts at night. Four sessions focus on symphony, percussion & steelpan, and big band jazz.

Illinois Weslyan
Summer Music Composition Camp

Location: Bloomington, IL
www.iwu.edu/music/k12/summer-music-composition-institute.html
"The week I spent at Illinois Wesleyan turned out to be an excellent experience.  The classes and private lessons with Dr. Pelusi were insightful.  I learned so much!  Everyone was friendly and eager to learn, regardless of personal tastes or prior training.  I feel as though my skills in composition really improved because of this program.  Anyone interested in composition should consider this program."  - Erin Sumpter, Wade Hampton High School,  Greenville, South Carolina