Talented musicians from across the country join together on the beautiful Furman campus to build not only musicianship skills but life-long friendships. For ages 12-18, the students perform in one of four large ensembles (a full symphony orchestra, a string orchestra, and two concert bands) and may audition for a jazz ensemble, various chamber groups, or perform as a soloist on the Honors Solo Recital. In addition to the ensemble rehearsals, sectionals, and master classes, the camp offers courses in basic musicianship, conducting, yoga for musicians and history.
We strongly encourage you to upgrade your student’s camp experience with optional private lessons. They are an ideal way to work one-on-one with an experienced musician on the fundamentals of playing, including tone production, technique, maintenance and musicianship. Content is personalized for the student’s playing level. Lessons are $35 per 30-minute session and may be added to the tuition prior to check-out.
Two concert bands, one symphony orchestra winds/percussion section, one jazz ensemble, several chamber ensembles. Placement in the orchestra or jazz/chamber ensembles is for advanced students and based on the Sunday audition and their personal interest. Students rehearse with their designated ensembles twice a day.
One string-only orchestra, one full symphony orchestra with winds/percussion sections, one string quartet, double bass for one jazz ensemble. Students audition Sunday and are seated in their primary orchestra. Placement in the jazz ensemble or string quartet is for advanced students and based on the Sunday audition and their personal interest. Students rehearse with their designated ensembles twice a day.
Acceptance is based on instrumentation balance of the ensembles, residence hall space, applicant’s grade level, ability level, date of application and prior attendance. Apply early, some sections close prior to the application deadline.
A $100 deposit is expected at time of registration. Full registration payment is due by June 1. If you earned All-State/Regional honors ensemble placement or are the child of a Furman employee, you may be eligible for a discount.
Recipient of a Scholarship to camp this summer? Congratulations! Scholarship funds may be used for added private lessons and on-campus housing/meals (room and board). Lessons can be added to an existing registration up until May 1. Register as usual, but at check-out, select the ‘Pay-by-Check’ option and mail us a $100 deposit to hold the student’s place in line. You may then use that receipt to support your request for scholarship funds and verify to the sponsor the total amount owed. Please contact Emily Sweezey in the Music Office if questions 864-294-2118.
All-State / Regional Honors Ensemble Discounts: Reserved for students who were selected this school year to participate in their state’s highest ranking performing ensemble on the instrument they will play at camp. This is a discount, not a refundable scholarship. If eligible, select one of these options in the application’s discount area and it will be deducted from your total owed. Terminology varies state-to-state. If we have questions or if we can not verify the student’s placement, we will contact you to request official verification.
On Sunday, the first day of camp, you have 5 minutes to show off your skills. We try to make it as low-stress as possible, but, it is an audition that results in a ranking. Prepare a two-minute solo excerpt or etude. No scales. Know the common key signatures appropriate for your grade level. You will be asked to sight-read a brief excerpt. Since the ensembles spend the first two days at camp sight-reading music, this is an important part of your placement decision. If a student arrives late to camp and misses the placement audition, the student will be assigned to an ensemble by the faculty and seated at the back of their instrument section.
Bring your own sticks in a stick bag labeled with your name. (Sticks to bring: concert snare, bells/xylophone, marimba, timpani. Also needed for timpani: a pitch-pipe or (phone)tuner app.) Your audition takes a bit longer since you may be asked to sight-read on mallets, snare, and timpani (tuning). If you only know how to play one or two of those, no problem – that is why you come to music camp! Audition on the percussion areas in which you have experience. If you never played timpani, you do not have to audition on timpani, but you will have an opportunity to play them during the week, especially if you take private lessons. Interested in playing in the jazz ensemble? Come prepared to play a sample of various styles (swing, Latin, funk) on drum set. We supply the kit. Email Dr. Carmenates if questions: omar.carmenates@furman.edu
Optional. If you play saxophone, trumpet, trombone, guitar, double bass, or drum set, you are eligible for consideration based on your Sunday audition. Participation is in addition to your main band/orchestra assignment. Let the audition judge know you are interested. If you play piano, guitar or bass, you will need to play a separate audition for Dr. Olson on Sunday. If you play jazz guitar or electric bass, you will need to bring your own instrument and patch cord. We provide the amp. Email Dr. Olson if questions: matt.olson@furman.edu
Boarders will be in the nearby Clark Murphy Housing Complex. Two students per room, shared bathroom. Students will need to bring their own linens for X-Long single beds. Boarding students may request a specific roommate, though both students must request each other in order to be placed together. Yes, we have a form for that! But – later in the process – not during initial registration.
Meals are served in our main dining hall. The DH features a variety of diet options, including a salad bar, four serving lines, a wood-fire pizza oven and a dessert bar. All meals (Sunday dinner through Friday lunch) are included in the boarding student fee. Commuters eat lunch and dinner with the boarding students – those meals are included in your camp fee.
Students who drive to camp will be provided with a parking permit. Commuters may park in the free lot next to the music building. Boarding students are not permitted to leave campus or use their cars during the camp week.