Band Camp

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.

String Camp

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.

For concert band and orchestral string students age 12 – 18

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.

Middle school students:

• Must have at least two years of study and ensemble experience on your concert band or orchestral string instrument prior to camp. Ensemble director’s recommendation will be requested.
• Suzuki Strings: Students should have a minimum of two years of instruction playing grade three repertoire in their school programs and youth orchestras or the equivalent of Suzuki Book 4 for violinist and Suzuki Book 3 for violists, cellists and basses.​
• Must be age 12 on or before June 1.

High School Students:

• Must have at least three years of study and ensemble experience on your concert band or orchestral string instrument. Ensemble director’s recommendation will be requested.
• Suzuki-trained strings: Violinists should be at Suzuki Book 6 level or higher. Viola, Cello, and Double Bass should be at Suzuki Book 5 level or higher.

*WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING CELLISTS.*

2022 Fees

• Resident Campers: $625
  (includes shared room/bath, all meals, tuition, recreation)
• Commuter: $500
  (includes lunch, dinner, tuition, recreation)
• Private lessons: $35 per half hour

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.

Refund Policy

• $100 non-refundable after April 1.
• $200 non-refundable after May 1.
• $300 non-refundable after May 15
• May 15: Scholarship payments due to Furman, checks payable to Furman University and mailed to camp address below.
• No refunds after June 1.

Scholarships & Discounts

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.

• $100 All-State Gold Discount – Student earned placement in your state’s top honors ensemble on the instrument they will play at camp. In SC, the ensembles are called All-State Band, All-State Orchestra, All-State Jazz Ensemble.  ‘Alternates’ are not eligible for this discount.
• $ 50 Region Silver Discount – Student earned placement in your state’s regional honors ensemble on the instrument they will play at camp.  In SC, it is Region Band.  ‘Alternates’ are not eligible for this discount. County-level ensembles are not eligible for this discount.
• FU Employee Discount ($100) – Student’s parent/guardian must be current employee of Furman University. Contact the music camp office for more information. (call 864-294-2118)​

*Register Here on Eventbrite*

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.

Percussion

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

Jazz Ensemble

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

Campus housing

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

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.

Commuters

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.

Sunday

• 11am – 1pm, Registration Check-In for Boarders.
  McAlister Auditorium. Pick up packet. Move in. Eat lunch off-campus.
• 1-1:15pm, Commuter Check-In   McAlister Auditorium foyer.
• 1:30pm, Welcome Meeting for parents, students, faculty, staff (McAlister Auditorium). Parents depart after meeting.
• 2-9:30pm, Placement auditions, dinner, rehearsals, meetings.
• 9:30pm, commuter pick-up

Friday

• Housing Check-out before 11:00 am.  Students will be assigned a window of time during which they move out of campus housing. Time is based on their ensemble’s dress rehearsal schedule.
• Lunch 11:30am – 1pm depending on student’s ensemble rehearsal schedule. Family welcome; pay at the dining hall entry.
• Closing concert begins at 1 pm: FREE! Family and friends welcome! McAlister Auditorium. Concert will be recorded and media files made available in late summer.

• Director: Dr. Sue Samuels, Camp Director and Band Division Coordinator
  864-294-3193
  sue.samuels@furman.edu
• String Division Coordinator: Dr. Christopher Hutton
  864-294-2019
  christopher.hutton@furman.edu
• Administrator: Emily Sweezey, Director of Administration and Operations
  864.294.2118
  furmanmusicadmin@furman.edu