Band and Orchestra Camp

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Fantastique! Furman’s Band & Orchestra Camp 2023

Sunday – Friday, June 11-16

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.

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.

Eligibility Requirements

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.

Fees and Registration

2023 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

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 June 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 ensembles. 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. In SC, the ensembles are called All-State Band, All-State Orchestra, All-State Jazz Ensemble.  ‘Alternates’ are not eligible for this discount. (Use code All-State-Gold at checkout on Eventbrite.)
  • $50 Region Silver Discount – Student earned placement in your state’s regional honors ensemble.  In SC, it is Region Band.  ‘Alternates’ are not eligible for this discount. County-level ensembles are not eligible for this discount. (Use code Region-Silver at checkout on Eventbrite.)
  • 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)​ (Use code FUEmployee at checkout on Eventbrite.)
  • 2022 Band and Orchestra Camp Scholarship Recipient for 2023 Band and Orchestra Camp ($200) – Student will receive an email with details regarding this scholarship. (Use code BOC-Scholar at checkout on Eventbrite.)

*Register Here on Eventbrite Starting February 1*

Ensemble Placement

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

Additional Information

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.

Schedule: First and Last Day

Sunday

 

  • 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Registration, Audition, Move-In
  • 5:00 Information Meeting – campers and parents
  • 5:45 Parents depart
  • 6:00 Dinner
  • 7:00 Band/Orchestra Rehearsals
  • 8:30 Counselors meet campers and escort to dorms; Commuter pick-up
  • 9:30 Dorm Meetings/activities
  • 10:30 In Rooms
  • 11:00 Lights Out

Friday

 

  • 7:30 a.m. Breakfast
  • 8:00-9:00 (Lessons for those registered)
  • 9:00 All Large Ensembles Final Rehearsals
  • 10:30 Return to dorms/pack up/room inspections
  • 12:00 p.m. Lunch and change into concert attire
  • 1:00 PARENTS meet at dorms and load belongings
  • 1:30 Students report for concert/Parents to audience
  • 2:00 Camp Concerts!

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