10 Summer Music Camps for High School Students
If you’re a high school student passionate about music and looking to refine your skills over the summer, you should consider participating in a summer music camp. These camps come with multiple benefits, they not only help you build your technical skills but also help you learn teamwork, communication, and a work ethic useful for any field or career. They will also allow you to meet talented instructors who can provide you with insight and mentorship to help you choose the right path, along with exposure to different styles, techniques, and performing practices in music.
Attending summer music camps will enhance your college applications, making your experience stand out as it demonstrates passion and dedication toward your chosen field. Also, such experiences can be great material for your college essays and interviews, as they often make for interesting stories and achievements. The skills and knowledge in turn will lead to better performances in school music programs, prestigious ensembles, and competitions—all very impressive things to add to a college application!
Here’s our curated list of 10 best summer music camps tailored for high school students!
Location: Stanford University Campus, CA
Eligibility: Students between the age of 12-17, must have previous instruction in music for about 18 months.
Application Deadline: Applications for 2024 are closed. They usually close around the first week of May.
Dates: July 14 – July 19, 2024 | July 21 – July 26, 2024
Cost: $2,545 for the week, including housing and meals.
If you intend to learn about jazz as a musician, Stanford Jazz Camp is a great opportunity for you! At the camp, you will have the chance to learn jazz through a staged series of events that are intended to advance your technical skills. You will take jazz theory classes designed for all levels—beginner, intermediate, and advanced where you’ll explore the elements that form jazz harmony, song progression, and form, as well as scales. Masterclasses with faculty artists will focus on technique, tone, and the historical context of your instrument.
You will also get the opportunity to participate in a series of rewarding experiences, such as the Stanford Jazz Festival concerts. Through these concerts, you will be able to see and hear leading international jazz stars and teachers perform. To be a fitting finale to the concert experience, the CoHo Jam sessions will allow you to take in even more faculty performances and are open to any Jazz Camp participants and their guests.
2. GRAMMY Camp
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Eligibility: Students who are U.S. residents are currently enrolled in grades 9–12. Graduating seniors are welcome to apply however, incoming freshmen are not eligible
Application Deadline: Applications for 2024 are closed. Applications for the 2025 cohort will open in August.
Dates: July 14 – July 20, 2024
Cost: $1,800 including lunch, scholarships are available for eligible students.
It is a non-residential high school summer camp for students who aspire to make a career in music. Located at the GRAMMY Museum in downtown Los Angeles, you will be taught by professionals in the industry along with premier school instruction. There are multiple career tracks available according to your area of interest, such as:
Audio Engineering
Songwriting
Music Business
Vocal Performance
Electronic music production
Music and media
Instrumental Performance
GRAMMY Camp is a practical experience to develop real-world skills and connections. You'll get involved in hands-on workshops, master classes, and team projects, acquiring insight into the music industry. Beyond technical training, though, GRAMMY Camp nurtures creativity and innovation, allowing you to grow and develop alongside other talented peers who share your unwavering commitment and interest in music. Approximately 75-85 students are selected for GRAMMY Camp in Los Angeles, and that number is split into the various career tracks offered at Camp.
Location: Twin Lake, MI
Eligibility: Students enrolled in grades 5-12 are eligible to attend.
Application Deadline: Applications are open and are accepted on a rolling basis.
Dates: There are four 12-day sessions: June 26 – July 7 | July 10 – July 21 | July 24 – August 4 | August 7 – August 18
Cost: The cost ranges from $1,730 - $1,875, according to the program selected. There’s an additional non-refundable security deposit of $295 upon confirmation of the application.
The program will be intensive as it includes more than five hours of daily rehearsals, technique classes, and sectionals. You can also choose a minor of your choice to explore another area of performing arts while attending the camp.
You will experience the creation, performance, presentation, appreciation, and exploration of music not only through the lessons provided but also by participating in recreation and camp activities and attending arts-focused educational events present at the camp. There will be many performance opportunities, as well as the chance to attend Summer Arts Festival performances, that will help you gain exposure and confidence. The best part is that you will be acquainted with a supportive community of peers who are passionate about music just like you!
Location: Arizona State University campus, Tempe, AZ
Eligibility: High school students between the age of 14-19 with an interest or background in music.
Application Deadline: Applications for 2024 are closed. Applications typically close in May.
Dates: June 23 – June 28, 2024.
Cost: The cost is as follows:
$1,600 Overnight programming includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
$1,100 Daytime programming includes lunch.
There's also an additional non-refundable fee of $100
Popular Music Summer Camp at Arizona State University could be your cup of tea if modern music excites you! This program will offer you a pre-college experience that combines superlative instruction with cutting-edge facilities. You’ll get to immerse yourself in multiple tracks related to music, such as performance, songwriting, production, and music business, to establish your skills. As a camper, you will gain practical knowledge by getting access to state-of-the-art studio suites, performance and rehearsal spaces, writing rooms, and digital media labs, all updated with the latest technology in the field.
You'll have the chance to gain industry knowledge through a wide range of interactive workshops, master classes, and collaborative projects. Moreover, the camp helps with creativity and innovation, urging you to experiment and explore your unique musical style. Throughout the camp, you have a chance to network, meet with industry professionals and upcoming artists, and perform for your loved ones. The ASU Popular Music Camp will give you a taste of the study of music at the college level as well as a boost to your artistic talents!
Location: Baylor University Campus, Waco, TX
Eligibility: The camp is open to all woodwind, brass, and percussion students who will enter grades 9-12, and string students who will enter grades 10-12. Students are required to have played their instrument for at least two years.
Application Deadline: Applications are considered on a rolling basis and are currently closed. You can join their waitlist
Dates: June 9 – June 15, 2024
Cost: $650.00 including tuition, dormitory, meals, and activities. For commuter students, the cost is $460.00 including tuition, lunch, and camp activities
The High School Band and Orchestra Camp, hosted by the Baylor University School of Music, gives an intensive, enriching experience to aspiring young musicians. The curriculum for the camp is vast and covers every student's level of study, from beginner to advanced. You will get to immerse yourself in daily technique workshops, sectional rehearsals, full-band and orchestral concerts with chamber music, and much more. As a camper, you will also be able to listen in on musicianship classes led by renowned and distinguished musicians, as well as a great series of specialized workshops. Your mentors will be Baylor faculty and guest musicians who will enable you to learn and hone your potential. For each ensemble, you will have to audition for a placement.
Alongside learning, there are many social events and extracurricular activities that are formulated to form a community of like-minded students. You will get to interact, form bonds, and share your love for music with your fellow campers. The showcase concert will provide you with the opportunity to share your talents with families, friends, and the surrounding community to help build confidence and pride in your musical abilities.
Location: Interlochen, MI
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9-12) are eligible to apply.
Application Deadline: Applications are approved on a rolling basis according to spaces left, you can still apply!
Dates: For high school students there are one-week, three-week, and six-week sessions with varying dates. All the sessions take place between June and August.
Cost: Cost varies according to the length of the session: $1,830 for a one-week intensive camp, $6,765 for three weeks, and $10,080 for six weeks (including housing). There are need-based financial assistance and merit scholarships available.
Interlochen Summer Arts Camp is a well-known opportunity as well as a valuable experience for young artists to explore their passions in the arts. The camp will allow young musicians, actors, dancers, visual artists, writers, and filmmakers to make their mark. For music camps, you can opt for a camp based on your choice of instrument. Following your selection, you’ll get to attend an intense range of classes, workshops, rehearsals, and performances.
You'll get the opportunity to work with experienced, talented instructors on your music and perhaps some of the guest artists and conductors. Ideally, it is a forum to find your passions, bring them out, and work with our mentors. You will not only learn art but also life lessons, teamwork, and skills that will enable you to grow. There will also be multiple extracurricular activities, such as traditional camp games. More than just the study of art, you become a part of this community and learn to work with your peers and instructors.
Location: Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL
Eligibility: This program is open to high school, junior high school, and college students.
Application Deadline: Applications for 2024 are closed. Applications typically close in May.
Dates: July 7 – July 26, 2024
Cost: $1,880 including tuition, room, and meals.
The Illinois Chamber Music Festival and Camp is a unique opportunity for students in high school interested in chamber music to grow in it, with faculty around you to mentor and guide you in the field. Chamber music performance and ensemble work, technique, and working on musical interpretation are some of the things you will get to experience at the camp. There will be guided sessions and own-time rehearsals that feature a great deal of hard work with a variety of classical and contemporary works. You will also get the opportunity to enter some of the best performance venues and practice facilities Wesleyan has to offer.
Alongside the musical experience, you will get to interact with like-minded peers and make some lifelong friends and musical partners. There will be extracurriculars such as music theory and history, handbell choir, international dance, tennis, and swimming for you to indulge in. Moreover, through the performances, master classes, and special events, you will get to have one-on-one interaction with the faculty and guest artists to learn invaluable lessons and gain inspiration.
Location: Chapman's Orange Campus, CA
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9-12 are eligible to attend.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in May.
Dates: June 9 – June 15, 2024
Cost: From $1,095 - $1,295 (Partial scholarships are available).
Hosted by the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music in the College of Performing Arts, Chapman University offers an overnight instrumental camp for woodwind, brass, and percussion open to all students entering grades 9-12. The camp faculty and instructors are committed to providing students with an exciting, positive, and rewarding musical experience.
During the camp, you’ll get to participate in wind symphony rehearsals led by a guest conductor, learn chamber music curated by Conservatory faculty and guest instructors, attend elective classes with your peers, and explore musical styles in small ensemble rehearsals. The final performance will take place on June 14, 2024, at Musco Center for the Arts.
Location: UNC Greensboro, NC
Eligibility: Students enrolled in grades 5-12 are eligible to apply and will be divided into bands accordingly.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis till all the slots are filled.
Dates: There will be two week-long sessions: July 7 – July 12, 2024 | July 14 – July 19, 2024
Cost: The cost is as follows:
Overnight Package- $585 (includes instruction, AC dorm, meals, healthcare, and recreation).
Day Camp Package for Local Residents- $495 (includes instruction, meals, healthcare and recreation).
The UNCG Summer Music Camp can be a great experience for young musicians aiming to enhance their creative abilities in the field. You will get to be mentored by the top faculty present at the university while taking advantage of a variety of instructional offerings, which may differ from one student to another: private lessons, ensemble rehearsals, master classes, and workshops. Whether it is technique, repertoire, music theory, or composition that you are diligently working on, the wealth of material to which the camp exposes you readies you to be a more knowledgeable and confident musician.
Recreational time is a huge part of the camp for you to refocus and have fun. The camp will offer you a blend of inspiration, artistic growth, and the joys of summer. You will also be greeted by a diverse community of students who wish to explore music just like you, allowing you to forge a lifetime of friendships and skills learned in teamwork and leadership from group rehearsals and performances!
Location: Lenox, MA
Eligibility: Only female high school students in grades 9th and 10th are eligible.
Application Deadline: Applications are open and are accepted on a rolling basis.
Dates: 5 Week Session – June 23 to July 28, 2024 | 6 Week Session – June 23 to August 7, 2024
Cost: The cost for the five-week session is $14,300 and for the 6-week session, $15,600.
Belvoir Terrace Music Camp is a wonderful opportunity for young female musicians to extend their musical being in a brilliantly creative and nurturing environment. You’ll get to participate in private lessons, ensemble rehearsals, workshops, and master classes with a brilliant team of teaching artists committed to your development and success. You will spend over two hours daily with lessons, music classes, and practice. You can also choose two private lessons weekly on any instrument or voice.
You will have a chance to attend master classes with esteemed faculty from colleges like Julliard. All of this will be complemented with opera workshops, chamber music, and classes in chorus. You will gain great experience in teamwork, leadership, and, on the whole, communication. The camp will be a fulfilling experience for you, whether you are pursuing a professional career in music or working towards developing your passion and skills.
Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you would like to participate in a rigorous research program open to high schoolers, you should also consider applying to the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.