Summer Camps

The opening registration date for all Band, Orchestra, Choir and Organ Camps is always posted on our Summer Camps Website during the Fall Semester. This year’s date is: Wednesday, February 18^th at 10 AM.

The ACTIVE Registration link will be public and accessible from our website.

The Summer Piano Institute utilizes a separate application process.  Students accepted to the camp will be emailed with a private registration link.  For more information, please visit this website.

A residential camper will be staying on campus in a Baylor dormitory while participating in camp.  Residential tuition includes all camp activities and instruction, as well as their dorm room and 3 meals per day.

A commuter camper will be staying off campus while participating in the camp.  No housing of any kind will be provided. Commuter tuition includes all camp activities and instruction but does not include a dorm room and three meals per day. 

 HSBO, MSBO, SPI and Organ Camps include lunch* for commuter campers, with the option to purchase a commuter meal package for breakfast and dinner.

All-State Choir Camp Commuter Camper tuition includes both lunch* and dinner daily.

*Check-in day does not include lunch. Meals begin for each camp with dinner on the first day of camp. Dinner for HSBO, MSBO, SPI and Organ Commuters is not included unless the Commuter Meal Package has been purchased.

Specific instructions will vary per camp, but here are some general lists:

Dormitory Materials

• Extra long twin sheets
• Blanket
• Pillow with pillowcase
• Alarm clock
• Bath towels
• Wash cloth
• Soap/Shampoo
• Deodorant
• Heavier blanket or small fan: Temperatures in rooms are not individually controlled.

Clothing

• Casual, comfortable clothes for rehearsals, master classes, and instructional time. Please dress appropriately.
• Sportswear for recreation time.
• Swimsuit for the pool.

Yes, except for piano, organ and percussion students. Percussion students need to bring their own mallets.

Band and Orchestra camp students should bring a folding music stand marked with their name.

Specific instructions may vary according to camp, but generally the following dress is expected:

• Males - dress shirt, tie, dress slacks, and dress shoes is appropriate.
• Females - Blouse and dress pants or nice dress is appropriate.

A typical day varies depending on the camp.  Click the link below to see a sample day/schedule from 2025.  Please note that these are samples and subject to change.

• All-State Choir Camp Sample Day
• High School Band and Orchestra Camp Schedule 2025
• Middle School Band and Orchestra Camp Schedule 2025
• Summer Organ Camp Sample Day
• Summer Piano Institute Sample Day

All our camps are highly structured so there is not much true “free time.”   Most camps have an hour or two of free time built-in as an option in the afternoons before dinner, and there are scheduled break times between rehearsals. Additionally, there are fun and relaxing activities scheduled each evening of camp.

No, campers do not have access to campus Wi-Fi.  If your camper needs Wi-Fi, they can use their personal hotspot on their cell phones.

Participating in summer courses while at camp, especially those that require specific log-in times, is not advisable.  Students have very limited free time and they are not permitted to miss ensemble rehearsals to participate in outside classes.  Additionally, they do not have access to the Baylor Wi-Fi network. 

At all camps, we have 1 counselor assigned to every 10 campers. Your student’s group counselor will be staying in the same hall and will be responsible for knowing the whereabouts of all group members.  Additionally, we have Head Counselors and Camp Administrators who are on-site throughout the week.

Campers are allowed to have their cellphones at camp, but they must have them powered off during instructional time. Most campers will check phone messages during breaks, mealtimes, or at the end of the day, but if you need to get an urgent or time sensitive message to your camper, there are several options.

The phone number of the Onsite Camp Office will be posted in our handbook if you would like to leave a message for the Onsite Camp Administrator. 

Additionally, the cell phone numbers of the Head Male and Female Counselors will be posted in the Residence Halls when you drop off your student. This is the most direct way to reach your camper when they do not have phone access.

You are also welcome to call the School of Music Camp Office (254-710-6511) during business hours to get a message to your camper. 

• All-State Choir Camp offers a partial scholarship code to current All-State Choir Participants for a limited time.  You must have your code at the time of registration to receive the discount. See the ASCC website for details.
• Middle School Band and Orchestra Camp does not offer any scholarships or financial assistance.
• High School Band and Orchestra Camp does offer a limited number of merit-based scholarships. All scholarships are awarded by Baylor School of Music Faculty.

Recipients will be emailed with a scholarship offer and will receive a separate registration link upon acceptance of that scholarship. Scholarship recipients should not register using the general registration link posted on our website.

If you believe that your student may be a candidate for a scholarship and would like to learn more, you may email beverly_shultz@baylor.edu for more information.

Camp check-in begins in McCrary Music Building.  Specific instructions for your child’s camp can be found in your Camp Handbook that is posted on the website. Check-in instructions for Summer Piano Institute and Organ Camp will be emailed to you.

No, we are unable to pick up students from the airport.  You are responsible for getting your camper to and from our campus.  Often, families will choose to carpool to camp, with one family dropping off and another picking up.  It is permissible to have someone other than a camper’s legal guardian bring them to and from camp.  The student’s parent or legal guardian should email beverly_shultz@baylor.edu giving written permission for their camper to arrive/depart with another person/family.

Please email beverly_shultz@baylor.edu to make these arrangements. 

Yes, this is permissible in extenuating circumstances, but it must be pre-arranged.  Please email beverly_shultz@baylor.edu to make these arrangements. 

Commuters will need to arrive and check in with the commuter counselor before their first rehearsal which will begin between 8 and 8:30 AM, depending on the camp.  Pick-up time will depend on the camp and whether your commuter is participating in the evening activity.  There will be a Commuter Parent Meeting on the first evening of camp where you will be given specific information about pick-up/drop-off each day. 

A sign-up link will be emailed to you a few weeks before camp begins at the primary address in your camper’s account. A time will be assigned to your student if they do not complete the sign up.

We request that you make every effort to be present for auditions.  If your circumstances give you no other alternative, please email beverly_shultz@baylor.edu to make alternate arrangements.

The Jazz Audition for High School Band and Orchestra Camp will consist of one sightreading piece and an optional improvisation on an F Blues. No Jazz experience is required! Please see the updated handbook for more information.

Middle School Band and Orchestra Camp has no required audition to participate in the Jazz Ensemble! Students will sign up to participate during the Camp General Meeting on check-in day (Sunday).

Our Summer Piano Institute requires a separate audition process to register for camp. Applicants who are accepted to the program will be notified and sent a private registration link.  Updated application information will be posted to our website by early February.

Yes, campers are allowed to bring non-perishable snacks for their rooms. 

Yes, the campers will use a community bathroom in their hall.  No one of the opposite gender will have access to their hallway or bathroom.  There are sinks located in each dorm room.

No, campers are advised to bring non-perishable ready-to-eat snacks only. If your student has a medication that needs refrigeration, there is a refrigerator in the dorm kitchen that can be utilized.

No, you may only request one roommate because most of our rooms accommodate only two students.

**Triple rooms cannot be guaranteed but they are sometimes available in very limited quantities. If you have three students who would like to room together, you can have each of the three requests one of the other: 

Ex: Mary, Kate and Debbie all want to room together.  Mary requests Debbie; Debbie requests Kate; and Kate requests Mary.  This creates a “triangle” and alerts our counselors that the three girls know each other and would like to room together. 

Please email beverly_shultz@baylor.edu to make that change at least 3 weeks before camp begins.

No, students can only be assigned to a room with someone of the same biological gender. 

Baylor is very experienced with handling food allergies and different dietary needs. All camp dining is at Penland Dining Hall which has many choices for every meal.  Everything is clearly marked so that there is no question about what is safe.

Here is a link to our Campus Dining Allergen Guide.  

Campers are permitted to bring some of their own food items to camp.  Many students bring snacks.  Please note that they will not have access to a refrigerator or microwave in their dorm rooms.

Students are expected to keep track of their own medications while at camp. Camp Staff may offer reminders only; they will not be responsible for administering medication. 

Please read the following excerpt copied from our handbook:

Healthcare and Emergencies while at Camp