Middle School Band & Orchestra Camp

Grades: 7 - 9

Date: June 15-21, 2025

The date registration will be available is February 19, 2025.

Purpose of the Camp

The Baylor University School of Music annual Middle School Band and Orchestra Camp offers one week of intense, yet fun-filled training in performance. Camp students are under the artistic supervision and guidance of the faculty of the Baylor School of Music. In addition, outstanding music teachers, conductors, and performers from throughout the state of Texas will join the staff to ensure that students receive the highest quality instruction. The camp will conclude Saturday morning with the Grand Concert featuring musical performances by each of the camp ensembles.

Eligibility

The camp is open to all students who will enter grades 7 - 9 during the fall. It is a prerequisite that students have played their instrument for at least one year.

Daily Schedule

Each day students will be involved in large ensemble rehearsals, sectional rehearsals, and group lessons. The sectional rehearsals will involve the students in groups of reduced size receiving individual instruction on their ensemble music. The group lessons will be taught by the Baylor faculty and camp staff and will be divided into small groups according to the ability level of the students. These lessons will cover basic musicianship skills and techniques particular to each instrument.

Daily Recreation

Daily recreational activities balance the musical and educational experiences of the camp. Each student will have the opportunity to enjoy supervised swimming, basketball, and other games. Afternoon activities take place on the Baylor campus and are supervised by the camp staff. Evening events, if planned, may take place away from campus and will be chaperoned by camp staff. Each student's well-being at camp is our primary concern.

Cost

The cost of the seven-day camp is $650 which includes tuition, dormitory, meals, and activities. Commuter students may elect not to stay in the dorm and pay $460 which includes tuition, lunch, and all camp activities. Commuter students may purchase breakfast and dinner for the week for an additional $97.50.

Housing and Meals

Students will be housed in regular Baylor dormitories and will receive all meals in the University dining halls. Roommates will be assigned unless specific roommate requests are made.  Although we cannot guarantee that each camper will be roomed with the individual he/she requests, we do our best to honor all roommate requests. Dormitory rooms accommodate two students. We won't know which dormitory the camp will be using until May. While in the dormitories, all camp students will be under the careful supervision of the camp staff, and security will be a priority. Meals begin with dinner on Sunday, June 15 and end with breakfast on Saturday, June 21.

Auditions

Each student will be asked to audition for placement in the ensembles for the camp. Please prepare one selection of your choice (a solo, band or orchestra piece, etude, etc.) and as many major scales as possible for your audition. You may also be asked to sight read.

Registration Information

Camp enrollment is limited to 400 students and is filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Application for registration must be received no later than May 30.  To secure registration, a non-refundable deposit of $200 must be paid online in concurrence with the registration. Note: The $200 deposit will be applied toward to the total cost of the camp.

Refund Policy

Campers who cancel registration by 3:00 pm on May 31, 2025, are eligible to receive a full refund of camp registration fees less the non-refundable $200 deposit. Please send an email to Rachel_Alston@baylor.edu by this date if you must cancel your registration. 

Campers who fail to notify the camp office by email of their intent to cancel registration by 3:00 pm on the Wednesday before camp begins are ineligible to receive a refund of any portion of camp registration fees.

Camp Faculty

• TBD