Play. Grow. Connect. Through Music.
Iowa Summer Music Camps!
The UI School of Music, housed in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, invites students who have completed sixth grade and above to the University of Iowa for more specialized musical training.
School musicians who have completed the sixth grade and above may apply for admission as either resident or commuter campers. Please note that some of our camps have restrictions on grade completed or performing experience for their participants.
To apply, click on the "Application" button above, and complete the on-line application. If you have any questions, please contact the ISMC Office at 319-335-1635 or toll free at 1-800-553-IOWA, extension 5-1635. The ISMC Office FAX number is 319-353-2555 and the Iowa Summer Music Camps e-mail address is amanda-powers@uiowa.edu.
All students are required to attend all rehearsals, activities and concerts. Some sessions may close prior to the application deadline date because of limited capacity.
The Iowa Summer Music Camps (ISMC) offers students musical training and experience beyond what may be available in their home schools, including group instruction, master classes, and classroom instruction in many phases of instrumental music. The entire program, together with a preview of life on a major university campus, is a valuable experience for young people, not only in music but also in human relations.
This summer, the Iowa Summer Music Camps will offer educational experiences in Percussion, Jazz, Horn, Voice, Piano, Organ, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, and Saxophone. The faculty for all camps are University of Iowa School of Music faculty and nationally-recognized guest artists.
SESSION ONE: JUNE 11-16, 2023
PERCUSSION IMMERSION
Dr. Dan Moore, clinician and coordinator
Immerse yourself in five days of interactive clinics, masterclasses, and rehearsals led by internationally-recognized performers and educators Ginny Armstrong, Mat Britain, and others. Sessions will focus on a range of percussion disciplines such as snare drum, mallets, concert percussion, improvisation, multi-percussion, world percussion, and steel band.
JAZZ
Curtis Taylor, clinician and coordinator
NOTE: Participation in Jazz Camp is limited to 50 students.
To register, students must have at least 2 years experience playing in a jazz ensemble.
Our jazz camp gives students opportunities to interact and perform with professional jazz musicians throughout a week of music-making in small group/combo settings. Areas of study will include jazz improvisation, jazz theory, basic arranging skills, and the art of jazz listening. Camp activities include rehearsals, masterclasses, classes, as well as recreation and entertainment programs. Camp concerts and recitals are free and open to the public.
HORN CAMP (French horn)
Dr. Katy Ambrose, clinician and coordinator
Students enrolled in the Iowa Summer Horn Camp will improve their performance skills and their knowledge about the horn (French horn). This intense but fun camp will include daily large group sessions including: morning warm-ups, breathing class to encourage efficient sound production, technique class to develop embouchure and improve left hand/tongue coordination, ear training to isolate and improve accuracy on and off the horn, repertoire class where students will be introduced to appropriate horn etudes & solo repertoire, performance anxiety to introduce several strategies for managing stage fright, and equipment, maintenance & repair.
In addition to these large-group sessions, students will participate in: small-group lessons, one-on-one lessons, and horn choir rehearsals (parts will be modified as necessary to include younger players)
The week will culminate in a recital featuring the student horn choir, faculty/student collaborations, and solo performances from students (volunteer-based). No one will be compelled to publicly perform but performing with the horn choir is highly encouraged. Participation in large horn choir provides a unique opportunity, especially for younger students, to be part of a chamber music performance while in the accepting environment of other horn players who will also be cracking, splatting, and missing notes.
For more information about Iowa Summer Horn Camp, contact Dr. Ambrose: katy-ambrose@uiowa.edu
VOICE
Dr. Élise DesChamps, clinician and coordinator
Limited to students that completed 7th grade through high school graduation.
This 5-day vocal workshop is designed for talented, striving, and enthusiastic high school students who have a strong passion for musical theatre and song literature, and who have a desire to prepare for college auditions. Voice, movement, and acting are important parts of the program. The singers are led by university faculty and local professionals, as well as thriving students at the university.
During the intensive college-preparatory experience, students receive private lessons, group sessions, vocal coachings, participate in daily master classes, take courses in movement and acting, lyric diction, vocal health, college audition preparation, performance skills, and varied stage craft. Each student will also receive a wide range of performance experiences including solo and ensemble work, recitals featuring students and faculty, master classes with professionals, and mock auditions. The voice camp will take place at the beautiful Voxman building in the heart of the University of Iowa campus.
For more information about Iowa Summer Voice Camp, contact Dr. DesChamps: elise-deschamps@uiowa.edu
SESSION TWO: JUNE 18-23, 2023
CLARINET
Jorge Montilla, clinician and coordinator
Students enrolled in this summer camp will improve their overall clarinet playing. This intense but fun camp will include warm up sessions, group lessons, one-on-one lessons, basic /intermediate/advanced technique, clinics about clarinet related subjects, clarinet choir rehearsals, small clarinet ensembles, equipment, reed preparation, and students/faculty concerts.
DOUBLE REED
Benjamin Coelho and Dr. David Cyzak, clinicians and coordinators
Students enrolled in this camp will improve their overall playing on oboe or bassoon. The camp will include warm-up sessions, group lessons, one-on-one lessons, technique work, presentations on double reed related topics, reed making and preparation, double reed ensembles, and student and faculty recitals.
ORGAN
Dr. Gregory Hand, clinician and coordinator
Organ Camp is open to keyboardists with or without prior organ experience. Campers will receive daily organ lessons with UI faculty, learn about organ literature, music theory, and the fundamentals of organ building. Students will be required to practice 2 hours per day and will have access to the practice and concert organs in Voxman Music Building. For lessons, students with organ experience should bring 2-3 pieces, one of which should be performance ready. Students without organ experience should bring 2-3 pieces of suitable piano music (Baroque or Classical) that we can transfer to the organ. We will also provide you with organ music to use during the camp. Students must bring a pair of organ shoes. Special events will include faculty and student recitals. Feel free to email Dr. Hand at gregory-hand@uiowa.edu if you have questions about repertoire, shoes, or anything other camp questions.
Scholarships from the Frederick T. Rahn Jr. Memorial Fund are available for camp organists. To apply, students should send a video of a performance (can be piano or organ) and a one-paragraph essay on their experience with organ to Dr. Hand at gregory-hand@uiowa.edu.
PIANO
Dr. Alan Huckleberry, clinician and coordinator
Campers will be exposed to a wide variety of piano-related topics in a focused, serious, but non-competitive atmosphere. They will receive daily piano lessons with UI faculty. For the lessons, students should bring 2-3 pieces (with scores) at the difficulty of least the equivalent of level “D” (according to the IMTA syllabus). Of these pieces, at least one should be performance ready (memorized). Students will be required to practice 2 hours per day on our Steinway grand pianos. Further highlights of the camp include classes in music theory,piano literature, sight-reading, and music technology. Special events will include faculty and student recitals.
NATIONAL YOUTH SUMMER SAXOPHONE CAMP
Dr. Kenneth Tse, clinician and coordinator
Designed for intermediate through advanced high school students with a maximum number of 12 saxophonists. This camp includes master classes, group warm-up sessions, reed classes, quartet coaching, student concert, and saxophone ensemble! This course is geared toward students who plan to pursue a college degree in saxophone performance or music education. Existing quartets and international students are encouraged to apply. For master class performances, students should bring at least 2 prepared pieces (with scores). Students will be required to practice at least 2 hours each day.
Enrollment in this camp is limited to 12 students. If interested, please contact Dr. Kenneth Tse by email at kenneth-tse@uiowa.edu and provide him with the following information:
Name
How many years playing saxophone
Teacher's Name (Private lesson teacher, if applicable)
Grade level
IMPORTANT: Students should not submit payment for Saxophone Camp using the online registration form that is used for the other camps. Students that are accepted into the camp by Dr. Tse will be sent a link for the Saxophone Camp which can be used for registration and payment.
To register, use the online ISMC application form and credit card payment option on the Application page.
Dr. Richard Mark Heidel, Director