The Summer Music Camp provides intensive high-quality musical instruction, free of charge, to New York City public school students completing grades 5, 6, 7, and 8, who demonstrate musical potential.

The curriculum emphasizes individual performance skills in orchestra, band, musical theater, and piano. Mandatory classes such as theory, ear training, private lessons, and large ensembles take place in the mornings. After lunch and recreation, campers can choose from a diverse array of musical and non-musical elective classes.

The Summer Music Camp was launched in 1999 in association with the New York City Department of Education and ASCAP.

The Manhattan School of Music Summer Camp 2009 institutional funders are:

• The ASCAP Foundation
• Carnegie Corporation of New York
• The D'Addario Foundation for the Performing Arts
• The Helena Rubinstein Foundation
• The National Endowment for the Arts
• The New York City Department of Education

Camp 2010

Summer Music Camp 2010 will take place for five weeks from June 30 through July 30, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Manhattan School of Music. The students are chosen from personal auditions at Manhattan School of Music with Dr. Joanne Polk, executive director, and Rebecca Charnow, director.

Applications and Auditioning

The program is open only to New York City Public School children, who are currently in grades 5–8. Please limit your applications to children who meet these guidelines, as they will be strictly enforced.

Applications for the 2010 Summer Music Camp must be postmarked by Monday, December 14, 2009. Applications postmarked after the deadline will not be scheduled for an audition. Upon receipt of your application you will be mailed an audition date and time. Auditions will take place on Friday, January 8, January 15, January 22, and January 29, 2010 from 3:00–7:00 p.m.

• To download a printable pdf of the 2010 Summer Camp audition requirements/application form, click here.

Applications should be mailed or faxed to:

Manhattan School of Music Summer Camp
120 Claremont Avenue
New York, NY 10027
Fax: (917) 493-4598

All other inquiries should be directed to the Summer Music Camp office by phone at (212) 749-2802 ext. 4475 (the camp hotline) or by e-mail at summercamp@msmnyc.edu.