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 2008 institutional funders are:

• ASCAP Foundation
• Carnegie Corporation of New York
• National Endowment for the Arts
• New York City Department of Education
• Helena Rubinstein Foundation

Camp 2009

Summer Music Camp 2009 will take place for five weeks from June 29 through July 31, 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 2009 Summer Music Camp must be postmarked by Friday, December 5, 2008. 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 9, January 16, January 23, and January 30, 2009 from 3:00–7:00 p.m.

• To download a printable pdf of the 2009 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. 7579 (the camp hotline) or by e-mail at summercamp@msmnyc.edu.