Summer institutes and camps

Held annually on the campus of the Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, ON, SOSI is offers a Suzuki institute with group classes, master classes, recitals, and numerous electives. Many YAPCA students have attended over the years.

For advancing students, the Young Artists Program (YAP) at SOSI is an intensive experience under the tutelage of esteemed faculty: Jerzy Kaplanek (violin), Katie Schlaikjer (Cello), Anya Alexeyev (piano). Students who are eligible to participate in YAP:

• Violin - Students must have completed Suzuki Book 8 or are working at the Grade 9 RCM level or higher.
• Cello - If you are a cellist having completed Suzuki Book 7 or are working at the Grade 8 RCM level or beyond.
• Piano - Students who have completed the Mozart Sonata K.330 in Suzuki Book 6 or are working at the Grade 9 level or beyond

Admission to the YAP program for violin, cello, or piano requires a video audition.

The Domaine Forget academy is held yearly in Saint-Irénée in the Charlevoix region of Québec overlooking the St. Lawrence River. The strings academy if a four-week program, welcoming students age 16 and over. Students are required to submit an application and two audition videos of contrasting works. Please check the Domaine Forget site for details.

The National Music Camp in Orillia, Ontario provides several programs for string players. In both a junior and senior division, students can participate in an orchestral program or a Suzuki strings program.

Located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, USA, the American Suzuki Institute is a large multi-faceted summer institute, the first of its kind outside of Japan, where the concept originated with Shinichi Suzuki. In addition to the typical Suzuki institute format, ASI offers additional programs in chamber music. Students may choose to participate in a two-week, or a one-week chamber music program.

The Aber Suzuki Centre hosts two weeks of programming each summer. Violinists and cellists may attend either week. Violists attend the second week. Students in the one-week chamber program attend the second week. See the web site for details and registration.

Aria is an established, well-regarded summer music academy for advancing students age 16 and above. Located on the campus of Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, USA, the program offers two 2-week sessions each summer with an emphasis on solo work and musicianship.

This month-long academy works with advancing young string players to develop their solo performance and chamber music collaboration skills. Students have the opportunity to work with Jacobs School of Music faculty along with a range of world-renowned guest artists and ensembles. The program welcomes serious players between the ages of 12 and 18 by audition.

Boston University Tanglewood Institute is a premier summer training program for talented young musicians ages 14 to 20. BUTI is located in the beautiful Berkshire mountains of Lenox, Massachusetts just down the road from the Tanglewood Music Center: the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO). Students in the high-school age range participate in two-week workshops at the institute.

Interlochen Summer Arts Camp is a well-regarded program located in northwest Michigan, USA. String students may participate in one of several programs based on age and interest level.

For students in Grade 3-6, for example, students may participate in the Advanced Strings Summer Program or the general Music Program. Students in Grade 6-9 can choose to participate in the Advanced Strings Program or the Strings Summer Program.

See the Interlochen site for details concerning the dates and application and audition requirements. The early deadline for students applying to programs that require an audition is in early to mid January, but students may continue to apply thereafter and are considered on a rolling-admission basis.

The HeifetzPEG (Program for the Exceptionally Gifted) is a summer program for talented violinists, violists, and cellists. The program is held on the campus of Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, Virginia. A video audition comprising three pieces is required, including contrasting concert works or concerto movements along with a movement from a Bach suite, sonata or partita. The HeifetzPEG program is intended for children from 9-13 years of age. More on the application and audition process here.

Hosted at the Steinhardt School of Music at NYU in New York City, NY, this intensive strings program for high school students is an intense experience with world-class faculty. Students must be 12 and older. Two audition videos are required, representing two contrasting works.

The Montecito International Music Festival is held at La Sierra University in Southern California.