Scholarship Programs

We are committed to making camp available to all interested families, and will make every effort to work with you to find a workable fee to get your camper to camp this summer!

Partial scholarships to families with financial need are based on family circumstances, instrument played and space available in the applicant’s age and gender group. Processing of applications begins in December and continues into the springtime.

To be considered for a partial scholarship, please complete our online Camper Application. Once we receive your request for financial aid, we will send a supplementary form regarding your personal financial situation.

Memorial Scholarships

Irwin Altman Memorial Scholarship

Irwin Altman is Camp Director Cara Bergantino’s maternal grandfather, and was a beloved Educator, Assistant Principal, School Superintendent, and summer camp enthusiast. In addition to his career in education, he spent his summers working as a Head Counselor at overnight camps in Maine at Camp Naomi/Joseph  and in Upstate New York at Camp Oquago.

After his death in 1993, the Middle School #172 in Queens, NY was renamed the Irwin Altman Middle School in his honor. In 2023, Altman’s children began an Encore/Coda scholarship in his name to bring one music student from the Irwin Altman Middle School to Camp Encore/Coda each summer. Irwin Altman knew first-hand the importance summer camp played in the development of young people, and he would have been thrilled to know a young musician was able to spend the summer in Maine in his name.

This yearly scholarship for one camper is funded by the generosity of Artie and Randy Altman and Candy Altman and Joe Bergantino.

Rebecca Lamb Conkle Memorial Scholarship

Becky Conkle,(1940-2012), pianist, vocalist, and music educator is remembered fondly for her impeccably high standards, tireless dedication to her students and colleagues, and a never-ending song in her heart. Her notoriously exuberant laughter was truly a thing of beauty!

She touched the lives of her classmates while pursuing her degree in Music Education at Murray State University in Kentucky and then again when, later in life she entered graduate school at Auburn University as an experienced teacher and parent to earn a degree in Special Education in order to bring her expertise into schools serving those with disabilities.
Becky raised her four children in a home where their creative interests were embraced, and then nurtured by her dedication to finding (and driving to!) music teachers and ensembles, purchasing instruments, and prioritizing daily practice for many years. Alongside their pursuits, she maintained an active voice studio and conducted a community chorus, all of which took place in the family’s living room on weekday afternoons and evenings! Additionally, she consistently provided exposure to what is possible when artists collaborate: opera companies, symphony orchestras, jazz bands, choral groups, singers and songwriters of all genres!
Becky was a big believer in the transformative power of attending a sleepaway music camp: finding yourself, taking risks, creating and living in a community with fellow artists also looking for inspiration and support through the expression and connection of music. It is in honor of her devotion to educating the next generation of musicians and creatives that this scholarship to Camp Encore/Coda was created.
 
If you’d like to contribute to this scholarship fund, please email cara@encorecoda.com.
Mouhamed Cisse Memorial Scholarship

Our scholarship devoted specifically to campers of color is in the name of beloved camper Mouhamed Cisse. Click the button below to visit our Mouhamed Cisse Scholarship Fund Page dedicated to Mouhamed’s memory to learn more and donate.

Mouhamed Cisse Scholarship
Start a Memorial Scholarship with Camp Encore/Coda

We are touched and honored when families and individuals start a scholarship fund to help give campers the best summer of their lives. If you would like to set up a memorial scholarship, the first step is to contact Cara (cara@encorecoda.com). She will be happy to speak to you about this process.