Conservatory
Fun rigorous musical lessons
Available to intermediate and senior campers, who are finishing 7th-11th grades.
Excited to dive deeper?
Our Conservatory Program was originally designed for Senior Campers who were preparing for college auditions. We have since opened it up to Intermediates who are looking for a rigorous musical experience and play at a very high level.
Since it is level based, admittance to this program is by audition only, via a video or audio recording.
Campers who are still looking for an intense musical experience but don’t play at the conservatory level will still be able to design their schedule to be packed with great musical instruction most hours of the day!
Private Lessons
Conservatory campers receive 2 hours of private instruction each week. We encourage conservatory campers to take all their private lessons on their primary instrument, but we do allow lessons on two instruments if a camper has a strong preference to study two. In that case, the camper would receive 1.5 hours of lesson time each week on the primary instrument and .5 hours on the secondary instrument.
Master Class
All of our conservatory campers participate in Master Class, which meets 2 hours per week. This class is a non-competitive environment that nurtures collaborative musical growth for our most advanced campers.
Performance
We encourage conservatory campers to perform as much as possible. Frequent performance opportunities are built into the regular fabric of Encore/Coda, including regular camper concerts, staff concerts, performance & master classes and special end-of-session concerts. In addition to these many in-camp performances, conservatory campers sometimes have the opportunity to perform in occasional out-of-camp concerts as well.
Audition Requirements
Recordings are sent to Cara: [email protected]
Instrumentalists
Please include the following in the recording:
- 6 major scales and 6 harmonic minor scales that demonstrate your range, intonation, tone and fluency.
- 2 contrasting solo pieces that best demonstrate your overall playing ability (concerto movement, etude, jazz standard, etc.)
- We prefer to hear a district or all-state level piece. Your teacher should be able to advise you on specific choices.
Vocalists
Please include the following in the recording:
- Sing two major scales in solfege (do-re-mi) that best demonstrate your range, intonation, and fluency
- 2 contrasting solo pieces that best demonstrate your overall ability
Typical Schedule Opportunities
Piano–Classical
Chamber music, individual practice—2 hours daily, conservatory master class, performance class, piano workshop, optional Accompaniment Class, optional Sight-reading Class
Piano–Jazz
Combo, individual practice—2 hours daily, conservatory master class, improvisation, jazz band, jazz piano workshop, performance class
Strings
Chamber music, chamber orchestra (w/faculty members), individual practice—2 hours daily, conservatory master class, performance class, senior orchestra
Wind/Brass/Percussion–Classical
Chamber music, chamber orchestra (w/faculty members), individual practice—2 hours daily, conservatory master class, performance class, senior orchestra, wind ensemble
Wind/Brass/Percussion–Jazz
Combo, individual practice—2 hours daily, jazz band, conservatory master class, performance class, wind ensemble
Vocal
Chamber choir, chorus, individual practice—2 hours daily, conservatory master class or musical theater, performance class, vocal chamber music, voice workshop
Other Activities
One hour of a musical or recreational elective is available each day, but does not include a musical theater option for instrumentalists, because the Conservatory Program requirements do not allow enough time for instrumental majors to participate in theater. Voice majors may participate in musical theater, since that is a primary performance vehicle for them. In addition to trip days with the whole camp, conservatory students do have occasional extra trips out of camp to attend professional chamber music concerts in the local area.
Our Music Faculty is dedicated to your growth
They are dedicated to ensuring that you have a great experience
Score your own experience
With so many musical programs there’s something for everyone at any level.
There’s so much fun to be had
Explore a day in the life
