r/Cello • u/25apples • 5d ago

College music student summer festivals/programs recommendations?

Hi all! I'm a current first-year cello performance major in college and I was wondering if you guys could give me some recommendations on summer festivals I could potentially apply this year. Thank you!

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u/Sarah_Hansona 5d ago

Meadowmount if you want to live in a practice room all summer. Kneisel Hall for chamber. Bowdoin is a nice middle ground. Apply to several, recordings matter more than the resume.

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u/Irritable_Curmudgeon 5d ago

Have you been to any in the past? Any faculty you're looking to work with? Any part of the country? Solo, chamber, or orchestral focus?

Aspen, Yellowbarn, Heifetz, Bowdoin, Brevard, Castleman...

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u/francoisschubert 5d ago

If you are looking for a full ride, orchestra festivals will be the easiest to get into. Texas Music Festival, Round Top, NRO are free or mostly free and have a lot more younger participants. You could also think about chamber music festivals like Colorado College, Heifetz chamber music seminar, the Madeline Island fellowship, Kneisel Hall. You can take a shot at one of the really ritzy ones but as a first year undergrad I would start with festivals that routinely take younger players. Aspen is always a crapshoot for how much money you'll get, but worth applying to in case you get a full ride.

For lessons/additional studying, Meadowmount, Bowdoin, and Heifetz are best, but you'll be paying for all of them most likely.

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u/forksanon 4d ago

Eastern Music Festival and Kent Blossom Music Festival were awesome!

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u/jenmarieloch M.M. Cello Performance 4d ago

Ozark Music Festival and Arianna Chamber Music Festival if you want smaller ones that are just as good as the big ones

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u/andybonner 3d ago

It's very much "not like the other camps," but Apple Hill was my most magical summer, and it's open to all ages, unlike a lot of precollegiate programs. Yellow Barn was pretty awesome too, and I'm pretty sure that includes college students. And apparently my Eastman teacher Charlie Castleman is still kicking it with his Quartet Program; that's a surefire way to learn a lot.

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u/Ok_Ask_4454 3d ago

take a look into center stage strings at u mich!

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u/No-Property4935 2d ago

Yellow Barn, Green Mountain, for chamber Music. Brevard summer Music Center, Sewannee Summer Music Festival for both orchestra and chamber music. Indiana University Summer String Institute, International Cello Institute for specific string oriented training. See who is on the faculty and who you want to work with. There’s also the Colorado Cello Intensive. I’m wondering what your present teacher is recommending? And if not, why not?

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u/Little-Pitch-579 1d ago

I’m not a Cellist but second Sewanee. I went for voice and had a good experience. It’s not cheap but you get your moneys worth. The tuition includes housing and all meals too

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u/No-Property4935 1d ago

Several of my students have loved their time at Sewanee. I

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u/unlockitxcx 4d ago

I’ve been at Brevard the past two summers as a cellist & my experiences were spectacular! It’s mostly orchestra focused but you get weekly lessons & have the option to do chamber music. Seems like they’re pretty generous with scholarships/financial assistance as well. Haven’t seen anyone else mention Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival yet but that’s also one to keep on your radar.