About St. Mary’s University Summer Orchestra Camp
St. Mary’s University proudly presents a Summer Orchestra Camp this June! Join us for a structured week of orchestra rehearsals, technique classes, fun electives, and a final concert. Camp dates are June 24-28, 2024
The camp is open to middle school and high school students in grades six through 12.
Camp Details
June 24-28, 2024
Fee: $300
We are not yet accepting registration for Summer 2025.
Warm-up: Meet in Guadalupe Chapel for the start of each day.
Orchestra Rehearsal: Orchestra students will rehearse in one of two orchestras in preparation for the Friday evening finale concert under the direction of Bassam Nashawati, Orchestra Director of the St. Mary’s University Symphony Orchestra. Faculty include John Thornton (Violist and Churchill High School Orchestra Director), Lydia Yanez (Cellist and Roosevelt High School Orchestra Director), and Chris DeArmond (Bassist and Pease Middle School Orchestra Director).
Technique Class: Sections of the orchestra work specifically on fundamentals specific to their instruments to improve each student’s abilities and technique on assigned Region music.
Sectionals: Sections of the orchestra work specifically on concert music, affording each student the opportunity to improve their playing abilities on individual parts in their respective sections.
Electives: Registered students will have the opportunity to choose an elective to learn something else of their own musical interest.
- Conducting
- Theory
- Musical Anecdotes, Oddities, and Appreciation
- Audition Strategies and Techniques
Placement Auditions
The first day of camp includes auditions. The placement auditions are supportive, encouraging, and help us place students in ensembles that best fit each musician’s level of expertise. We want every musician to have the best possible camp experience.
Students will be asked to play a solo of their choice.
Example Schedule
| 8:30 a.m. | Arrivals and final registration in the Courtyard of the Music Building |
| 9 a.m. | Group Welcome and Instructions |
| 9:30 a.m. | Placement Auditions |
| 11:40 a.m. | Lunch |
| 1 p.m. | Orchestra Rehearsals (students provided assigned parts based on audition results) |
| 8:30-8:50 a.m. | Camp Meeting in Guadalupe Chapel |
| 9-10:20 a.m. | Orchestra Rehearsals |
| 10:30-11:50 a.m. | Sectionals |
| 12 p.m. | Lunch |
| 12:50-1:40 p.m. | Electives |
| 1:50-2:50 p.m. | Orchestra Rehearsals |
| 3-4 p.m. | Technique Classes |
| 6 p.m. | Chaminade Orchestra Concert in Guadalupe Chapel |
Camp Fee
$300 Registration
Includes camp tuition, lunch Monday-Friday, dinner Friday before the evening concert, sheet music, folder, badge with name and schedule, bottled water, and camp t-shirt.
We are not yet accepting registration for Summer 2025.
Optional Fees
While we officially open Orchestra Camp at 8 a.m. and require students to be picked up by 4:30 p.m. every day, we can accommodate parents and guardians needing earlier arrival and/or later pickup times.
$30 Early Arrival: 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.
$30 Late Pick-up: 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Fees are the total for the week
Safety Protocols
Orchestra rehearsals, sectionals, masterclasses, and final concert will be held in the Music Building in Treadaway Hall.
Contact
For more information about the St. Mary’s University Summer Music Camp, contact the Orchestra Director at St. Mary’s University, Matthew Mireles, Ph.D. at mmireles1@stmarytx.edu.