Summer Music Camps
Spend part of your summer making music on Westminster University’s Salt Lake City campus with faculty, current music students, guest artists, and young musicians who share your love of performing, learning, and making new friends.
Which camp is right for me?
Pianists can choose to attend either camp, or both. SummerSong has two collaborative piano apprenticeships. SummerStrings and Piano is open to all pianists.
SummerSong
Singers and collaborative pianists
June 13–19, 2027
Overnight Camp
Who can attend: Incoming 9th graders through graduating high school seniors. 30 singers, plus 2 piano apprentices
Technical focus: Voice lessons, staged opera and musical theatre scenes
Cost: $400
Application deadline: April 30, 2027
The final concert will be held on Friday, June 18 at 7:00 p.m.
SummerStrings and Piano
String players and pianists
June 28–July 2, 2027
Day camp, from 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Who can attend: Incoming 9th graders through graduating high school seniors and college students
Technical focus: Chamber music, chamber orchestra, piano ensembles
Cost: $400
Application deadline: April 30, 2027
The final concert will be held on Friday, July 2 at 7:00 p.m.
Students study every day with Westminster faculty, stage scenes from opera and musical theatre, and perform in a final concert on the last night, all while getting a taste of college life in a supportive, collaborative community.
What You’ll Do
Learn
Get private lessons and a masterclass in vocal technique and acting. Participate in movement sessions with our dance faculty and the Alexander technique, a method for releasing tension and freeing the body and voice. Special topics including performing with confidence, and an open faculty panel on college, scholarships, and life in the performing arts.
Perform
Take daily staged-scenes classes, with one opera scene and one musical theatre scene, directed by our opera director and theatre professor. There will be a final showcase featuring both scenes and a solo of each camper’s choice.
Enjoy camp life
Enjoy fun activities led by our counselors, who are current Westminster music students.
Included in the Cost:
- On-campus housing with counselor supervision
- All meals and snacks
- A camp t-shirt and swag bag
- Access to campus amenities, including practice rooms with new pianos, a dining hall with its own Starbucks, and the Dolores Doré Eccles Health, Wellness, and Athletic Center.
Final Showcase Concert
Friday, June 18 at 7:00 p.m., Vieve Gore Concert Hall
Family and friends are welcome!
NEW! Collaborative Piano Apprenticeships
Two pianists will be selected as SummerSong apprentices, working closely with Emily Williams, Westminster’s vocal coach, pianist, and opera music director. Apprentices gain guided, hands-on experience music directing and collaborating with singers, building on one of the most in-demand skills in music. Both apprentices receive full camp scholarships and are also welcome to attend SummerStrings and Piano.
Students spend each day in faculty-coached chamber groups, chamber orchestra, and piano ensembles, with masterclasses and seminars that build friendships as well as musicianship.
SummerStrings and Piano Application
What You'll Do
Learn
Get daily chamber music coaching with Westminster faculty and guest artists. Take masterclasses for solo and chamber groups. Participate in seminars on the history of chamber music theory concepts, and improving performance. There will be an open Q&A with faculty over bagels on college, scholarships, and life in music and more.
Play Together
Play in chamber groups, chamber orchestra (with faculty playing side by side with students), and piano ensembles.
Perform
There will be a final concert on Friday evening with a dessert reception to follow.
Included in the Cost:
- A welcome breakfast, lunch, and snacks every day, and a catered dinner before the final concert.
Optional:
- Private lessons with Westminster faculty for an additional fee.
Final Showcase Concert
Friday, July 2, 7:00 p.m., Vieve Gore Concert Hall
Family and friends are welcome!
Costs and Scholarships
Both camps cost $400 for the full week, thanks to the generous support of the Florence J. Gillmor Foundation. SummerSong‘s cost includes room, board, and counselor supervision (a $2,500 value). SummerStrings and Piano’s cost is a $1,500 value, and current Westminster students get a discount.
We don’t want cost to keep any student from attending. Full and partial scholarships are available for both camps, so just ask when you apply.
- First-place winners in any high school category of the Northern Utah NATS auditions are automatically offered a full scholarship to SummerSong. Singers who place in the classical categories are especially encouraged to apply.
- SummerSong’s two collaborative piano apprentices receive full scholarships.
How to Apply
Applications for both camps are due by April 30, 2027. Students will be notified of acceptance by May 7, 2027.
Application Materials
- Fill out the online application form
- You’ll need to submit an audio file or a performance video of 1–2 solo vocal or piano pieces to summersong@westminsteru.edu after you apply.
Apply for SummerSong Apply for SummerStrings and Piano
For questions, Contact Emily Nelson at enelson@westminsteru.edu.
Piano Faculty
- Dr. Julie Page, SummerSong Piano Director and Westminster Collaborative Pianist
- Dr. Kimi Kawashima, Westminster Piano Faculty
- Dr. Jason Hardink, Utah Symphony Principal Keyboard and Westminster Piano Faculty
- Emily Williams, Westminster Collaborative Pianist and Vocal Coach
Vocal Faculty
- Dr. Emily Nelson, SummerSong Vocal Director and Westminster Vocal Faculty
- Aubrey Adams-McMillan, Westminster Vocal Faculty
- Hilary Koolhoven, Westminster Vocal Faculty
- Emily Williams, Westminster Collaborative Pianist and Vocal Coach
Contact
-
Emily Nelson
Adjunct
Emily Nelson
- ADJUNCTS
- Adjunct
- Voice
- Soprano, World Music
She/Her/Hers
Julie Page
Accompanist
Julie Page
- PART-TIME Staff
- Accompanist
- Voice
She/Her/Hers
