INTERLUDE - Youth Chamber Music Camp Application Information

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The mission of Collaborative Musicians’ Project is to promote live chamber ensemble music education and performances. The Interlude Youth Chamber Music Camp is designed to allow serious young musicians the opportunity to develop skills for successful participation in chamber ensembles, enabling them to develop lifelong music experiences. 

Schedule: Interlude Youth Chamber Music Camp (occurring at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church – 411 156th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA) will run as a day/evening experience from June 23-27, 2025 with a mid-morning concert held on June 28, 2025. This is NOT a boarding camp.

• Daytime classes and rehearsals - Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (with option to stay to 4:00 PM)
• Evening concerts - Monday through Friday, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM 
• Saturday concert - 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Eligibility: Students are eligible for Interlude Youth Chamber Music Camp with the following criteria:

• ages 13 to 18 (recently graduated) – rare exceptions considered on a case-by-case proven basis
• actively studying with a private teacher or in a school music program on the instrument they are auditioning on
• show proficiency in an audition

Intermediate Youth Chamber Music Camp participants are expected to have the following skills:

• firm knowledge of time signatures, key signatures, note reading, intermediate-level rhythm
• ability to cleanly play two octave scales up to four sharps/flats and a clean two-octave chromatic scale
• clean demonstration of lyrical and technical passages reflecting a strong intermediate level of performance
• basic sightreading ability

Advanced Youth Chamber Music Camp participants are expected to have the following skills:

• firm knowledge of fundamental music theory 
• ability to cleanly play two octave scales in all keys and a clean near-full range chromatic scale appropriate to instrument.
• clean demonstration of lyrical and technical passages reflecting an advanced level of performance
• confident sightreading ability

Audition and Application: Interlude Youth Chamber Music Camp is an intensive program designed for serious music students who are excelling on their instrument. Ensemble size will be limited to small chamber ensembles. In order to be considered for this program the following is needed to complete application:

1. Complete application, attaching audition video link
2. Payment of $25 application fee (you will be prompted to pay upon application submission)
3. Teacher submits  recommendation form*

*The teacher noted in the student application will receive an email link to complete the recommendation. The recommending teacher should be one of the following:

• Private teacher of the student on the instrument they are auditioning on
• School music teacher who works with the student in class 

Students may audition on more than one instrument, but will be assigned instrument(s) upon acceptance, depending upon ensemble need. 

AUDITION DEADLINES:

• March 16, 2025, 11:59 PM PST - early-bird deadline
• April 13, 2025, 11:59 PM PST - standard deadline 
• Auditions submitted after April 13, 2025 may receive acceptance if an opening is available (this page will update with status of availibility)

Auditions will be submitted with the application using a YouTube link to a video audition (directions below), which will include the following:

• Introduction of self, scales and selected audition excerpts 
• Audition video of specific instrument expected requirements (HERE)

**TIPS FOR VIDEO AUDITIONS**

1. the video audition should be a video shot of the student playing the audition music, including their face and full view of the instrument. Choose the best take of each of your selections. The audio in your recording may NOT be edited in any way (use of studio effects/spliced). If possible, compile the individual videos into a single video in the order indicated above. If you do not have the tools to do this, separate tracks are fine.
2. Speak loudly and slowly when introducing yourself and what you will play.
3. Insure your video is formatted as one of the following: MOV, MPEG4, MP4, AVI, WMV.
4. When uploading your video to YouTube, set the Privacy to ‘UNLISTED’
5. Visit https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/57407?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en for a step-by-step tutorial on how to upload your video to YouTube, if needed.
6. Save your original recordings until you have heard back regarding your audition results.

Acceptance: Enrollment in the Interlude Youth Chamber Music Camp will be limited to 40 total students. Students will be notified of audition results within two weeks following the most recent audition deadline. Accepted students must confirm their commitment to participate within three days of the notification. Additional students will be placed on a waiting list, in the case of an opening (and notified accordingly). 

Fees: All applications will include a $25 application fee. Students who are accepted will have that fee credited to their tuition account. Accepted students will pay tuition as follows:

• $775 - if applied prior to March 16, 2025, 11:59 PM PST
• $850 if applied March 17, 2025 or later

Payment must be submitted in full by June 1, 2025, 11:59 PM PST (installments are welcome prior to that date, as long as full payment is complete by June 1, 2025, 11:59 PM PST. Please inquire if needed). Fees are non-refundable after June 9, 2025, 11:59 PM PST. 

Payment should be made in one of the following forms:

• check made out to Collaborative Musicians’ Project. 
• Electronic payment is acceptable upon request (contact youth.ensembles@comusicpro.org). 

Scholarships are available for accepted students who get free-reduced lunches or whose families receive other social services. Please note need on application.

Rehearsals: Students will be assigned daily rehearsal times during the week. An additional hour of rehearsal time will be available from 3:00 – 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. Students can sign up, as desired, a day in advance during the week.

Performances: Each night of the camp will have a performance featuring a Sponsored Ensemble that is working with the camp. These concerts will also include side-by-side collaborations. Students are required to attend these concerts if they are assigned to perform, and other students are strongly encouraged to attend (there will be a reward involved). All camp participants will have free admission to all concerts. The public will pay ticket prices. Saturday, June 28, 2025 will be the final performance of all student ensembles. This concert will occur mid-morning and will be free admission for all. All concerts will be advertised and open to the public.

Expectations: Students who are accepted to participate in Interlude Youth Chamber Music Camp are expected to:

• Attend ALL rehearsals and performances. Attendance is not optional. 
• Arrive to all rehearsals/performances early enough to play at the beginning of the scheduled time and stay for the full length of the rehearsal or concert. 
• Chamber ensembles are reliant on EVERY member covering their part. If a rehearsal will be missed, due to a rare emergency, it is the responsibility of the ensemble to find a replacement rehearsal that week where all members can be present. Failure to follow attendance expectations will result in the student being dismissed for the week. In case of the rare true emergency, leniency will be granted.
• Bring all necessary equipment to rehearsal: instrument, music, pencil and stand.
• Come to the first and all consecutive rehearsals having invested necessary practice time to contribute positively to the ensemble. Failure to show consistently adequate preparation will result in the student being dismissed from the ensemble for the week.
• Show respect at all times to coaches and all other students. A positive attitude and participation is expected. Failure to this expectation will result in the student being dismissed from the ensemble for the week.

Pre-arranged Ensembles: Occasionally, students are already formed into an ensemble and wish to work in that ensemble, or several students who are friends may wish to be formed into an ensemble. In these situations, all students would indicate their preference on their individual application and submit individual auditions. All students must be accepted individually and can then be placed into their desired ensemble groups, if all are accepted. 

Side-by-Side Experiences: Students in the Advanced level Youth Chamber Music Camp will be assigned to perform with Sponsored Ensemble Members in a side-by-side setting. These students will perform with the assigned side-by-side ensemble on an evening concert. Some exceptional Intermediate Ensembles may also be chosen for this experience.

Meals: Students will have an hour break for lunch. Lunch will not be provided, and there will not be access to a kitchen. Students should bring their own lunch, or expect to walk or drive to a local establishment for food. Students will be allowed to leave the church property during the lunch hour ONLY if they have provided a signed permission/waiver form. Students who violate this policy will be dismissed from the full week experience.

Inclusion Policy: Collaborative Musicians’ Project will support and provide fair and equal musical training to all students regarding physical and mental abilities, economic status, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender orientation, or other status. All participants should feel comfortable, supported and valued in expressing their needs, concerns and ideas.

Health Policies: All participants in live rehearsals will be expected to follow the restrictions recommended by the Washington State Health Department. Please do not attend rehearsals if you are ill. Students who are feeling well, but may be contagious, are welcome to attend, provided they keep a mask on at all times.