Camps

The Arts+ String Orchestra Camp is back again for 2023! Young musicians from across the Charlotte area come together to learn, perform, and grow as musicians together. The camp is filled with games, new music, four different orchestras, chamber music experiences, and a NEW Orchestra 101 track for rising 5th-8th-grade students. Our string campers are sure to make memories that last a lifetime. Our players will learn from and perform alongside top educators from the Charlotte Symphony and Charlotte-area schools. Camp will finish with a concert on Friday afternoon that is free and open to the public.

Camp musicians grow in confidence in their instruments, hone their technique, and discover just what they're capable of as an orchestra player. Come join us to make some amazing music together!

OUR ENSEMBLES

• Green Orchestra (8th-12th grade)
• Blue Orchestra (5th-8th grade)
• Orchestra 101 (5th-8th grade) - Learn a New Instrument - No experience required! (Sign up here)
• Red Orchestra (K-5th grade)

NEW! ORCHESTRA 101 CAMP
A new offering to the Arts+ summer lineup, Orchestra 101 is designed for middle school students who are interested in joining an orchestra! No experience is required. This camp is perfect for students who have never been in an orchestra before, or who have some orchestra experience but want to change instruments. Available instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass. To learn more and register, click here.

PREREQUISITES
Blue and Green Orchestras: Students must have at least one school year's worth of instruction on their instrument and be able to read music for their instrument.

Red and Yellow Orchestras: Students must have at least one school year's worth of instruction on their instrument. Note-reading skills are not required.

END OF CAMP CONCERT
Campers will perform the music they have learned this week in a special concert on Friday. The performance will be at 2:00 p.m., and camp will be dismissed at the concert's conclusion. Students will wear their camp t-shirts for the concert. Additional information will be sent out the week of camp.

MERIT AWARDS
Merit Awards of $50 toward camp tuition are available to students who are members of the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra (CSYO), Youth Orchestras of Charlotte (YOC), Union Symphony Youth Orchestra (USYO), Western Regional Orchestra Jr., All-State Regional Orchestra and CMS Middle or High School Honors Orchestra. Contact our Student Services Coordinator before completing your registration at registration@artsplus.org to process a merit award.

TALENT-BASED SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
We award full-tuition scholarships, based on audition: the Debbie Abels Scholarship and the Tosco Music Scholarship (for either Orchestra or Band Camp). Advanced students who have registered may audition in June. Both scholarships are for the full camp tuition. The Debbie Abels Scholarship winner will also have the honor of performing one movement of a concerto or a solo piece at the final camp concert. Please email the camp director, Erica Hefner at orchestra@artsplus.org, to schedule an audition time in June. The winner will have their tuition waived upon selection by the audition committee.

SOLO COMPETITION SCHOLARSHIP
Advanced students who have registered for String Orchestra Camp may audition in June for a full-tuition scholarship to camp. The solo competition scholarship winner will perform their solo, with accompaniment at the final camp concert in July. Please email the camp director, Erica Hefner, to schedule an audition time in June. The winner will have their tuition waived upon selection by the audition committee.

FINANCIAL AID
Limited financial aid is available to qualifying families, processed on a first-come-first-served basis. Click here for additional information on how to apply.

CAMP DIRECTOR
Erica Hefner
orchestracamp@artsplus.org