High School Concert Band - The Music for All Summer Symposium

The Concert Band Divisions for High School and Middle School return to the Music for All Summer Symposium in 2024, offering a week-long, immersive instrumental camp experience for students who want to perform wind band music at a higher level.

High School Concert Band Division

Get energized, improve, learn new skills, develop leadership, and interact with renowned teachers, exciting artists, and fellow campers from across the country. Designed specifically for the high school concert band student, you will have the opportunity to grow as both a musician and individual.

This experience will be positively life-changing!

Highly professional staff of guest conductors and artists-in-residence.
Ensemble rehearsals, small sectionals, and featured sessions all conducted in Ball State University state-of-the-art music facilities.
Student musicians are carefully placed according to their abilities and background.
Challenging curriculum for ALL ability levels.
Master classes for all instruments.
Impeccable teacher to student ratio!
Hands-on, experiential learning opportunities for musical growth.
Unique to the Music for All Summer Symposium, students experience evening concerts and events, offering a variety of musical and performance genres featuring world-class acts every single night!

Packing List/Final Performance Attire

Packing List

All students, regardless of division, should
bring the following items:

Comfortable clothes and closed toed shoes for walking around campus
Sweatshirt or light jacket for cooler weather
Rain gear for inclement weather (jacket, poncho, or umbrella)
Personal toiletries (bath soap, tooth brush, toothpaste, etc.
Towels and washcloths. Sheets, pillow, pillowcases, and blanket are provided by Ball State Housing
Sunglasses, hat, water bottle, and SUNSCREEN
Backpack, a spiral notebook, and pens/pencils

Optional: money or debit card for incidental purchases such
as souvenirs, snacks, etc. $50-$80 recommended.

In addition to these items, concert band students must also bring:

Your instrument and fold-up music stand marked with your name, address, and school.
Any necessary supplies or accessories, such as reeds, neck straps, valve oil, etc. Muncie Music Center will be on campus during the week to sell reeds, oil, etc. should you need to purchase supplies.
Comfortable attire (shorts, jeans, and shirts): please note that you will be in air conditioning for the majority of your day

Final Performance Attire

Women:

Long black skirt (below the knee) or slacks
White blouse
Black socks
Black, closed toe shoes

Men:

Black pants
White dress shirt
Dark colored tie
Black socks
Black shoes

FAQs

Tell me more about the High School Concert Band Division

There’s a place for every band kid in the High School Concert Band Camp at the Music for All Summer Symposium. Whether students want to dive deep into their instrument, make new friends from across the country in a fun band setting, or build invaluable life skills in a way that only the band experience can provide, the camp week has something to offer.

Student-centered, nationally-recognized educators joined by the SWAG Team* – the camp’s counselors, teaching assistants, and superheroes – set the stage for an unparalleled concert band experience. Rec time, leadership sessions, and round out an exceptional summer music camp experience.

The High School Concert Band Camp is designed to meet students where they are at, and provide a week full of unforgettable experiences to take them to the next level as musicians, and individuals.

* The SWAG Team members are the Music for All camp’s counselors, teaching assistants, and superheroes. They are selected by vigorous application process, undergo a background check, and carry forward the 35-year tradition of ensuring a safe, positively life-changing experience.

Sample Schedule

7:oo a.m. – Breakfast

8:30 a.m. – Full Band Rehearsal

10:15 a.m. – Team Building Sessions (active learning experiences led by the Symposium Student Leadership faculty)

11:15 a.m. – Lunch

12:15 p.m. – Sectionals

1:30 p.m. – Masterclass (led by professional musicians, students explore topics like tone quality, practice habits, instrument-specific techniques)

2:30 p.m. – Full Band Rehearsal

4:00 p.m. – Rec Activity/Track Visit (structured “free time” to explore other areas of camp, and to build lifelong friendships with fellow campers through fun activities)

5:15 p.m. – Dinner

6:15 p.m. – Full Band Rehearsal

8:00 p.m. – Evening Concert (Many things set the Music for All Summer Symposium apart from other camps, and one of those is the nightly concert series, one of our student campers’ favorite parts of the experience!)

Who are the Conductors/Directors?

The High School Concert Band Camp provides a well-rounded curriculum led by student-centered, nationally-recognized music educators.

The High School Concert Band conductor for 2024 is Melissa Gustafson-Hinds, Director of Bands at O’Fallon Township High School, IL.

Who are the Division Leaders?

Our Concert Band Camp coordinators Keith Ozsvath and Greg Scapillato live the mission every day, as band directors and as parents. We know you are looking for a safe, engaging environment for your child, with exceptional teaching from a distinguished faculty. You also are looking for value. The Music for All Summer Symposium provides lodging, meals, tuition, materials, teachers, and concerts for a reasonable cost that is far exceeded in value and impact.

Are there camp counselors?

The SWAG Team members are the Music for All camp’s counselors, teaching assistants, and superheroes. They are selected by vigorous application process, undergo a background check, and carry forward the 35-year tradition of ensuring a safe, positively life-changing experience.

What about percussion?

Percussion students participating in the High School Concert Band track will participate in a three-day percussion-focused experience before joining the concert bands. During the first three days of the camp, percussion students will attend masterclasses and clinics, participate in concert percussion sectionals and percussion ensembles, and attend a rehearsal with the percussion section from Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps, in addition to all of the leadership and social activities with the other concert band participants. This hybrid percussion and concert band camp is designed to give percussion students the best of both worlds!