Change can be challenging. But last summer’s inaugural Frost Summer Experience, the expanded and revamped Frost School summer camp for young music students from elementary through high school, proved a rousing success.
“My expectations were exceeded,” said Megan Walsh, Director, Preparatory Programs, who says they achieved their goals: to introduce students to Frost School faculty and methods, and attract more aspiring musicians to apply to the Frost School of Music and join the year-round Frost Prep music classes on campus. “The inaugural Frost Summer Experience attracted talented students from nationwide and internationally. Students were fully immersed in Frost’s culture and world-class facilities, with many local participants discovering our year-round Frost Prep program.”
“We’re anticipating increased applications to the Frost School of Music as our expanded Summer Experience program offerings attract higher enrollment across all strands.”
The Summer Experience is split into two sessions, with applications open until May 31. There’s a day camp for elementary and middle school students from June 9 to 20, with instruction in piano, strings, woodwinds, percussion, and chamber music. High school students get an authentic taste of what it’s like to study at the Frost School from July 7 to 18, with programs in jazz vocals, jazz instrumental, choral and classical vocals, orchestral and chamber music. They can also study songwriting, music production, and popular music performance, mirroring the Frost School’s innovative Modern Artist Development and Entrepreneurship (M.A.D.E.) and Media Scoring and Production, programs which students can’t find in private lessons or typical high school music programs.
“The contemporary division at the camp, with the songwriting, pop music, and production, was very popular,” said Walsh. “Those are unique, and people couldn’t get that anywhere else.”
One of the most significant changes to the inaugural Summer Experience was bringing on leading Frost School faculty to head the programs after years of requests. They include jazz professor and bassist Charles Bergeron, director of popular music pedagogy and the contemporary voice studio Raina Murnak, choral program director Matthew Brady, jazz vocal program director Kate Reid, violin performance lecturer and Henry Mancini Orchestra resident conductor Scott Flavin, and classical pianist and lecturer Inesa Gegprifti. Their participation was a major draw, said Walsh.
“It’s a great recruitment opportunity,” Walsh said, noting that summer programs at other top music schools like Berklee School of Music have long included those schools’ faculty.
Approximately 13 of last summer’s students were accepted to the Frost School for the upcoming year, with several receiving scholarships, Walsh said. Twelve students continued studying via the year-round Frost Prep program, including one who drove down from Delray Beach every Saturday for voice and guitar lessons and a rock band program. “They like the training and are giving it their all because they’ve experienced the quality,” Walsh said.
Last summer drew students not only from around South Florida, but from across the U.S. and as far as Greece, Germany, and Japan. Those who don’t live within driving distance live in dorms on campus, experiencing all aspects of university life. Enrollment is limited to 75 for the younger day camp students, 50 for the orchestral/chamber music program, and 25 to 30 for the other programs for older students, to ensure they get substantial interaction with faculty. Final recitals are live-streamed, with a draw for families who can’t attend in person.
Parents and students praised last year’s Summer Experience. “What an amazing experience for our daughter,” wrote the parent of a young day camp student. “I couldn’t believe how much she learned and how quickly she made friends. She asked me if she could do this camp every summer. The recital was absolutely gorgeous, and I loved that it was live-streamed, as many of my family live outside Florida.”
“My son made a great leap in terms of reading music, how to integrate in a group, and actual skill,” wrote the parent of another young camper.
“Definitely returning and applying to Frost School of Music,” a high school student wrote. “This camp was so much fun, and I really learned so much,” another teenager said. “Songwriting and band sessions were my favorite because we got to be creative and use our talents and skills together.”
Applications to the Frost Summer Experience program are open until May 31. For more information and to apply,go to FrostSummerExperience.com.
