US summer violin camp recommendation for 16YO (audio link)

January 6, 2026, 12:49 AM · Are you looking for a solo-only performance program? Or do you want to play chamber music as well?

January 6, 2026, 6:49 AM · What a lovely recording, you have a gorgeous sound and some very thoughtful interpretation, well done.

I’m afraid I’m not familiar with the US camps so can’t help, but just wanted to pop in and congratulate you on your progress so far.
Hopefully someone will be along soon to point you in the right direçtion.

January 6, 2026, 9:06 AM · Thanks Zosia! He’s still unsure about going to college so hopefully going to a high level camp will give him some direction and opportunity to play chamber music with people at similar level!

I personally find that the professors at the camps in Canada are generally so happy… they enjoy music vs office workers such as myself checking day in/day out on a repetitive job.

@Gene Wie: chamber would be great!

I suppose he will consider Orchestra too if there is solo practice and performance opportunity. It is a long day at camp so the more the better for them.

January 6, 2026, 9:48 AM · Nice recording! I think he is competitive for some of the better programs. A few of these actually had deadlines yesterday, so unfortunately you missed those. The others range from mid-January to mid-February.

Center Stage Strings -- great violin faculty, both my kids went there for multiple years, chamber music is being expanded even more this year. It's a practicing/technique/chamber program.

Meadowmount -- mostly a practice camp with some chamber music. Rustic environment, wide range of ages and levels.

Bowdoin -- chamber music and practicing. Trends older. Unstructured, so what you make of it.

Greenwood and Kinhaven -- these are a mix of everything (practice, chamber, orchestra) but generally emphasize chamber. Greenwood level is higher than Kinhaven for strings but similar programs. High school only, so level doesn't go as high as the previous programs.

Sounding Point Academy -- violin only, technique and practicing, short, excellent program

There are also a couple new chamber music fellowship programs you may consider. One is at NEC and the other is in Indiana called Addicott.

There are others out there, but these are some of the better ones.

January 6, 2026, 10:31 AM · That was by a 16 year old? Sounds like a professional violinist to me. He/she should be teaching violin! Very nicely done.

January 6, 2026, 4:47 PM · Boston University Tanglewood Institute is still accepting applications until January 21st: https://www.bu.edu/cfa/tanglewood/admissions/ and they have a Violin Workshop program that is focused on solo repertoire: https://www.bu.edu/cfa/tanglewood/program/violin-workshop/

Interlochen has a one-week Violin Intensive program with excellent faculty as well: https://www.interlochen.org/music/camp-programs/violin-intensive

January 6, 2026, 7:25 PM · My daughter attended Kinhaven three years and loved it. After her first year at Oberlin she attended Bowdoin and enjoyed that, too. The climate in Maine (Bowdoin), Vermont (Kinhaven), northern lower Michigan (Interlochen), and pretty much all of Canada is nice in the summer, too.

January 6, 2026, 7:28 PM · Tanglewood is an excellent program; very high level.

January 6, 2026, 10:42 PM · Thank you so much! We will apply to some of these camps and hope he can make it in!

January 7, 2026, 9:02 AM · The Heifetz summer program in VA is also still taking applications. My daughter didn’t attend but has enjoyed working with several of the folks involved with that when she was in high school.

January 7, 2026, 9:22 AM · Heifetz is in Staunton, Virginia. It's a lovely town that was an important link in the Confederate supply chain during the American Civil War. "Staunton" is pronounced "Stan-ton" with a short "a". The nearby town of Buena Vista is also pronounced "Byoona Vista" here in Virginia (not "Bwayna").

January 8, 2026, 1:09 AM · Thanks Stan and Paul! Heifetz is very high level... we will give it a try and hope we can get in!