BYSO Summer Camp

At Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra summer camp, you’ll study your instrument with professional musicians, learn new skills, and prepare a great last-day concert, all in a fun relaxed summer setting. You’ll meet lots of other musicians and leave even more inspired about music!

BYSO offers three camp sessions, each specialized for different musicianship levels. All students will rehearse in an orchestra, play in a small ensemble with professional coaching, get specialized instruction for their instrument, and enjoy fun music workshops to improve musical skills and understanding. Favorite electives in the past have included recorders and boomwhackers, world drumming, theory with ukulele, and sight reading.

Because the camps are structured to meet different ability levels, we have included the typical age ranges, school grade levels, and samples of music played in previous camps to help you select the camp that best meets your student’s current ability level. If you are unsure about which camp would be best for your student, please email musicdirector@byso.org

Students will bring their instrument and a lunch. BYSO will provide a mid-morning snack. On Friday, there will be a free concert involving all camp participants – family and friends are all invited!

Tuition includes all instruction, one daily snack, camp T-shirt, water bottle, and music folder. Financial aid is available and BYSO meets 100% of all requested aid.

Summer Camp 2024: Details

All 2024 Summer Camps will take place at:

Overlake Christian Church
9900 Willows Road NE
Redmond, WA 98052

Traditional Summer Camp Sessions

Summer Strings, July Week 1 (July 8 - 12)- REGISTRATION CLOSED

Summer Strings, July 8 – 12 (Registration Closed)

Young musicians mix music with fun at this light-hearted week of camp. In addition to daily orchestra rehearsals, students receive professional coaching on their instrument, a choice of elective in subjects such as fiddling and world rhythms, outdoor snack and lunch breaks, and fun group games and activities – including our annual WATER FIGHT (no instruments allowed)!

Instruments accepted: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass

This camp is designed for beginner string students typically going into grades 1-6 (or between ages 6 – 11), who have played their string instrument for at least one school year. The ability to read music is helpful, but not required. This camp is a good fit for students at the level of BYSO’s Cadet String Orchestra or Debut String Orchestra. To read more about the musical level of these orchestras, visit our Ensemble Levels page.

Musicians meet Monday-Friday from 9 am to 2 pm.

Tuition: $525

This camp is now full. Registration is closed.

For an example of the music played in Summer Strings, please click the following links:

Violin 1 – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/violin-1a.pdf

Violin 2 – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/violin-2a.pdf

Violin 3 – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/violin-3.pdf

Viola – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/viola.pdf

Cello – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/cello.pdf

Bass – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/bass.pdf

Summer Symphony, July Week 2 (July 15 - 19)- REGISTRATION CLOSED

Summer Symphony, July 15 – 19 (Registration Closed)

Accelerate your musical skills this summer! Summer Symphony students have two daily orchestra rehearsals, instrument sectionals, and chamber ensembles coached by professional musicians, and a fun elective class of their choice, such as world rhythms, composition, or learning to play an alternative instrument.

This camp is designed for string, woodwind, brass, and percussion students typically going into grades 4-8 (or between ages 10-14), who have been playing in their school’s band or orchestra for at least one school year and can read music. This camp is a good fit for students at the level of BYSO’s Premiere Orchestra, Sinfonia, or Flute Choir.

Musicians meet Monday-Friday from 9 am to 3:00 pm.

Tuition: $575

This camp is now full. Registration is closed.

For an example of the music played in Summer Symphony, please click the following links:

Strings

Violin 1 – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Symphony-No.-4-Brahms-arr.-Meyer-Violin-1.pdf

Violin 2 – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Symphony-No.-4-Brahms-arr.-Meyer-Violin-2.pdf

Viola – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Symphony-No.-4-Brahms-arr.-Meyer-Viola.pdf

Cello – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Symphony-No.-4-Brahms-arr.-Meyer-Cello.pdf

Bass – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Symphony-No.-4-Brahms-arr.-Meyer-Bass.pdf

Woodwinds
Flute – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Symphony-No.-4-Brahms-arr.-Meyer-Flute.pdf

Oboe – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Symphony-No.-4-Brahms-arr.-Meyer-Oboe.pdf

Clarinet – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Symphony-No.-4-Brahms-arr.-Meyer-Clarinet-1.pdf

Bass Clarinet – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Symphony-No.-4-Brahms-arr.-Meyer-Bass-Clarinet.pdf

Bassoon – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Symphony-No.-4-Brahms-arr.-Meyer-Bassoon.pdf

Brass

Horn – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Symphony-No.-4-Brahms-arr.-Meyer-Horn.pdf

Trumpet – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Symphony-No.-4-Brahms-arr.-Meyer-Trumpet-1.pdf

Trombone – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Symphony-No.-4-Brahms-arr.-Meyer-Trombone.pdf

Tuba – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Symphony-No.-4-Brahms-arr.-Meyer-Tuba.pdf

Percussion

Percussion – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Symphony-No.-4-Brahms-arr.-Meyer-Percussion-1.pdf

Timpani – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Symphony-No.-4-Brahms-arr.-Meyer-Timpani.pdf

Summer Music Institute, July Week 3 (July 22 - 26)

Summer Music Institute, July 22 – 26

An intensive musical experience led by BYSO Music Director Matthew Salvaggio, this camp has a shared focus on chamber music and full orchestra rehearsal! All students will receive instrument-specific sectionals and small chamber rehearsals coached by professional musicians, and enjoy elective classes in other musical disciplines. Prior electives have included movie music, world rhythms, and an audition-prep seminar.

Summer Music Institute (SMI) is an excellent way to expand your musical horizons and keep your skills sharp during the break between concert seasons, all in an atmosphere of fun, friendship, and mutual support.

For advanced strings, woodwinds, brass & percussion, ages 14+. This camp is a good fit for students at the level of BYSO’s Flute Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, Philharmonia, or Youth Symphony.

Musicians meet Monday-Friday from 9 am to 3:45 pm.

Tuition: $625

Spots are available on a first come, first served basis. Enrollment is not guaranteed until tuition is paid.

For an example of the music played in Summer Music Institute, please click the following links:

Strings

Violin 1 – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Violin-1.pdf

Violin 2 – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Violin-2.pdf

Viola – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Viola.pdf

Cello – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Cello.pdf

Woodwinds

Flute – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Flute-1-SMI.pdf

Clarinet – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Clarinet-1-SMI.pdf

Brass

Horn – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Horn-1-SMI.pdf

Trumpet – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Trumpet-1-SMI.pdf

Trombone – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Trombone-1-SMI.pdf

Percussion

Percussion – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Percussion-Mallets-SMI-1.pdf

Timpani – https://www.byso.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Timpani-SMI-1.pdf

Extended Care

Extended morning and afternoon care will be available at all of our summer camps from 8:00 am and until 5:00 pm, Monday through Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, for an additional fee of $16 per hour per student. You may sign up for any number of hours on any day or days of your child’s week at camp (except Friday afternoon). Students cannot be left unattended at the camp site.

Questions?

Still have questions about our camps? Unsure which camp is right for your student? Send us an email at admin@byso.org. We are happy to help to make sure your questions are answered and we find the perfect camp for your young musician.

How to Register

Complete our registration form.
You will receive an email confirming your registration.
Within two weeks you will receive an additional email containing a link to submit tuition payment.
Once tuition is received, you will receive an email confirming your student’s enrollment in Summer Camp. Until we receive payment, a student’s spot is not guaranteed.

During the month before your camp, we will email additional camp information and pre- and aftercare sign-up options.

Refunds

Refund of tuition minus $50 handling fee for withdrawal before June 24. No refunds will be issued after June 24.

Financial Aid Scholarships

Tuition assistance is available for all camps. All tuition assistance is based on requested need and BYSO has a commitment to meeting 100% of all requested tuition assistance.

We’re glad you’re joining us for camp!