Birch Creek Summer Music Academy
Symphony
Symphony Academy Session
June 28 - July 11, 2026 | Tuition: $2,400
A two-week session for students entering grade seven through graduating grade 12. Tuition includes room and board.
Need-based and merit scholarships are available.
Registration for the 2026 summer music academy is open.
Birch Creek’s program is unique in symphony and chamber music education in that it incorporates a student/mentor approach in virtually every aspect of training. Students rehearse and perform alongside their teachers, receiving an abundance of personal attention. In such a nurturing environment, students develop excellent practice habits, rehearsal skills and progress at an amazing rate. Six public performances of four different orchestral programs are given over the two-week session.
Areas of Study
Repertoire Standard orchestral literature is rehearsed and performed during the two-week session. 2024 repertoire will be posted below when confirmed. Please review application instructions for suggested audition repertoire levels.
Orchestra Rehearsals Two to four hours daily depending on performance schedule and repertoire.
Sectionals One hour of rehearsal by section every day. Students work with experienced faculty preparing the repertoire for general rehearsals.
Chamber Ensembles One hour every day. Students read and rehearse chamber music under the guidance of a coach. The product of these chamber music rehearsals is performed during Prelude Concert (before the Orchestra Concert) and during intermission.
Piano and harp students experience concert performance with a full symphony orchestra, in addition to performing in pre-concert several times a week for solo, duet, accompanying, and chamber music. Working closely together, piano and harp students gain experience with piano & harp repertoire as well as string and piano chamber music. There is also an opportunity for pianists and harpists to participate in the annual concerto competition.
Techniques One hour every day. Classes of like instruments meet once a day for instruction on instrument specific technical and musical aspects.
Seminars Two or three seminars, on topics pertinent to the music profession, are presented to the students every summer. Past topics included preparing for auditions, careers in music and avoiding injuries.
2026 Concert Repertoire
Smetana, “Overture, The Bartered Bride”
Gregson, “Euphonium Concerto”
Dvořák, “Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 104”
Price, “Symphony No. 1 in E minor”
Rimsky-Korsakov, “Russian Easter Festival Overture”
Poulenc, “Sonata for Flute and Orchestra,” Shannon Finney, Flute Faculty
Tchaikovsky, “The Sleeping Beauty Suite, Op. 66a”
Humperdinck, “Prelude from Hänsel and Gretel,
de Falla, “The Three-Cornered Hat, Suite No. 2,” David Wurl, French Horn
Tchaikovsky, “Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor,” Jodie DeSalvo, Piano Faculty
Glinka, “Ruslan und Ludmilla (Overture)”
Fauré, “Dolly Suite, Op. 56”
Elgar, “Enigma Variations, Op. 36”
Smetana, “Overture, The Bartered Bride”
Ravel, “Pavane pour une infante défunte”
Tchaikovsky, “The Sleeping Beauty Suite, Op. 66a”
Elgar, “Selections from Enigma Variations, Op. 36”
Symphony Faculty
Subject to change
Nimrod Variation from Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36
Composer: Sir Edward Elgar Conductor: Brian Groner Play length: 3:53
At Birch Creek, students combine with the faculty to form the 80 member Birch Creek Symphony Orchestra. They perform 6 concerts (4 entirely different programs) during their 2-week residency, plus have numerous opportunities to perform in their chamber ensembles.