2024 Summer Music Festivals!
Honey Acres Chamber Music Festival for Strings
Monday, June 24th - Saturday, June 29th
Orchestra Audition Prep Camp for Violin
Wednesday, August 14th - Saturday, August 17th
Description: As many youth orchestras hold their annual auditions at the start of the school year, August is often a time of intense preparation for many young string players. This Orchestra Audition Preparation Camp will help students feel confident for their audition by offering practice and day-of audition strategies, coaching on audition material, and lots of performance practice. Each day will include group work on scales, open and private lessons on solo pieces and excerpts, and sight reading workshops. The best way to feel confident in an audition is to practice performing the audition! During this camp, each student will have multiple opportunities to perform their audition for both the teacher and their peers.
Dates: Wednesday, August 14th to Saturday, August 17th
Time: 9:30am-12:30pm
Eligibility: Any violin student, elementary through highschool, who is preparing for a youth orchestra audition or is interested in learning about the orchestra audition process.
Tuition: $250 for the four days.
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/DpLtEsF9BNNNwH1b9. No audition is required. Registration deadline is August 1st.
Teacher: Claire Hebeisen is a member of the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra and subs regularly with other orchestras in the DMV area including the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and Maryland Symphony Orchestra. Claire also performs with other local orchestral organizations including the Maryland Choral Society and Bach in Baltimore. While at Peabody, Claire served in leadership positions in the Peabody Conductor’s Orchestra, the lab orchestra for conducting students, led by Marin Alsop. Claire has extensive experience playing in orchestras and working with conductors, giving her detailed knowledge about what conductors are looking for in an audition. She is excited to share her knowledge and expertise with students at this camp! For more information about Claire, visit: clairehebeisen.com
Please email Claire at claire.honeyacres@gmail.com with any questions.
The deadline to apply has been extended to Saturday, May 18th!
Invitation
You are invited to the first annual Honey Acres Chamber Music Festival. Join violinist Claire Hebeisen for a week of performing and developing your chamber music skills on the gorgeous Honey Acres farm in Boyds, MD. This day camp will include daily chamber music rehearsals and coachings with Claire as well as discussions of various chamber music topics, walks around the 77 acre property, and chamber music performances. The week will culminate in a concert where each festival member will perform a piece with their chamber group! The festival will be personalized to the attendees as only 12 participants will be accepted to enable one on one attention. Whether you are new to chamber music or have extensive experience, this festival is for you.
Application Information
Violin, Viola, and Cello students who are in middle and high school are welcome to apply. No previous chamber music experience is required. A short video or a zoom audition will be required with your application for the purpose of placing you in a well suited chamber group. (Recordings of solo or chamber pieces are accepted, granted that the group has only one performer on a part.) Application forms can be found here: https://forms.gle/kPPwTVKo7QQ4Qqm27. Acceptance is granted on a rolling basis and the deadline to apply is Saturday, May 18th.
Dates and Tuition
The festival will take place from Monday, June 24th to Saturday, June 29th. Weekday activities will run from 9:30am-2:30pm each day with optional open lessons from 2:30-3:30. The student concert will take place Saturday morning. Tuition for the week will be $400. (Limited need-based scholarship is available.) Snacks will be provided, but students are expected to bring their own lunch. After-camp care is available upon request until 5:30 for no additional charge.
Sample schedule
9:30-10:00 Group Warm Up
10:00-11:30 Chamber rehearsals and coaching
11:30-1:30 Lunch break, farm activity, discussion/workshop
1:30-2:30 Chamber rehearsals and coaching
2:30-3:30 Optional open lessons
Faculty
Claire Hebeisen graduated with a Bachelor and Master’s degree in violin performance from Peabody Conservatory and with a Graduate Diploma in Performance from McGill University. She has performed as a soloist and chamber musician around North America and Europe and is a member of the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra. Claire has been an active teacher and coach in MD since 2018. For more information about Claire, please visit clairehebeisen.com.
Please email Claire at claire.honeyacres@gmail.com with any questions.