Camps

The Arts+ String Orchestra Camp is the place for young musicians from the Charlotte area to come together to learn, perform, and grow together. Through playing games and learning new music, our four different orchestras–including a new Orchestra 101 track–will grow in confidence, hone their techniques, and discover just what they’re capable of as orchestra players.

Students in our Green, Blue, and Red orchestras, open to experienced players in Grades K-12, will learn from, perform alongside, and experience chamber music with top educators from the Charlotte Symphony and Charlotte-area schools.

Students in our new Orchestra 101 camp, open to 5th-8th graders who have never been in an orchestra before or who have some orchestra experience but want to change instruments, will spend the week learning all of the fundamentals needed to successfully start a new musical journey, including instrument basics, instrument care, and starting techniques.

Camps will finish with a concert on Friday afternoon that is free and open to the public. Come join us to make some amazing music together and create memories that will last a lifetime!

OUR ENSEMBLES
Green Orchestra: (8th-12th grade)
Blue Orchestra: (5th-8th grade)
Orchestra 101: New Players or Players Changing Instruments (5th-8th grade)
Red Orchestra: (K-5th grade)

PREREQUISITES
Blue and Green Orchestras: Students must have at least one school year's worth of instruction on their instrument and be able to read music for their instrument.
Orchestra 101: No experience required, must be a rising 5th-8th grader. Available instruments are violin, viola, cello, and double bass.
Red Orchestra: Students must have at least one school year's worth of instruction on their instrument. Note-reading skills are not required.

INSTRUMENTS
Blue, Green, and Red Orchestra students should bring their own instrument. Orchestra 101 students may bring their own instrument or borrow an Arts+ instrument during camp hours. You will specify in the registration form if you have your own. If you want to rent an instrument on your own, reach out to our camp director for recommendations on local shops who do instrument rentals.

END OF CAMP CONCERT
Campers will perform the music they have learned this week in a special concert on Friday, and camp will be dismissed at the concert's conclusion. Students will wear their camp t-shirts for the concert. Additional information will be sent out the week of camp.

MERIT AWARDS
Merit Awards of $50 toward camp tuition are available to students who are members of the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra (CSYO), Youth Orchestras of Charlotte (YOC), Union Symphony Youth Orchestra (USYO), Western Regional Orchestra Jr., All-State Regional Orchestra, and CMS Middle or High School Honors Orchestra. Contact our Student Services Coordinator before completing your registration at registration@artsplus.org to process a merit award.

SOLO COMPETITION SCHOLARSHIP
Advanced students who have registered for String Orchestra Camp may audition in June for a full-tuition scholarship to camp. The solo competition scholarship winner will perform their solo with accompaniment at the final camp concert in June. Please email Camp Director Erica Hefner to schedule an audition time in June. The winner will have their tuition waived upon selection by the audition committee.

FINANCIAL AID
Limited financial aid is available to qualifying families, processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Please follow this link for additional information on how to apply.

CAMP DIRECTOR
Erica Hefner
orchestracamp@artsplus.org