An immersive performing arts experience at the Osher School of Music!

Registration for 2026 summer camps will open on Sunday, February 1, 2026
and remains open through the spring.
Waiting lists are kept.

Register for Camp


Before you register for a camp, a parent/guardian must create an account, then additional persons can be added to that account: alternate adults or campers. Parents/guardians should be doing the registration process, not campers

Parents /guardians, please go to our Ultracamp camp management site where you can register one or more campers. Login if you already have an account, or create a new account in the primary parent/guardian’s name.

Each family needs only one account, created by a parent/guardian, and with that account can register more than one camper, or register a camper for more than one camp. Families that have an account already will continue to use the current account. 

A $100 deposit will be required once your registration primary musical instrument is confirmed. Registration stays open until the camp begins and waiting lists are kept and open, filled in order automatically. 

About Our Camps

Monday, June 22 to Friday, June 26, 2026
Previously the Southern Maine Youth Band Day Camp (SMYBDC).

Information TBA.

Monday, July 6 to Friday, July 10, 2026

Information TBA.

Saturday, July 11 to Saturday, July 18, 2026
Previously the Southern Maine Music Academy (SoMMA).

Information TBA.

Monday, July 20 to Saturday, July 25, 2026

Information TBA.

Sunday, July 26 to Saturday, August 1, 2026
Previously the Southern Maine Junior Music Academy

Information TBA.

Meet Our Camp and Ensemble Directors

Missy Shabo, Camp Director

Band Director, OYBC

About Missy

Kyle Nielsen

Chorus Director, OSVC

About Kyle

Will Kinne

Band Director, OSBC

About Will

Caitlin Ramsey

Band Director, OJBC

About Caitlin

Frequently Asked Questions

That is different for each camp and it’s listed in each of the “Parent/Camper Letters.” They will be issued about a month before the start of camp for each of the camps.

The overnight camps in 2025 will be housed in Upton Hastings Hall, two campers to a room. Roommates will be chosen first based off of the Roommate Request Form. Students who do not have a roommate preference will be paired with students of the same gender and similar age. We do our best to honor roommate requests, but cannot guarantee that all will be fulfilled.

Check-in for all overnight camps will take place in Upton-Hastings Hall.

Check-in for Day Camp will take place on the front steps of Corthell Hall.

Yes, for food sensitivity, on the first day of each overnight camp, campers are welcome to meet the kitchen staff before the first meal to find out how to navigate the food choices.

In the case of severe food allergies, be prepared to provide medical documentation so our dining hall personnel can be prepared to meet your needs. Once received, dining hall personnel will be able to discuss your camper’s individual needs and discuss a plan. Parents may request a meeting with the campus dietician or have a tour of the dining hall in advance if there are any concerns. Please contact us early to make these arrangements.

If you have questions about disability access or need to request disability accommodations (e.g. sign language interpreters, materials in electronic format, etc.), please contact the Disability Service Center, 207-780-4706, or by email, dsc-usm@maine.edu, TTY 207-780-4395. Requests should be made as soon as possible to allow sufficient time for the accommodation process.

We have a head counselor who will be willing to carry out the parents’ instructions regarding administration of medications, and you will have an opportunity at check-in to speak privately with the head counselor regarding any medical issues. We rely on completed parental consent forms to let us know in advance of any particular health concerns.

In Ultracamp, Theatre Academy will be confirmed automatically if there is an opening. If Theatre Academy is filled, you must sign up for the waiting list in order to be considered for the next open position.

For the music camps, Ultracamp will confirm your registration immediately, but you must still sign up for an available instrument to be fully confirmed. Ultracamp is not able to handle that distinction. And if any instrument is already marked “waiting list only,” you must sign up for that waiting list in order to be considered for any positions in that instrument that may open up later. Please do not sign up for a different instrument, but send an email with any questions or difficulties you are having.

Do not make any payments if you are on a waiting list. You will automatically be placed into a position if a spot opens up, and an email will be sent to you indicating your new balance due.

Right after registration, participants in Music Academy and Junior Music Academy will perform an audition for seating assignments and best experience, but not for acceptance into the program. Students will be asked to play a excerpt of a solo/piece, and may be asked to play a scale or sight-reading. Students in the Music Academy may audition for the Student Solo Recital; please bring piano accompaniment if interested.

There are no auditions for Theatre Academy or Youth Band Day Camp.

Percussionists should bring their own drum sticks and mallets. The University provides everything else they will need for rehearsals and performance.

Send to:
Camper’s Name (add SMYBDC, SMTA, SoMMA, SMCMA, or SMJMA)
c/o Osher School of Music
USM Summer Youth Music and Theatre Camps
37 College Avenue
Gorham, ME 04038.

Please have payments and forms completed a month prior to the camp start date. This will give our camp staff time to know who will be attending camp. Additionally, we need to know dietary restrictions and medical needs in advance. All forms are available for you to complete in Ultracamp.

Yes, campers can bring iPhones, but they will be expected to use them appropriately. They can not use them during rehearsals, and should primarily use them for contact with family, and as alarm clocks and metronomes for practicing. They can be used in a limited way to stay in touch with friends, but campers should primarily be socializing with their new friends face-to-face at camp. Any kind of inappropriate communication while at camp, such as cyberbullying, is cause for immediate dismissal.

The USM Summer Youth Music and Theatre camps are very popular. Some sections fill on the first day and potential campers are placed on a waiting list. But some of them don’t stay there and make other plans. Those who respond quickly and take a space on the roster and then change their plans are having an effect on the planning of others, and for most instruments, we may not be able to fill that spot if you cancel, yet we have already incurred expenses. We must do all that we can to assure that those on the roster are fully intending to attend camp, and that no additional resources are spent on cancellations. Likewise, once a camper is at camp, the full registration fee will not be refunded. We will have to pay our expenses whether your camper stays or not.

Please contact Pre-College Coordinator:
Noah Hall
(207) 780-5003
usm.music.youth@maine.edu

https://www.ultracamp.com/clientlogin.aspx?idCamp=997&campCode=8rb

For more information, contact:
Pre-College Coordinator, Noah Hall
usm.music.youth@maine.edu
207-780-5003