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

Registration for 2025 summer camps will open on Saturday, February 1, 2025
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 for theatre or 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 Music and Theatre Camps

Saturday, June 28 to Thursday, July 3, 2025
Camp Director, Wil Kilroy
2025 Camp Fee: $590

This six-day resident camp gives students a basic understanding of performance concepts and introduces them to the skills needed to create a stage production: voice, improvisation, dance, scene study, character development, and other acting techniques. Students engage in performance exercises that will not only enhance acting talent, but also assist in developing imagination, confidence, self-awareness, and communication skills. In addition to gaining theatre skills, team work and collaboration are emphasized in a final public performance. All participants will be housed in a supervised residence hall on the University of Southern Maine’s Gorham campus.

Register or Login Here Registration opens Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 at 9 a.m. and remains open until all spaces are filled. A waiting list will be kept. Register early.

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

Monday, June 23 to Friday, June 27, 2025
Camp Director, Melissa Shabo
2025 Camp Fee: $380

This five-day commuter camp offers young instrumentalists a chance to sharpen their musical reading ability, instrumental skills, and concert band performance. Camp will provide daily concert band experience, jazz, instrument sectionals, ensemble classes, guest presentations, non-musical recreational activities, and choral group experience. Applicants must have played their instruments for at least one school year.

Register or Login Here Registration opens Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 at 9 a.m. and remains open until all spaces are filled. A waiting list will be kept. Register early.

Sunday, July 20 to Friday, July 25, 2025
Camp Director, Melissa Shabo; Chorus, Dr. Kyle Nielsen
2025 Camp Fee: $615

This six-day residential camp offers singers an immersive experience in the world of choral music. Under the direction of Osher School of Music faculty and local music educators, students will sing in mixed choirs, balanced-voice choirs, and take a variety of classes ranging from music literacy to All-State preparation and musical theatre! Academy members will enjoy free concerts performed by local professional musicians as well as Osher School of Music students, providing a glimpse at a future as a member of the University of Southern Maine choral program.

Register or Login Here Registration opens Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 at 9 a.m. and remains open until all spaces are filled. A waiting list will be kept. Register early.

Saturday, July 12 to Saturday, July 19, 2025
Camp Director, Melissa Shabo; Concert Band, Dr. Will Kinne; Jazz Band, TBD
2025 Camp Fee: $790

This exciting, yet demanding, eight-day program gives high school musicians the opportunity for musical development through group and individualized instruction provided by qualified staff and professional musicians. All academy members will participate in concert band, instrument sectionals, and small ensembles. Students may also audition for jazz band. Academy members will enjoy free concerts performed by local musicians and daily recreational activities.

Register or Login Here Registration opens Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 at 9 a.m. and remains open until all spaces are filled. A waiting list will be kept. Register early.

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

Sunday, July 27 to Saturday, August 2, 2025
Camp Director, Melissa Shabo; Concert Band, Caitlin Ramsey
2025 Camp Fee: $715

This seven-day program gives middle school-age instrumental musicians the opportunity for musical growth and development. All academy members will participate in concert band, chorus, instrument sectionals, and small ensembles daily. Students may also audition for jazz band. Academy members will also enjoy free concerts performed by local professional musicians and daily recreational activities.

Register or Login Here Registration opens Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025 at 9 a.m. and remains open until all spaces are filled. A waiting list will be kept. Register early.

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

Meet Our Camp and Ensemble Directors

Missy Shabo, Camp Director

Southern Maine Youth Band Day Camp
Southern Maine Choral Academy
Southern Maine Music Academy
Southern Maine Junior Music Academy

About Missy

Kyle Nielsen

Chorus Director, SMCA

About Kyle

Will Kinne

Band Director, SoMMA

About Will

Caitlin Ramsey

Chorus Director, SMJMA

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

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