Hingham Summer Camp Spotlight: Summer Music Festival

Camp: Summer Music Festival at South Shore Conservatory

Ages: Grades 6-12 

More than 50 young instrumentalists from Hingham and beyond get a taste of the musician’s life at South Shore Conservatory’s Summer Music Festival. The musical camp, featuring programs for wind ensemble and jazz band, is now in its 35^th year. 

A typical day in the wind ensemble (band) program begins with a full ensemble rehearsal at 8:00 a.m. Following that, the players in the more experienced band rehearse by section with a faculty coach (clarinets together, trumpets together, etc.) to work out particular issues in the music. The more advanced players then reconvene for a full ensemble rehearsal before breaking at noon for the day. 

The less experienced players also rehearse as a large ensemble and have a sectional rehearsal, plus a chamber music rehearsal. In the chamber rehearsal, players are grouped with instruments other than their own to learn about playing independently on their own parts and communicating as musicians without a conductor. They then also reconvene for a full rehearsal at the end of the morning. 

Students in the jazz band program rehearse from 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. daily. Hear the results of the young musicians’ hard work at the following concerts, all held at the amphitheatre at . 

Thursday, July 14, 12:00 p.m. : Chamber Music Festival concert

Thursday, July 14, 7:00 p.m.: Jazz Band concert

Friday, July 15, 7:00 p.m.: Wind Ensemble concert, featuring two student wind ensembles as well as an alumni ensemble 

For more information about summer programs at South Shore Conservatory, including the recent “Comp (composition) Camp,” visit www.sscmusic.org.