Summer Camp – Frequently Asked Questions
The Harmony Program Summer Camp will take place from July 28 to
August 15, 2025, at The Juilliard School
Priority Deadline: February 28th, 2025*
Final Deadline: March 31st, 2025
*Current Harmony Program students must apply by the priority deadline in order to secure their guaranteed spot in the camp. Summer Camp ensemble placement is determined by audition, not current Harmony Program ensemble placement.
Frequently Asked Questions
We are excited for you to join us at the Harmony Program Summer Camp! Below, you’ll find answers to common inquiries about the application portal, audition requirements, eligibility, and more.
General Information
The 2025 Harmony Program Summer Camp is a free, immersive, three-week, ensemble-based music program for New York City K-12 instrumentalists and singers of all levels. The camp will take place at The Juilliard School from July 28, 2025 to August 15, 2025, with classes led by Harmony Program teaching artist
The camp is open to New York City K-12 instrumentalists and singers of all levels.
Eligible students with no prior musical experience may apply for our one week-long “Rhythm Rookies” program, open to grades K-3, or our Junior Choir, open to grades 4-7. Prior experience is required for all other programs. Students may audition for any of our instrumental or choral ensembles based on their level of experience and age. Please see the “Eligibility” section at https://harmonyprogram.org/summer-camp/ for our full eligibility requirements, as well as the complete ensemble descriptions.
The Harmony Program Summer Camp is open to all symphonic instruments and voice as follows:
- Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass
- Woodwinds: Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, and Saxophone
- Brass: Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Baritone, and Tube
- Orchestral Percussion
- Voice
At this time, we are unable to accept applications for instruments outside of the above, including piano, guitar, and electric bass.
Students must be available to attend the full duration of their program in order to participate. Rhythm Rookies is one week long, and all other programs are three weeks long. If a student must miss any portion of the camp, they must notify Harmony Program Administration at programs@harmonyprogram.org at their earliest convenience to gain approval on a case-by-case basis. Students who leave the program early due to outside commitments, such as attending another summer program, risk being barred from future Harmony Program participation.
Daily schedules vary by program, with beginner and intermediate programs ending earlier than advanced programs. Please see the “Schedules” section of our summer camp page to check the schedule for your desired program.
Students must be picked up by an authorized pickup person at the end of their program time, unless we receive written permission from a parent/guardian for them to self-dismiss. Please note that, at this time, we cannot supervise students after their individual program pickup time.
Application Help
The Priority Deadline for anyone with previous Harmony Program affiliation is February 28th, 2025. Current Harmony Program students must apply by the priority deadline in order to secure a guaranteed spot at the camp, as space allows for their age and desired program. Summer Camp ensemble placement is determined by audition, not current Harmony Program ensemble placement.
Please note that enrollment for Rhythm Rookies, which does not require an audition, operates on a rolling basis and may reach capacity before February 28. Harmony Program students who apply after the program reaches capacity may be placed on a waitlist even if they apply by the Priority Deadline.
The Final Deadline for all NYC students is March 31st, 2025.
Any student is welcome to apply by the Priority Deadline! However, students who apply by this deadline but do not have previous Harmony Program affiliation are not guaranteed a spot at the camp.
You can have applicants for multiple students on the same Embark account. Once you’ve submitted the first student’s application, please click the “Home” icon in the top right corner of the screen or head to https://harmonyprogram.embark.com/apply/dashboard. This should take you to the Welcome page with “Your Applications” displayed. Find the application box labeled “Harmony Program 2025” and click “Options” in the top right corner of this box. Click the option to “Apply Again.” Then, you’ll be redirected to a page where you can complete the application for a second student. Repeat steps until you’ve completed applications for all students.
Audition Excerpts & Videos
Eligible students applying for our “Rhythm Rookies” program do not need to submit an audition video. All other programs require students to submit an audition video. Please see the “Ensemble Information & Audition Requirements” section at https://harmonyprogram.org/summer-camp/ for the specific requirements and music students will need to record and submit for each program.
Applicants should submit separate video files for each of the below audition requirements. Each video should include the student’s name and piece name in the title. All applicants must record the baseline requirements for their preferred ensemble. Please note that students are not guaranteed placement in their preferred ensemble, and final placement will be determined by the Harmony Program administration.
Audition videos are required for the Junior Choir, Senior Choir, Concert Band, String Ensemble, String Orchestra, Junior Orchestra, and Senior Orchestra.
Videos should be uploaded directly to the application OR via a YouTube link (or similar platform). Please note that linked videos must be “public” or “unlisted;” Harmony Program Administration will not be able to review videos that are marked as “private.” If you continue to experience issues with uploading audition videos, please contact Embark directly for assistance https://support.embark.com/hc/en-us
Please note that Harmony Program Administration is not able to provide technical support or individual application completion assistance.
Videos do not have to be of professional quality — we just want to see and hear you clearly so that we can best place you within the ensemble!
Video Recording Tips:
- Include the student’s name and piece name in the title of each video.
- If submitting a link to a video, ensure that the settings allow for Harmony Program Administration to view all files.
- Find a location that is well-lit with natural sunlight or plenty of indoor lighting.
- Choose a quiet location with little background noise (street sounds, music, other people).
- Avoid spaces with lots of echo, or placing yourself in the corner of a room.
- Turn off air conditioners and heaters to avoid fan noise.
- Set your laptop, phone, or camera on a tripod or steady surface (please do not hold your camera while shooting to avoid shaky footage).
- Provide a seat for yourself that is stationary and quiet.
- Shoot horizontally (use landscape mode and avoid portrait mode).
- Position the camera so that we can see your entire body, instrument and bow hold.
Students interested in applying to multiple instrumental ensembles or multiple choral ensembles must only record the baseline requirements for their preferred ensemble. For example, a student applying to Junior Orchestra and Senior Orchestra must only record the Senior Orchestra audition excerpts to be considered for both groups. However, students who are interested in applying to an instrumental ensemble and a choir, such as Senior Choir and Senior Orchestra, must submit audition videos for each.
Please note that students are not guaranteed placement in their preferred ensemble, and final placement will be determined by the Harmony Program administration.
Ensemble options appear in a student’s application based upon their age and years of experience. If you believe your child may be best suited for an ensemble outside of what appears in the application, please reach out to programs@harmonyprogram.org to inquire further.
