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
8am – 4pm Day Camp
$425
Previously the Southern Maine Youth Band Day Camp (SMYBDC).

This five-day commuter camp offers young instrumentalists a chance to sharpen their musical reading ability, instrumental skills, and concert band performance. Camp provides daily concert band experience, jazz, instrumental sectionals, ensemble classes, guest presentations, non-musical recreational activities, and choral group experience. Students must have played their instruments for at least one school year. For rising 6th graders to rising 7th graders. The final concert will be held at the Crewe Center for the Arts on June 26th, 2026 at 4pm.

Monday, July 6 to Friday, July 10, 2026
8am – 4pm Day Camp
$425

This five-day commuter camp offers singers an immersive experience in the world of vocal music. Students will sing in a full chorus, participate in musical theater/show choir instruction, and take a variety of elective courses. For rising 6th graders to rising 8th graders. The final concert will be held at the Crewe Center for the Arts on July 10th, 2026 at 4pm.

Saturday, July 11 to Saturday, July 18, 2026
Overnight Camp (Day Camp option available)
$825 ($725 for Day Camp option)
Previously the Southern Maine Music Academy (SoMMA).

This exciting, yet demanding, eight-day residential program gives high school musicians the opportunity for musical development through group and individualized instruction provided by qualified staff and professional musicians. All members participate in concert band, instrument sectionals, and small ensembles. Students may also audition for jazz band. Campers also enjoy concerts performed by local musicians and daily recreational activities. For rising 9th graders to rising college first-years. The final concert will be held at Gorham High School on July 18th, 2026 at 2pm.

Monday, July 20 to Saturday, July 25, 2026
8am – 4pm Day Camp
$450

This six-day commuter camp offers singers an immersive experience in the world of vocal 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! For rising 9th graders to rising 12th graders. The final concert will be held at the Crewe Center for the Arts on July 25th, 2026 at 2pm.

Sunday, July 26 to Saturday, August 1, 2026
8am – 4pm Day Camp
$475
Previously the Southern Maine Junior Music Academy (no longer an Overnight Camp)

This seven-day commuter program gives middle school-age instrumental musicians the opportunity for musical growth and development. All students will participate in concert band, instrument sectionals, guest presentations, and small ensembles daily. Students may also audition for jazz band and will also participate in daily recreational activities. For rising 7th graders to rising 9th graders. The final concert will be held at Gorham High School on August 1st, 2026 at 2pm.

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

Please see the “Parent/Camper Letters” for a list of what students should bring to camp. They will be issued about a month before the start of camp.

The overnight camps in 2026 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 at the Tony Shaloub ’77 Performance Plaza at the Crewe Center for the Arts.

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.

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 OSBC and OJBC 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 OSBC may audition for the Student Solo Recital; please bring piano accompaniment if interested.

There are no auditions for OYBC.

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 OSBC)
c/o Osher School of Music
OSOM Summer Youth Music Camps
111 Bedford Street
Portland, ME 04103

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 Summer Youth Music 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.

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