About MMR

Since 1983, MMR campers have found the experience to be an invigorating, instructive and rewarding part of their musical lives. They return from “camp” each year with more confidence, improved skills, exposure to new repertoire, new friends, and greater enthusiasm for music making.

MMR provides a non-competitive but challenging curriculum for adult singers and instrumentalists. The week-long festival workshop includes orchestra, band, string orchestra, chorus, jazz big band, performance opportunities, and chamber ensembles and electives in an hospitable, “Retreat” atmosphere. The strength of MMR lies at the exciting intersection of a committed, supportive, professional faculty, thrilling repertoire, and enthusiastic campers.

This year’s camp large ensemble repertoire is listed here

All MMR participants are enrolled in one of the large ensembles. The large ensembles perform at the Festival Concert in Cordiner Hall. The morning rehearsal hours are focused on the large ensemble repertoire.

Instrumental participants are asked to indicate their preference for Symphonic Band, String Orchestra or Festival Orchestra on the online self-evaluation/ensemble preference form following registration. A lottery is held for each section from those who register, pay all fees, and complete their self-evaluation forms by the deadlines.

Large Ensemble and Part Assignments: Please be aware that assignment to your preferred large ensemble is not guaranteed. Our goal is to be as fair as possible to all campers while achieving balanced ensembles and providing leadership as needed.

• First we pull a lottery within each section and create an ordered list.
• Then the faculty try to assign each participant to their preferred ensemble/part.
• If the balance is all off OR if leadership or solo ability is missing somewhere, they will use the ranked list to systematically re-assign as needed.

Assignments are announced at MMR check-in. Music is not sent in advance.

Wait lists: Space limitations and musical considerations make it necessary to cap the number of participants in each section of the large ensembles. Applicants will be accepted primarily on the basis of application date, but musical leadership and balance, previous participation at MMR, and family, travel and musical connections to other campers may be taken into account. When the numerical cap for a section has been reached, additional applicants will be placed on a waiting list.

The Festival Orchestra, under the direction of Nikolas Caoile, is centered on the strings and balanced by winds and percussion. The repertoire is drawn from standard symphonic literature.

The Festival String Orchestra conducted by Sandi Schwarz will be “chamber orchestra” sized and celebrates the unique sound and literature for strings. The repertoire draws on the full range of string orchestra works from the Baroque to the 20th Century.

The Festival Symphonic Band, conducted by Michael Burch-Pesses, explores the exciting literature available for concert and symphonic band, and may include transcriptions as well as original works for winds, brass and percussion. 

The Festival Chorus, under the direction of Loren Pontén, will prepare SATB music from major choral works for performance with the MMR Faculty Orchestra.

Sectionals: Daily sectionals with faculty specialists on all instruments and voices ensure successful performances at the Festival Concert and a well-earned sense of accomplishment.

This year’s electives are listed here

During the afternoon and evening, MMR singers and instrumentalists broaden their musical experience by participating in a wide variety of small ensembles and elective classes. Registered participants will be asked to complete an on-line Afternoon Activities Preference form to indicate their choices. A typical program would be one Chamber Ensemble, and one Elective or Free Time. Ensembles and Electives are scheduled in the same time slots. Experienced campers reserve some time each day for FREE TIME, practice, rest or recreation.

Jazz Big Band

An ideal group for all who enjoy performing large ensemble jazz. The group features traditional big band instrumentation: saxophones, trumpets, trombones and rhythm section players — piano, bass and drums. Repertoire is drawn from a mix of unique arrangements of jazz standards and originals. Will include one evening rehearsal on Wednesday. The band performs at Saturday night following the Festival Banquet.

Coached Small Ensembles

The standard chamber ensemble option for both singers and instrumentalists (including pianists) provides for one or two hours of coached rehearsal each day. Campers are asked to complete a detailed Self-Evaluation indicating their ability, experience and musical interests. Participants are matched by these criteria and assigned a faculty coach. Vocalists may request an instrumental ensemble and instrumentalists may request a vocal group.

Campers may request a jazz combo as a small ensemble.  Combos can either be pre-arranged or MMR organized.

Campers who come with a pre-arranged ensemble are guaranteed the opportunity to be coached together. All members of a prearranged group should register early. Section caps could apply to stragglers!

Pre-arranged ensembles may also choose a more intensive chamber ensemble option with two sessions of coaching each day, plus the use of an assigned studio for additional rehearsal.

We see these performances as an opportunity to share and celebrate the accomplishments of each camper. We have planned events that are as inclusive as possible. Although MMR offers many performance opportunities, we do have a finite amount of time, and many people are eager to play for one another.

Performing is the usual end to the preparation of music. It is part of the process and should contribute to the “learning experience” for each camper. We encourage, but do not require, every group to find a venue to perform that suits their comfort level. This might be informally for neighbor groups in a Dress Rehearsal/Recital on Friday or, it might be in a ten minute movement at the Café Morendo on Thursday night. You may come up with new ideas.

• Groups may sing or play outside at mealtimes.
• Fermata Bar performances are in an outdoor setting during our before dinner social hour, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. This is an opportunity for any group to perform informally while the “audience” enjoys a moment of “attitude adjustment.” The Fermata Bar schedule can accommodate about twelve groups each day. At-home groups and those who prepare on Monday are invited to perform at Tuesday’s Fermata Bar.
• The Thursday open mic, Club Morendo, is held in the Coffeehouse in Reid. There is a huge demand for Fermata Bar slots and not enough time. The open mic night allows extra time for groups to perform.
• Play for each other’s Ensemble at a Friday Dress Rehearsal/Recital. Two or three coaches may get together. Their groups will play or sing their pieces for each other during the Friday afternoon “A’, “B” or “C” Hours. This is a good way to have a dress rehearsal or a low-pressure final performance.
• The Saturday Sampling is a recital-like performance on the stage in Chism and is reserved for ensembles coached at MMR. Each group is limited to 2.5 minutes.
• Festival Concert features performances from all of the large ensembles: choir, string orchestra, concert band, and symphonic orchestra. Each performs Saturday afternoon in Cordiner Hall and the concert is open to the public.
• Creekside Farewell an outdoor event along the stream next to the Music Building on Sunday morning

Skill Expectation

MMR’s mission is to encourage and facilitate the study, preparation and performance of ensemble music by singers and instrumentalists of all experience and skill level. While we accept campers without audition, we encourage you to consider these elements of our program as you decide whether we are a good fit for you at this time.

Instrumentalists

This program consists of a large ensemble (Orchestra, Band, String Orchestra) and chamber ensembles. 

Repertoire for the morning large ensembles is selected from original scores of standard concert repertoire. The pace of rehearsal for the morning large ensembles is geared towards preparing for the Saturday concert and is not slow. Instrumentalists should be able to follow the written music while attending to the conductor and to sight read with some competence. Campers beginning their ensemble experience can focus on these skills.

Chamber Ensembles: We are able to place most campers in suitable chamber ensembles and to provide appropriate repertoire. We use the following criteria for assignments:

• Beginners: You have been playing for more than two or three years and know the basics, but have only just begun playing with others.
• Novice: You play a repertoire carefully chosen to be within your technical limitations. On first reading of a chamber music piece, you aim to get through the music and end together without too many stops and starts in between.
• Intermediate: You are in the process of exploring the standard repertoire, perhaps avoiding works that are too technically challenging. You concentrate on not making major mistakes while reading an unfamiliar part. You are aware of what the others are doing. You often slow down a fast movement for technical reasons.
• Experienced: You are familiar with portions of the standard repertoire; you play in tune and at tempo after a reading or two. You generally sound good on your instrument, and sight-reading is not a problem. You are attentive to all markings in the score. You pay attention to blend, balance, dynamics, style, and basic phrasing on a first reading. If you make a mistake, you can usually get back in without stopping.
• Advanced: You have been actively playing your instrument for many years and have performed with advanced groups (eg. college groups, audition-only groups). You know much of the standard repertoire. If your partners make a mistake, you can often bring them back in without stopping. You consistently sound excellent on your instrument and aim for cohesive musical expressiveness with attention to fine nuance on a first reading.

Vocalists

The program consists of chorus and small vocal ensembles. While sight reading skills are encouraged, vocalists who learn by ear and have some choral experience are accepted to the program and are successful participants. We use the following criteria for placement in chamber ensembles.

• Beginner: You love to sing but do not sing regularly with a chorus.
• Intermediate: You have sung for two or more years, have below average sight reading skills, prefer to sing with accompaniment, and have sung or are currently singing with a non-auditioned chorus.
• Experienced: You have sung for five or more years, have average sight reading skills, are attentive to dynamics and blend, know the standard choral repertoire, can sing unaccompanied, and have sung or are currently singing with a non-auditioned chorus.
• Advanced: You have sung for ten or more years, have excellent sight reading skills, are attentive to all markings in the score, know a wide range of choral repertoire, prefer to sing unaccompanied, and have sung or are currently singing with an auditioned chorus.

Pianists at MMR

Pianists are welcome at Midsummer Musical Retreat but, please understand that all morning hours are scheduled for the large ensembles (chorus, band, orchestra and string orchestra). These ensembles do not typically include piano. Pianists can choose to play or sing in one of these ensembles or to leave their mornings unscheduled. There are practice pianos available in the Music Building.

Afternoon activities that easily include pianists are Electives, Chamber Ensembles, Jazz Big Band and Jazz combos. Many pianists play with ad hoc groups into the night.

Sample Schedule

A sample schedule gives you a good overview of what our days are like at camp!

History

Read about the beginnings of MMR on our history page.

Memberships and Support

The Midsummer Musical Retreat is a proud member of Chorus America, the Association of Concert Bands, Associated Chamber Music Players (ACMP), and the Washington Music Educators Association. Agencies that provide financial support to MMR include Arts WA, an affiliate of the National Endowment of the Arts, The Paul Allen Family Foundation’s Community Accelerator Grant, ACMP, and the Washington State Department of Commerce.

Contact Us

Phone: 971-249-2112

Email: [email protected] Use this address for all general correspondence and information.

Registrar Email: [email protected] Use this address for correspondence related to your registration, account, housing and food.

Send general correspondence and payment checks to:

Kathryn Schneider
2919 McEwan Rd NW
Lakebay WA 98349

Make checks payable to “Midsummer Musical Retreat”

For registration, account, housing and food only:

Jessica Dowell, MMR Registrar
13600 SW Wrightwood Ct.
Tigard, OR 97224

Facebook: Midsummer Musical Retreat Group Page

Midsummer Musical Retreat is an IRS 501(c)3 designated non-profit corporation. Click here to see our registration letter.