Midsummer Musical Retreat is an exciting, full week long program including:
- Five full, immersive days of music making in a fun, vibrant, diverse community of campers and faculty
- Personalized music instruction from faculty in large ensembles, chamber music groups, small sectionals, and afternoon electives
- Social activities including the Fermata Bar, our wine bar and performance opportunity
- Faculty concerts from our amazing, professional instrument and vocal faculty
- End of camp festival concert and banquet showcasing all of the wonderful music from our talented campers
Our camper fees only cover a portion of the overall costs to run MMR every year; please consider supporting us through a donation or volunteering!
Program Fee
All participants pay an $890 program fee that covers faculty, accompanists, piano tuning and rental, music, administrative costs, equipment and storage, promotions, facilities, golf cart service, licenses and permits, social event food and the Fermata Bar.
Non-Participant Program Fee
Friends of participants are welcome to attend the performances and activities at MMR by registering as a non-participant. Non-participants pay a $250 non-participant program fee that covers facility costs, administrative costs, equipment and storage, promotions, golf cart service, licenses and permits, Fermata Bar and other social event food. We do offer discounted non-participant rates for volunteers who help drive golf carts during camp. More information on our volunteering page.
On-Campus Dormitory Housing
Participants and Non-Participants can optionally choose to stay on campus in the dorms (6 nights, Mon-Sat). We offer both single occupancy rooms and double occupancy rooms:
- Single Occupancy (2025 rate coming soon)
- Double Occupancy (2025 rate coming soon)
Off-Campus Housing Option
For suggestions and a list of motels with discounts for MMR participants, see hotel discounts. Participants are responsible for booking their own off-campus accommodations.
Meals
Walla Walla residents, those staying off-campus, and guests may optionally purchase all meals in advance or can wait and purchase individual meals in the dining hall.
- Full Meal Plan (2025 rate coming soon) – Monday dinner to Sunday breakfast, including the after concert Banquet.
- Partial Meal Plan (2025 rate coming soon) – Lunch and dinner only including the after concert Banquet.
- Individual Meals – May be purchased in the dining hall using a credit card.
For Dining Hall Meals special dietary needs can be accommodated.
Financial Aid
We want MMR to be accessible to all and offer financial aid scholarships to cover $500 of the program fee.
Requests for financial aid for Midsummer Musical Retreat should be sent to [email protected] by May 1. Please include a brief statement identifying the reason for your request.
- Applicants must register for MMR prior to requesting financial aid.
- Applications will be reviewed and applicants will be notified regarding scholarship awards no later than June 1.
- All scholarship recipients will be asked to join other volunteers in completing necessary tasks during camp.
Deposit
There is a deposit due at registration of $150 for all campers (participants and non-participants). The deposit is non-refundable and will be credited towards full charges.
How to Pay
All fees must be paid by June 1st.
- You may pay your fees by credit card through your secure online MMR Registration account. Online payments are made securely through Square.
- Alternatively, you can send checks payable to Midsummer Musical Retreat to the address:
Kathryn Schneider, MMR Treasurer
2919 McEwan Rd, Lakebay WA 98349 - NOTE: MMR will never ask you to send money to an email address through paypal, venmo, or zelle. We will only ask you to pay through the methods listed here. Beware of scams! If someone claiming to be from MMR is asking you to send them money directly, please contact [email protected]
Campers may purchase T-shirts and commemorative glasses with their registration; these must be purchased in advance. Fermata Bar drink tickets for premium wines and beer/wine service are purchased at Check-In on Monday.
Refunds
The deposit is non-refundable if the applicant withdraws at any time and is fully refundable if applicant is not accepted by Midsummer Musical Retreat. The refund policy reflects our contractual obligations to Faculty and Whitman College. Other fees may be refunded as follows.
| Jan 1st to May 31st | June 1st to July 15th (Medical reason) | June 1st to July 15th (Non-Medical reason) | July 16 to Start of camp | |
| Non-refundable deposit | N | N | N | N |
| Participant Program Fee | R | R | N | D |
| Non-Participant Program Fee | R | R | N | D |
| Room and Board | R | R | R | D |
| N = | No Refund | |||
| R = | Refund | |||
| D = | Any refunds will be at the discretion of the MMR board | |||
Registration Policy
All applicants should register online. Contact MMR if you need help: [email protected] or 971-249-2112
An application is complete when both the non-refundable deposit is paid and the completed application is submitted online.
PROGRAM ACCEPTANCE MMR will attempt to accept everyone who completes their registration by March 1st. Applicants submitting registrations after March 1st will be accepted at the discretion of the Admissions Committee, who will exercise discretion in admitting campers as needed to meet the admission goals of MMR. The committee may take into account musical balance and leadership needs, registration date, previous MMR participation, family, travel, musical, and other connections between campers, and may use a lottery to determine acceptance. We will maintain wait-lists as needed. Wait-listed applicants will receive a full refund if they are not admitted. Wait-listed applicants must pay full fees on acceptance.
Applicants will be notified by email or postal mail of their program acceptance between April 1 and April 15. Applicants who are not accepted into the program will receive a full refund.
HOUSING On-Campus housing will be assigned by the Registrar. We cannot announce finalized housing assignments until July when we are informed by Whitman of available beds.