"Saint Mary’s always encourages us to think outside-the-box."
For Musicians in the Making!
Saint Mary's College is proud to partner with the South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestras (SBYSO) to offer a summer music program on campus. This co-ed program is intended for local intermediate and advanced musicians. As this is a day-camp experience, overnight room and board are unavailable.
Audition recordings are not required for current Fischoff Chamber Music Academy students and SBYSO members.
2025 Camp Information
South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestra Summer Camp
A co-ed, symphony orchestra intensive program hosted by SBYSO and Saint Mary's College for intermediate to advanced music students ages 12-22 as of September 2025.
Dates: June 16-20 (9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST).
Cost: $449
Generous Scholarships available - Apply Now
The South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestras (SBYSO) Summer Camp is designed for young musicians ages 12-22 who seek a fun and enriching opportunity to make great music with like-minded students while enjoying recreational activities and the lively Saint Mary's College campus.
Led by SBYSO Music Director Dr. Robert Boardman and conductor Zac Couldret, the day camp includes a combination of music enrichment and fun social opportunities. Daily activities feature full-orchestra rehearsals in the Moreau Center for the Arts and sectionals in both indoor and outdoor campus facilities, as well as occasional guest lecturers and an opportunity to work with well-known composers. Students will also have opportunities each day to make new friends while playing games, watching movies, and engaging in other recreational activities.
We hope you'll join us for this exciting week of music making!
Students who play the following instruments are welcome to apply for this camp:
Flute / Piccolo
Oboe / English Horn
Clarinet / Bass Clarinet
Bassoon / Contrabassoon
French Horn
Trumpet
Trombone / Bass Trombone
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion
Harp
Violin
Viola
Cello
String Bass
Questions? Contact Dr. Robert Boardman at robertwboardman@gmail.com
About the South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestras:
Founded in 1968, the South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestras began as a joint venture between IUSB’s School of the Arts and the South Bend Community School Corporation. The program started with just one orchestra, and expanded to two in 2002. SBYSO has grown to include students from seven counties with students from as far south as Culver, as far west as La Porte, north to Edwardsburg and east to Goshen, in addition to members from the South Bend-Mishawaka region. In recent years, the SBYSO has won first place nationally for The American Prize in Orchestral Programming, commissioning local composers and collaborating with musicians from the Chicago, Pittsburgh and Detroit Symphony Orchestras.
About the Program Director
Dr. Robert W. Boardman is now in his 13th year as music director of the South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestras, winning first place in the American Prize for Orchestral Programming (2018, 2015), commissioning and premiering Jorge Muniz' "Motown Dreams" for saxophonist Timothy McAllister. Boardman tours internationally as a conductor for Howard Shore’s The Lord of the Rings Symphony with CAMI Music. For six years he served as frequent cover conductor for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. As a guest conductor, he has led the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestras, Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra, Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, South Bend Symphony Orchestra, Cornell University Symphony Orchestra, and Spokane Symphony. Having achieved the DMA of Orchestral Conducting at the University of Michigan, his principal conducting teachers were Kenneth Kiesler, Marin Alsop, Larry Rachleff, Gustav Meier, and Lawrence Golan.
Questions?
We know how important choosing a summer camp is for you and, because of this, we are here to answer any questions that you have!
Call: (574) 284-4778
Email: camps@saintmarys.edu
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