The following are performance opportunities for our students after school or during the summer.
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (BLFAC)
300 East Crystal Lake Road
Twin Lake, MI 49457-9592
800-221-3796
Blue Lake offers two sessions of high school level band, orchestra, and jazz band. Students are grouped by ability, with the more advanced assigned to the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band, or Symphony Orchestra. The band conducting staff selects a challenging repertoire. Students receive 5 hours of intensive daily rehearsals, sectionals, and technique classes. Students also have the opportunity to hear various performances presented as a part of Blue Lake Summer Arts Festival, as well as participate in elective courses.
Blue Lake International Exchange Program
300 East Crystal Lake Road
Twin Lake, MI 49457-9592
800-221-3796
Blue Lake annually sends six performing groups on concert tours in Europe. After intensive rehearsals at camp, the groups enjoy a three-week tour of Europe, presenting a performance in each community visited and staying in private homes with host families. For more information on auditions, contact the Blue Lake International Exchange Program at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp at the address above.
Interlochen Arts Camp
P.O. Box 199
Interlochen, MI 49643
231-276-7200
The High School Division is for students who have completed grades 9, 10 11, or 12. Audition requirements are listed, by arts area, in the division's class descriptions. Please be aware that those selecting audition-based majors will receive priority consideration. Admission to the High School Division is highly competitive, therefore your early application is recommended. Applications are available online or from your band director or private instructor.
Michigan Youth Ensembles
Michigan Youth Office, School of Music
1281 Moore Building 1100 Baits Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2085
734-763-1279
The University of Michigan School of Music's brings together over 350 select musicians in five ensembles providing participants with the opportunity to work with notable conductors, rehearse in a university setting, and perform in the world-renowned Hill Auditorium. Students audition in September in Ann Arbor for participation in one of the following ensembles: All rehearsals are on Sunday afternoons (September - November, and January - March) and the ensembles give two performances during the year (November and March.)
Michigan Youth Arts Festival
22757 Woodward Avenue, Suite 230
Ferndale, MI 48220
248-545-9200 (phone)
248-545-9201 (fax)
Soloists and members of traditional ensembles (e.g,. woodwind and brass quintet) who excel at the State Festival level can be invited to perform at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival (MYAF) held each May at Western Michigan University. Only 250 out of the more than 80,000 instrumental students who participate at the district level will be part of the MYAF Honors Band or Orchestra, and Pioneer High School sends a large percentage of members each year.
The very highest level soloists are recommended by their State judges to audition to play with orchestral accompaniment at MYAF. These soloists are required to play a concerto at State Festival. The Soloist Auditions take place in early April on the campus of Western Michigan University.