10 College Summer Music Programs for High School Students in 2024-2025
If you are a high school student interested in pursuing music, participating in a summer program is a great opportunity to experience what music in college might look like. These programs are designed to hone your craft and give you access to mentors, peers, and even specialized technology. They can also help you explore the professional music industry.
Pre-college programs not only develop your existing talents but also strengthen your college applications. Participation in prestigious summer programs reflects commitment and initiative. In addition to the experience, you could complete projects that can serve as a music portfolio for future applications.
Whether you’re a vocalist, instrumentalist, composer, or simply someone who wants to learn the ropes of the music industry, these programs could be a valuable addition to your summer. Here’s our list of 10 college summer music programs for high school students in 2024-2025.
Location: New York University Tisch, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: $14,365
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors with a 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA on a 4.0 unweighted scale
Application Deadline: December 2, 2024
Dates/Duration: July 6 – August 2, 2025
If you’re an aspiring creative entrepreneur interested in music, the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU offers a summer program for 36 students, who will be taught by industry leaders and mentors. This four-week program will train you in both music business entrepreneurship and the latest studio technology. The curriculum includes learning, recording, producing, and distributing music in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. The program also includes masterclass lectures by industry professionals on essential topics like touring, artist management, and digital media.
The day-to-day schedule includes academic classes, hands-on training in recording studios, and production time, where you will collaborate with peers to create and refine your projects. This program will train you to become a responsible maker, consumer, and distributor of popular music.
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: $1,550 – $3,200 (including housing and meals)
Eligibility: 12-17 year old students
Application Deadline: March 2025 (tentative, based on 2024 dates)
Dates/Duration: July – August 2025 (tentative, based on 2024 dates)
The Stanford Jazz Workshop conducts one to two-week summer jazz programs with activities such as festival concerts and jam sessions, including one private session with faculty members per week. Some of their programs require an audition to qualify. The details can be found in this link.
The summer jazz programs take place on the Stanford University campus, where you can connect with their faculty and fellow musicians. The workshop promotes meaningful musical interaction between generations of jazz musicians at the Braun Music Center of the university. The workshop offers an intensive curriculum
in which each student receives a schedule tailored to individual skills and
learning goals. You will also have opportunities to play in big bands and small combos or sing with the vocal ensemble.
Location: Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland, OH
Cost: $3,340 (including application fee, tuition, housing, dining, and a non-refundable deposit)
Eligibility: High school students (String players or pre-formed groups)
Application Deadline: February 1, 2025
Dates/Duration: June 20 – 29, 2025
This summer program helps you hone your string chamber music skills in a week-long seminar. The program is co-directed by CIM faculty members and features special guest artist Catherine Cho (violin). You will be assigned to a string quartet or quintet and receive daily chamber coaching from CIM faculty artists that will help you refine your ensemble skills. You will also attend masterclasses focused on solo repertoire. The program ends with a concert performance. You will need to submit a recorded audition to apply.
Location: USC Thornton School of Music, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $11,347 (residential); $7,812 (commuter)
Eligibility: Applicants must have completed at least the 9th grade by June 2025
Application Deadline: May 2025 (tentative, based on 2024 dates)
Dates/Duration: June 16 – July 13, 2025 (tentative, based on 2024 dates)
This “Guitar Seminar: Jazz, Rock, and Beyond” program is dedicated to helping you master the electric guitar. Designed for high school guitarists, this program will allow you to explore every aspect of guitar playing such as theory, improvisation, technique, sight-reading, songwriting, and repertoire.
You will study with USC’s Studio Guitar faculty through daily classes and clinics featuring additional guitarists and educators. The program includes field trips to some of Los Angeles’ legendary music venues, offering you an inside look into the local music scene. Throughout the seminar, you will participate in multiple performances, showcasing your progress to faculty, fellow students, and your family and friends. Entry to this seminar is competitive, and only a limited number of students will be accepted based on a video audition.
Location: Oberlin College and Conservatory, Oberlin, OH
Cost: $1,500 (On-campus); $1,000 (commuter)
Eligibility: High school students
Application Deadline: March 2025 (tentative, based on 2024 dates)
Dates/Duration: July 28 – August 3, 2025 (tentative, based on 2024 dates)
During this week-long program, you will receive private lessons, participate in master classes focused on your chosen solo and ensemble repertoire, and play in a harp ensemble. You will also attend workshops on essential skills like efficient and effective practicing, technical problem-solving, and mastering rhythm. The course focuses on phrasing, lyricism, and delivering standout performances in solos, orchestral excerpts, or cadenzas.
The week culminates in a final concert where you get to showcase your progress to family and friends. This summer program is designed by Harp Professor Diane Evans specifically for advanced harp students aged 14-18. If you're under 15, you'll need to be accompanied by a parent and stay off-campus.
Location: University of Michigan School of Music, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: TBA for 2025. Scholarships available
Eligibility: High school students
Application Deadline: February 2025 (tentative, based on 2024 dates)
Dates/Duration: TBA for 2025
The MPulse Girls in Music and Technology (GiMaT) provides hands-on learning at the intersection of music and technology. While the program is designed to encourage girls, it is open to students of all gender identities who want to explore how technology can be applied to music. Faculty from the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre & Dance Department of Performing Arts Technology lead this program, offering guidance and a supportive environment.
As a participant in the GiMaT program, you will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of classes and activities, including electronic music composition, historical perspectives on the contributions of women in electronic music, and computer programming for music. The camp also includes a weekly showcase where you can present your work and meet and learn from guest artists and researchers in the music technology field. Students with no prior experience and knowledge of music technology are especially encouraged to apply.
Location: University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Cost: $310
Eligibility: Grades 8-12
Application Deadline: July 1, 2025 (tentative, based on 2024 dates)
Dates/Duration: July 22 – 26, 2025 (tentative, based on 2024 dates)
This five-day intensive Wind Ensemble Workshop will help you hone your wind, brass, or percussion skills. The program allows you to enroll at no cost if you're graduating from high school in the spring of the same year.
This workshop is for Level 5 and 6 NYSSMA soloists looking to refine their performance skills. Throughout the week, you will explore contemporary and traditional works for wind ensembles or symphonic bands, with the opportunity to collaborate and perform in a final concert by the end of the week. Since spots for certain instrument sections may be limited, it’s a good idea to enroll early to secure your place.
Location: Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA
Cost: $9,430 (including housing), scholarships available
Eligibility: Students aged 15 and older with six months of playing or singing experience
Application Deadline: June 1, 2025
Dates/Duration: July 5 – August 8, 2025
This five-week program is a comprehensive summer music performance program that hosts musicians from over 70 countries in Boston. As a part of the program, you will choose one principal instrument to focus on. The coursework includes private lessons, instrumental labs, ensembles, theory, performance, and musicianship training.
You will learn how to play in a band, develop improvisational and reading skills, and refine your technique. This program also provides an opportunity to explore different areas of the music industry, such as songwriting, music production, music business, and music therapy, through elective courses.
Aspire will culminate in a final week of concerts where you will have the opportunity to perform in front of faculty, fellow students, family, and friends. The program also offers multiple daily performance opportunities, allowing you to apply what you’ve learned on stage. If you earn a grade of B or higher in your core classes, you will receive three college credits upon completing the program.
Location: Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland, OH
Cost: $2,035 (including application fee, tuition, housing, dining, and a non-refundable deposit)
Eligibility: Advanced piano students aged 10 to 18
Application Deadline: There is no information available
Dates/Duration: June 23 – 28, 2025 (tentative, based on 2024 dates)
This week-long summer program is for advanced piano students and is directed by CIM’s award-winning pianist Gerardo Teissonnière. The program will feature internationally renowned artist faculty. The curriculum includes daily lessons, master classes, and recitals, as well as classes in Dalcroze Eurythmics and Piano Literature led by CIM faculty. You will also get the opportunity to participate in a piano concerto competition and a final concert on the last day of the program. To join this seminar, you will need to submit a recorded audition.
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost:
$5,600 – $10,866 based on whether you opt for full-time or part-time, residential or commuter, and duration (3 weeks or 6 weeks)
$50 application fee
Scholarships available
Eligibility: Students who will be 16 years of age by June 21, 2025, and in high school between 10th and 11th grade or between 11th and 12th grade during Summer 2025
Application Deadline: February 1, 2025
Dates/Duration: June 21 – August 2, 2025
Carnegie Mellon’s pre-college music program offers study in Instrumental Performance, Vocal Performance, Composition, and Music Technology. You can choose between Major and Minor Studio Options and opt for elective courses such as music technology, jazz studies, and recording techniques. The core offering of the course are its weekly one-hour private studio lessons and seminars.
By the end of the program, you will participate in a mock conservatory audition. Full time students will get an opportunity to perform at the concert week. The program is designed to prepare you for college-level auditions if you wish to pursue a major in music. It gives you an understanding of learning and engaging with music in college.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, you could also consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.