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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260615
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DTSTAMP:20260608T161711Z
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UID:10001677-1781481600-1786406399@meritmusic.org
SUMMARY:Student Services Office Summer Hours 2026
DESCRIPTION:For two weeks each summer\, Camp Merit (part of the Nancy W. Knowles Summer Camp Program) brings together young musicians from across Chicago for an immersive summer experience in band\, choir\, and orchestra. But spend a day at Camp Merit\, and you’ll quickly discover that the real magic happens in the moments between rehearsals: the friendships\, the inside jokes\, the electives students never expected to love\, and the joy of making music together. Take a look inside a typical day at Camp Merit! 								\n				\n				\n				\n					9:30 a.m. – Large Ensemble Rehearsals				\n				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n				\n				\n				\n									The first notes of the day ring out across the building as students settle into their primary ensembles: band\, orchestra\, and choir. In Gottlieb Hall\, the band launches into the Jurassic Park theme\, with instructor John Wambach offering feedback\, encouragement\, and the occasional joke. After learning students will be tie-dyeing Camp Merit shirts later in the day\, he wonders aloud whether he should tie-dye his baton to match—an idea that’s met with an immediate chorus of approval from his young students. 								\n				\n				\n				\n																														\n				\n				\n				\n				\n									Moments like these reveal one of Camp Merit’s defining qualities: while the musical expectations are serious\, the atmosphere remains welcoming\, lighthearted\, and fun. 								\n				\n				\n				\n					11 a.m. – Electives				\n				\n				\n				\n									After morning rehearsals\, students make their way to the first of their two electives. Whether they are enrolled in Songwriting\, Conducting\, Musical Theater\, Intro to Piano\, Intro to Guitar\, Improvisation\, Drumline\, or North and West African Drumming\, these electives give students the chance to expand their musical horizons beyond their primary instrument. \nTwelve-year-old Cynthia’s first elective of the day is Musical Theater\, where she is thrilled to contribute to the student-created show they will be performing on the last day. “We have a lot of freedom in what we do\, and we’re working on something great\,” Cynthia says. “We got to pick out the songs\, make up the lines\, write the script—it just makes it a lot of fun.” \nThe interactive rehearsal process is a joy to watch. The beginnings of their script have been typed up and projected onto the wall as the group works together to block the scene. Their teacher\, Hope Wittmus\, provides guidance and encouragement while giving the students agency to build something new together. 								\n				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n				\n					12 p.m. – Lunch				\n				\n				\n				\n									Ask campers about their favorite part of the day\, and many don’t hesitate: lunch. Rehearsals are rewarding. Electives are exciting. But lunchtime is when the entire Camp Merit community comes together. “My very favorite part of the day is when we’re at lunch in the Community Room because I get to socialize with all of my friends\,” says 14-year-old Ada\, back for her third year. For many returning students\, the deep friendships forged are a major reason to come back year after year. 								\n				\n		\n				\n				\n																														\n				\n				\n				\n									This downtime often includes a quick trip to the nearby Mary Bartelme Park\, where campers play games\, learn TikTok dance routines\, or simply enjoy being together. Other days\, students participate in other fun\, camp-wide activities. On this day\, small groups of students traipse outside to tie-dye their Camp Merit t-shirts to wear for the final day performance. The creativity and excitement ring through the parking lot as they share their best tie-dye patterns and tips. 								\n				\n				\n				\n				\n					1:30 p.m. – Sectionals				\n				\n				\n				\n									After the excitement of lunchtime\, the focus returns to the music. Students break out into sectionals to refine any challenging passages in the ensemble repertoire. This gives students the opportunity to review any areas that presented difficulty during the morning rehearsal\, so that there’s a marked improvement by the time the full group reconvenes. The atmosphere is quieter than the morning’s full-ensemble rehearsals. Without dozens of other musicians in the room\, students are free to ask in-depth questions\, receive individualized feedback\, and work closely with Merit faculty and teaching artists. For younger musicians especially\, sectionals provide a chance to build confidence in a small\, supportive setting. Camp Merit brings together musicians ages 7 to 16 with a wide range of knowledge and experience; the time spent in sectionals allows the younger students to learn from older\, more advanced students playing the same instrument. 								\n				\n				\n				\n							\n			\n				I grew a community that I never knew was possible. I didn't know you could hit it off with people that fast.			 \n							\n											Luciya\, 13\n														\n					\n						\n				\n				\n				\n					2:30 p.m. – Electives				\n				\n		\n				\n				\n									After the intensive focus in sectionals\, it’s time to dive into the students’ second elective for another opportunity to explore interests beyond their primary ensemble. Thirteen-year-old Luciya takes her place at the front of the Conducting classroom\, her baton raised. She begins to conduct a small\, angular\, controlled pattern. Her peers’ hands shoot in the air to identify the tempo\, dynamic\, and articulation\, and the correct answer of “adagio\, piano\, staccato” is met with cheers from the class. 								\n				\n				\n				\n																														\n				\n				\n				\n				\n									This interactive component between the students is pivotal\, as conducting is ultimately about communicating\, leading\, and unifying an ensemble.  “Conducting is the hidden gem of Camp Merit\,” according to Luciya. “You get a chance to take on a leadership role while learning all the different ways to conduct.” 								\n				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n				\n					3:30 p.m. – Large Ensemble Rehearsals				\n				\n				\n				\n									As the day winds down\, students return to their large ensembles. Choir students focus on technique and theory\, while band and orchestra rehearse one last time before heading home. “My favorite part of the day would probably be afternoon rehearsal\,” 14-year-old Rachel says. “The energy is so high\, and it’s cool to get to pull it all together.” The final rehearsal of the day carries a sense of momentum as students prepare for the culminating concert that awaits families and friends at the end of camp\, with every run-through bringing them one step closer to sharing what they’ve learned and accomplished. 								\n				\n				\n				\n							\n			\n						\n		\n						\n				\n				\n				\n									As instruments are packed away and parents arrive for pickup\, students linger a little longer\, squeezing in a few last conversations before heading home. For many campers\, the music is only part of what makes Camp Merit special. “I came here last summer terrified because I thought everybody was going to be amazing and I was going to suck\,” Luciya says with a laugh. “Instead\, I grew a community that I never knew was possible. I didn’t know you could hit it off with people that fast.” Long after the final performance\, it’s that sense of community that keeps students coming back year after year\, ready to make more music\, memories\, and friendships the following summer. 								\n				\n					\n		\n					\n		\n				\n						\n					\n			\n						\n				\n					Explore Summer at Merit				\n				\n				\n				\n									\n					\n						\n									Learn More
URL:https://meritmusic.org/event/student-services-office-summer-hours-2026/
CATEGORIES:Key Dates
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