Officials at the University of Massachusetts Lowell have made the difficult decision to cancel all camps and conferences for the summer, which includes the 2020 UMass Lowell Mary Jo Leahey Symphonic Band Camp program. This decision has been made to ensure the safety of our students, staff, and faculty. We look forward to when we can make music together again next summer and celebrate our 24th camp July 18-24, 2021.

Enrollment for 2021 will be announced this summer; Camp week: July 18-24 , 2021.

The Mary Jo Leahey Symphonic Band Camp is a week long immersion into music, held each year in July. This residential program introduces students to a taste of college life and provides a window in to opportunities in music, from Concert Band and Jazz Ensembles to Sound for Movies and Music, Conducting, Writing and Arranging Music and more. Performance and learning opportunities abound.

This honor's level program is open to 130 high school instrumentalists.  Grades span from those who have completed grade 8 in June to those heading to college in the fall.

Student instrumentalists who play Clarinet, French Horn Flute, Piccolo, Oboe, String Bass, Guitar, Bassoon, Bass Clarinet, Saxophone (alto, tenor, bari), Euphonium, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, ElectricBass, Piano, and Percussion are welcome to participate. At the camp, students will improve their individual skills and broaden their own musical experience in a shared environment of teamwork and learning. With more than 35 faculty and staff, instructors from UMass Lowell and throughout New England, our program is for those who love making music and discovering this with high schoolers just like you!

All perform in the Finale Concert at the conclusion of camp which is held on the last day --the Saturday of camp at Noon in Durgin Concert Hall, South Campus.

CAMP ENROLLMENT

Our camp is open until filled each year. For additional details and for enrollment information please visit the Symphonic Band Camp website.

Future Camps Dates:

• 2021: July 18-24 
• 2022: July 17-23 (our 25th year)
• 2023: July 16-22
• 2024: July 14-20
• 2025: July 13-19

Symphonic Band Camp Online Registration

Contact

UMass Lowell Department of Music
Debra-Nicole Huber, Executive Director
Symphonic Band Camp
35 Wilder St.
Lowell, MA 01854
Email: DebraNicole_Huber@uml.edu
Phone: 978-934-4133

Commissioned Works for Symphonic Band Camp

2017's Premiere by Frank Ticheli, "Arcadiana", was co-commissioned by NEYWE Artistic Director Deb Huber, along with Lew Buckley of the Metropolitan Wind Symphony and MIT's Concert Band conductor, Tom Reynolds.

2016's World Premiere by James Hosay, "Old North Bridge, A Symphonic March", with choir, was commissioned work by Executive Director Deb Huber to celebrate the 20th Band Camp.
It was premiered with the composer conducting, at the Symphonic Band Camp Finale Concert.

2012 world premiere of "Earhart; Sounds of Courage" at the Mary Jo Leahey ’37 Symphonic Band Camp Finale Concert!

In 2012 our finale concert featured the world premiere of the commissioned composition "Earhart: Sounds of Courage" by Robert W. Smith, dedicated in memoriam to Mary Jo Leahey. Mr. Smith joined us for an unforgettable rehearsal and truly inspired us all to "paint the sky orange." Students were thrilled to learn from this master educator whose compositions are well known in the wind band world.

2009 world premiere of "Reminiscent Rhapsody" at the Mary Jo Leahey ’37 Symphonic Band Camp Finale Concert!

James Hosay, international wind-band composer and decorated veteran (staff arranger for Pershing’s Own), was the special guest conductor at the 2009 Mary Jo Leahey Symphonic Band Camp concert. Commissioned to write a work for the ensemble by Executive Director/Conductor Deb Huber, Hosay wrote the Gershwin-styled original composition “Reminiscent Rhapsody” and conducted the world premiere at the concert.

• New England Senior youth Wind Ensemble (NEYWE)
• New England Junior Wind Ensemble