Summer 2024 Chamber Music Academy
FULL SESSION: July 7 - August 4
SESSION 1: July 7 - July 21
SESSION 2: July 22 - August 4
Still Accepting Strings & Piano Applications for Summer 2024
Music at Port Milford, established in 1987, offers an intensive chamber music experience for advanced music students, ages 12-19 in historic Prince Edward County, Ontario. Students, who are admitted competitively, work together to produce weekly performances of chamber, orchestral and choral works. MPM’s outstanding faculty and resident ensembles serve as both coaches and mentors.
While putting together challenging weekly performances, students work cooperatively, forming friendships. The summer school is located on an historic thirty-five acre farm overlooking South Bay. The students are housed in charming cabins, complete with front porches and lake views.
Chamber Music
It was the founders’ great love of string quartet playing and their many happy years as students and teachers in summer music programs that led to the creation of MPM. As such, chamber music is at the heart of our program. Each student is assigned to a chamber group based on their experience and age. Groups are coached daily by MPM’s artist faculty, practice rehearsal skills by working independently, and perform at the end of each week.
Performances and Special Events
Each week culminates in a Saturday evening artist faculty performance, and a Sunday afternoon student performance, including chamber groups, orchestra, chorus, and madrigals. In addition, we host an annual “Port Milford Takes to the Streets” event. Student chamber ensembles play for shoppers along Main Street, Picton, reaching community members who may not otherwise get out to the MPM performances.
Recreation
Prior to breakfast, counselors are available to lead group runs, polar bear swims and yoga stretches. Afternoon recreation time allows for a bit of relaxation with swimming (certified lifeguard on duty at all times), pick up soccer games, frisbee, chess, reading in the hammock, and chatting with friends. On non-performance nights, evenings are set aside for movies, jam sessions, the famous MPM dances on the deck, and campfires on the shore of South Bay.
singing
Everyone sings in the MPM chorus, which meets daily. Singing, besides being great fun, is one of the best ways to learn sight-reading and pitch-discrimination. We sing challenging rounds, folk songs, and 3-4 part motets and cantatas. Joining the Madrigal Singers group in the afternoon is an option for students who are strong readers and wish to sing more each day.
Individual Lessons
Each student receives weekly individual instruction with an assigned teacher. Our high student/teacher ratio optimizes opportunities for additional individual attention.
Facilities
Students are housed with their counselors in cabins and the converted 1800’s barn overlooking South Bay. All classes are held in the house and adjacent farm buildings. Our big country kitchen produces a variety of fine meals which we eat together on our wooden deck with a lovely view of the water.
Meals
Meals are prepared by a team of culinary professionals in our beautiful country kitchen. Each meal is eaten outside on the deck, overlooking Lake Ontario. Vegetarian options are available at every meal, and other dietary restrictions can be accommodated.
Chamber Orchestra
The chamber orchestra rehearses each morning and performs weekly. Reading skills are emphasized. Repertoire spans from the Baroque Period to the present day.
Ensembles in Residence
Each week features a resident ensemble, in addition to other outstanding faculty. The resident ensembles serve as coaches, mentors, and private teachers, and are presented in weekly performances.
Typical Day
8:00 breakfast
8:45 chamber orchestra
10:15 chamber coaching/practice
11:15 snack break
11:30 chamber coaching/practice
12:45 lunch
1:30 quiet time
2:15 lessons/practice/chamber rehearsals
3:30 recreation
5:00 sectionals/chamber rehearsals
5:45 dinner
6:45 chorus
8:00 activities/recitals
UNPLUGGED
Students and artist faculty are immersed in community and music-making without distraction, keeping their phones and tablets inside the main farmhouse. After dinner, students are free to stop by the house to check in with loved ones, but are otherwise present with their MPM collaborators. Students are encouraged to pack watches, tuners, metronomes, and alarm clocks for daily use.
