The North Carolina Summer Institute in Choral Art, Inc.
A Summer Music Camp for Elementary, Middle & High School Students
Choirs-in-Residence
NCSICA Choirs-in-residence Program
We invite you and your touring or "about to be touring" choirs to attend any NCSICA choral workshop! Many former choirs-in-residence have brought singers with ages ranging from 10-20 years old, experienced and inexperienced travelers.......all are welcome.
We offer a wonderful opportunity for your singers to travel domestically in an extremely safe and educational environment. We provide EXCELLENT choral training under nationally known conductors, master classes for adults, social activities for all.... SAFE and SECURE travel where you as conductor will not be the only one looking after your singers... we provide dorm head counselors, rehearsal counselors, registered nurse, floor counselors/support for your counselors and 24 hour strolling security in the dorms.
Relax and enjoy the beautiful cool North Carolina mountains. Once you arrive you do not have to worry about hotel rooms, where to eat, what to eat, entertaining your singers, wake-up calls, curfews, running after your kids....well, maybe you'll still be doing a bit of that!
Featured Choirs-in-residence 1992 to present:
•American Boychoir - Vincent Metallo - Princeton, New Jersey
•Indianapolis Children's Choir - Henry Leck/ Ruth Dwyer - Indianapolis, Indiana
•Spivey Hall Children's Choir - Martha Shaw - Atlanta, Georgia
•Lawrence Children's Choir - Janeal Krehbiel - Lawrence, Kansas
•Palm Beach County High School of the Arts - Arlene Sparks - Palm Beach, Florida
•Rock Hill High School - Mary Ann Helton - Rock Hill, South Carolina
•Sumter High School Choir - Sonja Sepulveda - Sumter, South Carolina
•Nebraska Children's Choir - Carolee Curtright - Lincoln, Nebraska
•Ft Wayne Children's Choir - Fred Meads - Ft Wayne, Indiana
•Augusta Children's Chorale - Linda Bradberry - Augusta, Georgia
•Charlotte Children's Choir - Sandy Holland/Sherry Blevins - Charlotte, North Carolina
•Greensboro Youth Chorus - Ann Doyle/Tom Shelton/Paula Owens - Greensboro NC
•Nebraska Childrens Choir-Cantori - Sharon Smith - Omaha Nebraska
•Durham Children's Choir - Scott Hill - Durham, NC
•Voices in the Laurel - Martha Brown - Lake Junaluska, NC
Fred Meads, Ft. Wayne Children's Choir Director, receiving his certificate
for participating in the Choir-in-Residence Program..
Do we have to - get to - perform?
Performing as a choir-in-residence is welcome and encouraged but not required... many choirs do not perform.....so arranging for an out-of-balance choir to HAVE to perform is not necessary. You decide if you want to perform. You decide if you want to bring performance attire and instruments. You select the repertoire your kids may sing in your performance.
We're all about the process of choral music education and not necessarily forcing the product! If we can help you get ready for that "nationally auditioned for" performance or just serve as your choirs first venture into touring we'll be happy to do that... either way!!
How to attend?
Click on the Children's or Middle/High School information pages on our home page.. decide which choral workshop works for you........contact us, request a travel package and we will send one to you (suitable for presenting to your board or parent group) listing the opportunities for both singing and vacationing in this area . Send us an application!! (below) There is no deadline for applying! The sooner the better of course. If you can get your group together quickly we'll register you quickly......up till June 1 we will guarantee space in the workshop choir, music, t-shirt, roommate preference!
We'd like to have you include a choir resume, director resume and a CD, video or tape of your group. Those applying and being accepted by October 15 will be listed in our print brochure - all others will appear on this website. For those registering after April 15th late fees will apply. We do offer special rates for paid registrations exceeding 30 in number. If you are bringing 30 paid registrants you will be classified as a Choir-in-Residence, if you bring less than 30 paid registrants you will be classified as a Touring Choir.
If you are paying as a group we will make payment schedule accommodations. In addition to offering a performance opportunity we will present you with a framed certificate of participation in addition to all that is listed below. We do request your singers and adults mingle with our singers and adults... we're very friendly accommodating folks here!
All participants fill out medical release forms, video/photo image release forms and all participants follow the same camp schedule, rules and regulations.
What's it like?
All activities are held on the campus of Warren Wilson College near Asheville, North Carolina, where the average daily temperature is a dry 68 degrees. Air-conditioning not necessary. Usually sunny and clear, but because you're at 3000 feet above sea level weather is subject to change - and rapidly. This is the only place I've ever been where it rains suddenly and sideways. Additionally, each participant will receive a t-shirt, keychain, music for the week, and a "build your own ice cream sundae" event which will follow some evening activities which include a classical (auditioned) talent show, Pop (auditioned) talent show and show choir demonstration. There is an award ceremony for those celebrating multiple years participation and recognition of choirs-in-residence at camp.
How about security, lodging and meals?
Participants will be issued a camp button to wear along with a lanyard and credit card size bar coded identifying devices which they will run through a computer "swipe" terminal to enter and exit dorm, eat in the cafeteria, etc. Dorms have laundering facilities. Campers are housed two to a room. Linens/towels, pillow/blanket are not provided. We will do our best to surround your singers with your chaperones! We provide two head counselors and a registered nurse to assist your counselors/chaperones. The university has security provisions for summer camps. We can also accommodate charter bus parking.
How about rehearsals and daily schedules?
In general all choral workshops rehearse the majority of the day. Our clinicians choose the music the kids will sing. We do not expect the kids to arrive with notes learned - in fact they will not see the music prior to the first rehearsal. We will provide some section rehearsals as well as full rehearsals and "rotation" rehearsals. We provide professional accompanists. We encourage adults to sing alongside the youth in the workshop choirs. We provide lots of activities for the singers and adults but the focus of the week is choral music education!
Rotation rehearsals center on a particular aspect of music and range from musicianship, Dulcimer playing, Tone Chimes, Mountain Clogging, American and World Folk dance, Native American Lore and Dance, and Show Choir .Visiting artists and speaker topics range from bag-piping to How to apply for College entrance and Scholarships to Swing Dancing. Rotation topics are tied to the theme of each camp year.
For those adults/chaperones who attend all rehearsals and Master Classes for the week long workshop renewal credit is available ($35.00 fee). Master Classes given by visiting choral clinicians occur daily and are open to choir-in-residence adults Organized evening activities can include: dance, movie, and Talent Shows by students and faculty, Visiting Artists, build your own ice cream party, build your own nacho's and dormitory floor humorous awards ceremonies. Activities vary and are tied to the camp theme each year. Our "camp" schedule is very structured and full. We do not usually have any trouble convincing singers to go to sleep.. they're blissfully tired! There is an open rehearsal for family and friends as the closing event of the week. The open rehearsal is recorded and you can purchase CD or DVD of the event. It is a memorable occasion for the singers as we offer the finest choral conductors available!
What else can we do once we're in the area?
(You can arrange to extend your tour by arriving early or staying late.. there is a fee for remaining in the dorm prior to or past the workshop dates)
• Biltmore House - Asheville, NC . Tour of house ( 250 rooms) takes 1.5 hours for this age group, tour of the winery takes 45 minutes with a film. Group sales requests a one month advance notice of tickets which can then be purchased on tour day at the entrance gate. Cost is expensive, group rates available. It is worth the expense!! Any day on the Blue Ridge Parkway is a day well spent!
• Grandfather Mountain - Just north of Asheville. Available are nature museum, animal habitats, picnic area, hiking trails and mile high bridge. Hiking trails average in length from .5 miles to 3 miles, many trails. The average visit time for this age group is 2-3 hours, although you could hike all day. Spectacular view, mile high bridge will give you the willies!!
• Linville Caverns - Former Choirs-in-residence say this is a very interesting place . View natures wonders underground!! After the heights of the area this would certainly be the depths!!
For the Adults: For those adults/chaperones who attend all rehearsals and Master Classes for the week long workshop renewal credit is available. Master Classes by visiting choral clinicians occur daily and are open to choir-in-residence adults.
For the Kids: great family oriented restaurants abound in the area, some with " blue grass/mountain music", also gem mining, miniature golf, trout fishing (staged and stocked) Tweetsie Railroad.. old west style theme park with a train ride (and robbery), cable cars, Deer petting zoo, lots of old west entertainment!! Don't forget the Mast Store Candy Barrel - more new and old fashioned candy in one place than you have ever seen before and sold (mostly) by the pound! You may have access to the following services: Olympic indoor pool, tennis courts, volleyball courts, basketball courts. Nature trails are everywhere, free, and beautiful!
Please print and mail the application below.
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NCSICA Choirs-in-residence Program Application
Name of choir: ________________________________ Ages traveling:____________
Circle which workshops you anticipate attending: Childrens Middle School High School
Address of choir:_____________________________________________________
_____________________________ email/website:________________________
Tour manager for your choir:________________________ Phone:_______________
Name of conductor:_____________________________ Phone:_________________
Anticipated number of singers*:__________ Anticipated number of adults:___________
Please send us a travel package ____yes ___no Enclosed: (select one) Tape:____
CD _____ Video:____ From years:_____
Resume for choir and director are requested.
Photo of choir and director would make us very happy too!
Mail this to: NCSICA PO Box 10883 Greensboro, NC 27404 or email to