About Us
Every summer, Csehy Summer School of Music welcomes campers from across the United States and around the world, creating a community where music and faith grow together. While each day includes scheduled times for music, spiritual life, and campus activities, the heart of the Csehy Experience goes far beyond the timetable. The couselors, faculty, and staff of Csehy encourage campers to approach every note, measure, and phrase—as well as every conversation, meal, and prayer—with a desire to glorify the sovereign God. In this environment, campers receive high-quality musical training in a distinctly Christian context, while also forming friendships that often last a lifetime.
The high school program runs for three weeks each summer, with each week spanning Sunday to Saturday. Campers may attend for one week, two weeks, or the full three-week session. The middle school program is a six-day week, beginning on Sunday and concluding Friday evening. Throughout each session, campers participate in a variety of ensembles, including concert band, symphony orchestra, handbells, percussion, string ensemble, and choir.
Each week concludes with a full concert, giving family and friends the opportunity to enjoy the repertoire the ensembles have been rehearsing. These performances are a highlight of the camp, celebrating the growth, dedication, and joy of making music together. Click here for dates and details.
Musical Training
Through musical ensembles and private lessons, campers engage daily with highly-qualified faculty from colleges and orchestras across the country. Faculty challenge campers to higher levels of performance while nurturing their Christian faith.
Major Ensembles
Symphony Orchestra (High School only)
Concert Band
String Orchestra
Handbells
Chamber Choir (High School only)
Concert Choir
All students participate in one of these major ensembles (two ensembles may be possible for high school camp where approved by the artistic director). Each ensemble rehearses daily for 75 minutes in preparation for the Saturday afternoon concert which concludes each week. All students sing in the Concert Choir.
Private Lessons
All campers receive two half-hour private lessons per week for their major instrument (or voice). In order to prepare for these lessons, high school campers (grades 9-12) practice two hours per day on their major instrument. Junior high campers (grades 6-8) practice one and one-half hours per day on their major instrument.
Theory
Daily theory classes are held before dinner. Placement tests are given at the beginning of camp to identify each student's next stage of learning; classes begin with basic note naming and range up to advanced analysis and history seminars. Students who go on to study music in college often test out of several semesters of theory classes as a result of their Csehy experience.
Camp Concert: all students perform each week in the closing concert:
High school - every Saturday at 4pm; Middle school - Friday evening at 6:30pm.Student Recitals: Selected students perform on the Thursday evening of High School week 3.
Faculty Recitals: Faculty perform on the Thursday of weeks 1 and 2.
Guest Artist Recitals
Christian Context
Csehy Summer School of Music nurtures young musicians in order that every note, measure, and phrase, as well as every conversation, meal, and prayer would be to the glory of God. Each day begins in chapel and concludes with an evening hymn-sing.
Chapel
30-minute chapel messages are grounded in a gospel-centered worldview. Speakers are selected for their ability to engage and challenge our talented teenagers in solid biblical teaching.
Devotions
Campers meet with their hall mates and counselor for small group devotions every evening.
Singtime
Consistently quoted as the highlight of the Csehy experience for campers and our staff - the evening hymn-sing and time of testimony is a unique and inspirational experience for our whole community.
Ministry Teams
Students may volunteer their time and abilities as ministry team goups providing musical contributions at churches (Sunday mornings) or nursing homes (Thursday during free-time).
Lifelong Friendships
Campers are lodged in college dormitories with camp counselors. Through musical collaboration, daily devotionals, skit nights, and bonfires, lasting friendships are formed between campers from all over the world.
Dorms
Students are lodged in Heritage Hall. Male and female students are in separate wings with a host counselor taking care of each group of 8-10 campers. We endeavor to place campers in similar age-groups but also accommodate roommate requests where possible.
Free time
During afternoon and evening free time, campers may take advantage of the various campus facilities. Typical activities include ultimate frisbee, board games, or ping-pong. Campers may also take this time to relax and meet new friends.
Meals
All meals are shared together in the Mason Activity Center and are provided by Pioneer Caterers with options for gluten free, vegetarian, and any special dietary needs.