UCM Summer Arts Camps

Campers interested in the Theatre & Dance arts are invited to experience a week packed with theatre and dance activities including production rehearsals, daily workshops, acting, dance, design and playwriting classes, theatre games and improvisation exercises. Classes are taught by UCM faculty, alumni, and select students. Every camper will receive specialized coaching to help them reach their theatrical goals and to exercise the aspect of theatre that most interests them. 

Evenings are reserved for a variety of recreational and theatre-related activities. The week of training culminates in a live theatre performance for family and friends.

Campers interested in exploring Studio Art, Design, and Illustration are invited to experience the UCM Art & Design Camp!  Campers will have options to learn to throw vessels on the wheel in ceramics, paint from the live model, sample a variety of printmaking processes, gain an introduction in illustration concepts, and learn to solve graphic design problems in Adobe Creative Suite. Classes are taught by faculty and alumni in the Division of Art & Design at UCM. 

Every camper receives individualized instruction to develop their artistic skills, and will produce work to begin building a portfolio. The evenings are reserved for a variety of recreational and art-related activities. The week of art making culminates in an exhibition in the UCM Gallery of Art & Design.

As the preeminent music camp in Missouri, the UCM Summer Music Camp & Piano Institute offers young musicians an opportunity to immerse themselves in music study while having a ton of fun. 

Camp activities for all musicians  will be anchored in private lessons (4) and dynamic mixed ensemble experience (instrumental or choral), along with a daily performance workshop tailored to their area. They will also be able to choose from a selection of classes in the areas of music theory, technology, and history. Pianists will be especially excited to see the return of our evening-length Monster Sight Reading Party (repertoire to be posted in March 2024), which has been a highlight of the camp week for three and a half decades! 

New in 2024: students whose primary interest is electronic music composition will be able to take advantage of our world-class Music Technology faculty and facilities!  

All music students should get ready to:

• Enjoy private lessons with award-winning faculty
• Participate in dynamic mixed ensembles and play music suited to your unique interests and ability levels all under the guidance of UCM conducting faculty. 
• Practice your instrument in our newly updated practice rooms while participating in ensembles and workshops coached by world-class music faculty.
• Perform for family, teachers and friends throughout the week 
• Make friends on and off the stage with music students from around the country.
• Get a head start on 2023-2024 audition material in District Audition Boot Camp.
• Join the fun during the Monster Ensemble Sight Reading Party.

UCM Music Camp 60th Anniversary Alumni Celebration: 

2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the UCM Summer Music Camp, which is the instrumental ensemble-based camp that has sent thousands of alumni into teaching and/or leadership positions in every school system in Missouri. We are looking forward to welcoming alumni back to the Hart stage to perform and interact with our campers! More information will be posted in April 2024 about our anniversary celebration set to take place during the opening weekend of camp.

UCM Summer Music Camp and Piano Institute is for all instrumental and choral students who have completed grades 7-12 during the 2022-23 academic year. 

• Piano Institute students should have had at least three years of private piano instruction.
• Instrumentalists should have completed at least one year of a school band program or private instruction on their instrument. 

Previous formal singing or choir instruction is not required for vocal students.

Campers will stay and eat in one of UCM’s air conditioned dormitories.  All Arts Camps students will be housed in the same dormitory, on co-ed floors, along with camp counselors. 

We recognize this may be many students' first residential summer camp. A high ratio of specially selected UCM music, art, and theater majors will serve as camp counselors. Their close supervision is designed to provide a safe and engaging experience for every camper. Students will be expected to remain on campus and be responsive to staff supervision at all times. 

Commuter students will be expected to attend the Saturday afternoon orientation. Starting Sunday, they will be expected to arrive on campus at 8am at their first activity of the day. They will be dismissed each day at 8:30pm at locations to be determined by their assigned evening activity. Counselors will supervise the dismissal/pickup of commuter students. Students who drive or bike to campus on their own will be required to sign out with a counselor each evening before leaving campus.

UCM is proud to be an All-Steinway School - a distinction only held by select universities worldwide! You’ll have ample practice time throughout the camp week to experience our newly updated practice rooms outfitted with Steinway and Boston pianos and receive coaching from dedicated counselors.

New in 2024: Students will be able to take a class in one of the other camp areas They will also be able to choose from a variety of music classes in theory, technology, and history. If students have an interest in a class in one of the other camp areas, they can do that as well!

Click here to register. All students should register by no later than May 10, 2024. We are keeping this deadline firm in order to allow faculty to customize their lesson plans.

Dormitory Student Tuition: $675. Includes instruction, room & board in the UCM residence hall, planned recreation activities and camp t-shirt. Note that Art & Design camp,  and certain Theatre classes carry special fees which are detailed below.

Commuter Student Tuition: $385.  Includes instruction, recreation activities, and camp T-shirt

Optional Meal Plan for Commuter Students who would like to eat in the dormitory cafeteria with the residential students: $100

Special Class Materials Fees:

• Art & Design Materials fee: $75. (This fee is assessed for all students who are based in the Art & Design camp.) 
• Theatre Makeup class:  $25 OR the student can supply a theatrical makeup kit that they may already own (list to be posted soon)
• Theatre Scenic Design/Painting class: $10

A non-refundable deposit of $75 is due by May 1st. 

The balance of the tuition payment is due when the student arrives for camp. At that time the balance may be paid via check, credit card, or cash. 

Parents wishing to pay in advance may mail checks written to UCM MUSIC and mailed to:

UCM Summer Arts Camp
University of Central Missouri
Utt Bldg 109
Warrensburg, MO 64093

General camp, Music Camp / Piano Institute information:  Dr. Mia Kim mkim@ucmo.edu (660) 543-8900

Theatre & Dance Camp information:  Ms. Ashley Miller-Scully ALMiller@ucmo.edu