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SUMMER MUSIC REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM
SUMMER MUSIC REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM
The Rocky River Music Backers are excited to announce our summer music reimbursement program for current 5th to 11th graders--available for both vocal and instrumental students in our district! To be eligible to receive this reimbursement funding, you must (1) be a current participant in the Rocky River instrumental or vocal music program, and (2) be a participant in the Rocky River instrumental or vocal music program next year as a 6th through 12th grader. Your band or choir director will verify your participation eligibility.
There are many wonderful summer music opportunities available for students in our area, and participating in one is an excellent way to expand your music education and bring what you’ve learned back to our school’s music programs. Camps range from $100-$300 for local camps, to over $2000 for sleep-away camps. The Music Backers will reimburse you $100-$300 per student, to help cover the cost of a summer music camp or organized music performance opportunity.
Please note: Once reimbursement program applications have closed, and we know how many student applicants there are, we will know the exact amount available per student. The reimbursement amount will not exceed the amount paid for the camp. For example, if your camp costs $100, we would reimburse you only $100. If your camp costs $500, we would reimburse $100-$300, depending on the number of applicants.
If you are interested in participating in the reimbursement program for a summer music camp or organized music performance opportunity, please complete the online application form to the best of your ability by May 15th. If you do not know the exact amount of the camp, you can provide an estimate. Reimbursement program applications officially open April 15th. You will be notified of your reimbursement award amount by June 1st. After you attend the summer music program, you must complete a final program survey, providing feedback about the camp, and providing proof of payment and participation. Reimbursement will be made after receipt of the final program survey in the Fall.
Please see the final program survey for 2026 here: 2026 Post-Program Survey. This form must be submitted by September 1, 2026.
Questions about this program?
Please email alice.allen@gmail.com or rrmbsummermusic@gmail.com.
We have compiled a list of some area summer music camps. You may choose a program off of this list, but you may also apply for the reimbursement program to participate in another music camp or other organized music performance opportunity that is not listed below. If you have questions about your prospective summer music program’s eligibility, please email alice.allen@gmail.com or rrmbsummermusic@gmail.com.
Summer Music Opportunities
Tri-C www.tri-c.edu/arts-and-entertainment/creative-arts-academy/summer-immersions.html
The Music Settlement www.themusicsettlement.org/camps/summer-offerings-and-camps
Otterbein University www.otterbein.edu/events-conferences/summercamps/music-camp/
Beck Center www.beckcenter.org/education-programs
Interlochen https://www.interlochen.org/music/camp-programs
Kent/Blossom www.kent.edu/blossom
Blue Lake https://bluelake.org/summer-camp/
Capital University www.capital.edu/academics/services-and-programs/summer-programs/summer-music/
Summer Symposium @ Ball State https://camp.musicforall.org/
Birch Creek Music Performance Center Symphony Session birchcreek.org/symphony
BGSU Summer Music Institute www.bgsu.edu/musical-arts/events/community-programs/summer-music-institute.html
Westlake Summer Band Experience (registration info coming soon--(6/22/26-6/26/26)
Impact since starting the reimbursement program in 2023:
In 2025, Rocky River students participated in camps at Baldwin Wallace, Westlake High School, Tri-C, The Beck Center, and Ohio University.
In 2024, Rocky Rivers students participated in camps as Baldwin Wallace, The Beck Center, Tri-C, Westlake High School, SJA Stars, School of Rock, and the All Ohio State Fair Youth Choir
In 2023, Rocky River Students participated in camps at Tri-C and Westlake High School.
Students write about their 2025 camp experience:
From a Baldwin Wallace Choir Camp participant: “BW taught me more about harmonizing and breath control. I loved everything about this camp.and singing with people who love singing!”
From a Westlake Summer Band participant: “It was fun to play songs that we wouldn't normally get to play with a group. It was fast paced and pushed me to learn the music quickly. It was just fun.”
From a Baldwin Wallace Band Camp participant: “It taught me new things and helped me improve at practicing my instrument and working with others.”
From a Tri-C JazzFest Academy participant: “I learned about improvisational techniques and how to apply them to any type of music.”
From a Baldwin Wallace summer camp participant: “The choir practice helped me by reinforcing how to read music better. I also really enjoy singing as part of a whole big group. I am participating in choir and chamber choir this year. So excited to build on what I have learned from camp, and I hope to go again next year.”
From a Beck Center musical theater camp participant: “This camp is 3 weeks to learn multiple songs and dances as well as a skit. This camp always helps me with my ability to learn songs and be able to sing them in a group. It also has 3 performances to get us used to performing in front of people.”
From a Baldwin Wallace Summer Arts program participant: “I really enjoyed playing the piano multiple times throughout the day. I also enjoyed experiencing different teachers other than the one that I have. I got better at sight reading music and drilling sections I struggle on more efficiently.”
From an Ohio University Summer Musical Theater Intensive participant: “Ohio University’s Summer Musical Theater Intensive taught me so much! Not only did I learn many new techniques as a performer, but I also got a real feel for what it would be like to be a musical theater major in college. I was taught musical theater style singing techniques when it came to belting, breath control and how to portray emotion in my voice to tell a story through song. I was also taught acting techniques on how to depict emotion in scenes and really get into character through research and looking deeper than the outward emotion the character shows. Dance was another large portion of this intensive where I learned two main styles of dance, musical theater jazz and the Fosse style. I was taught how to sing strongly and healthily even during intense movement. Lastly, the instructors also taught us the science of the voice, how to find audition materials and how to properly audition, and gave their ideas and takes on the musical theater industry as performers and as students. I had an amazing time at Ohio University and highly recommend it!!”
From a Baldwin Wallace Musical Theater Camp participant: “It made the learning fun and enjoyable. I learned that acting is mostly about reacting.”
From a Tri-C Summer JazzFest Academy participant: “It's a great program. It helps me learn jazz, which is not the focus of many other programs. I really appreciate learning from professional musicians and collaborating with other students.”
Students write about their 2024 camp experience:
Jazz Fest Summer Academy impacted me by not only giving me skills in playing, but also introducing me to the culture of jazz. It gave me a great idea of jazz theory and a lot of times I get to share my knowledge with peers in a more classical setting. I learned how to interpret music from lead sheets, recordings, and other things I was unfamiliar with.
It gave me a chance to learn to communicate with others, use my voice differently, and make new cords. We got to try piano, ukulele and voice with three different teachers with different ways of teaching.
It has made me realize many elements of my playing that need to be further explored/refined such as having a better comping vocabulary and a better vocabulary when it comes to soloing.
I enjoy singing and this camp taught me tips on vocal health, gives me lots of practice, and helps me project my voice. That will help me in choir and chamber choir.
I had a very fun time learning and practicing music with my other band mates, even though some of the music was very difficult. The Westlake band was very welcoming, especially since I’m from Rocky River band. This class definitely prepared for next year’s band.
During SJA camp, I learned how to work with others to perform a musical number. We wrote a script to connect the songs. I learned about working on my vocals, as well as choreographed dance.
I learned more about breath control and got to participate in 4 part harmony with other singers. I also gained confidence and sang in a trio during 1 of our songs.
The Musical theater camp I enrolled in dramatically improved my musical skills. First of all, it pushed me to sing higher than I usually would sing in choir, to the F above middle C. Because of this, I can now more comfortably sing songs with wider ranges than what I was previously challenged by. Secondly, the rate at which we learned songs made it a requirement to be able to read sheet music, both standardly and 8vb. Finally, the camp helped speed up the speed at which I could learn music.
It was a great opportunity to try some new instruments and work on voice for choir.
It was good to experience an immersive music camp such as this 12 hour days, 5 days a week, culminating in a group concert
I was interested in musical theater in middle school, but going to this camp for the last two years really opened up my love for musical theater and for singing. It gave me more confidence in performing. I learned a lot from the BW teachers regarding musical theater performance. I also learned some new techniques for singing, dancing and performing within a group. This experience has definitely helped in my development as a singer and performer. I truly believe it helped me when auditioning for last year's musical, River's Edge and Chromatix. I was so happy to be chosen to be in the musical ensemble and to be selected for River's Edge and Chromatix. I am also so excited to perform in both choirs this year. I am also very excited to try out again for this year's play and musical.
Students write about their 2023 camp experience:
From a Tri-C Jazz Fest participant: "I had an extraordinary two weeks. I was impressed with the focus, talent and amount of material we got through during camp. I feel like a lot of the music theory I learned in the camp can be applied to Jazz Band here at RRHS. The two days of performances were so fun because we had worked so hard on everything during camp and we shared that hard work with the downtown crowd. I also enjoyed tickets to as many shows as possible including the show my teacher and director of the camp Dominic Farinacci who performed inside Playhouse Square. It was an honor to be a part of the Next Generation stage and wear the festival artist lanyard."
From a Westlake Summer Band participant: "It was cool to get to play with kids from another school. Putting together a concert in a week took a lot of work, but it was fun!"
From a Tri-C Jazz Fest participant: "This program helped me to develop skills both as an individual musician and as a member of both a big band and a smaller ensemble. I developed a greater understanding of music theory and strengthened my abilities to improvise. Additionally, the program allowed me access to the Tri-C Jazzfest performances which gave me the opportunity to see a large number of jazz performances which allowed me to expand my knowledge of jazz techniques as well."
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