Birch Creek Music Performance Center is a Residential Summer Music Academy on the beautiful Door County peninsula of Wisconsin. Founded in 1976, Birch Creek is a unique academy that provided talented students (ages 13-19) advanced training and mentorship as well as the opportunity to perform publicly alongside top music professionals from the United States and abroad.
Birch Creek offers four 2-week residential summer sessions in Symphony, Percussion & Steel Band, and Jazz (two sessions). The student-faculty ratio of 2-to-1 ensures that students receive hand-on mentoring from top music educators and performers. Additionally, students have numerous public performance opportunities before appreciative audiences who have come to expect only the best from Birch Creek.
When creating a new account, please list a “Parent” as the Primary Contact. You would then “add a person” to the account and then add yourself. From there, you can register for any session.
If you have an account already in progress, to access your current account please click here: My Current Account
Please note: Birch Creek will be following CDC and local public health guidelines at the time of programming. Programs are subject to change. This website will provide current updates on the COVID-19 page at the top of the home page.
PERCUSSION & STEEL BAND
Junior Track – June 13-19, 2021
A one-week Percussion Experience for Students Ages 13-15
Senior Track – June 13-26, 2021
A two-week Percussion Intensive for Students Ages 14-19
Completed applications will be reviewed for acceptance on a rolling basis beginning on FEBURARY 1. Applications will continue to be reviewed through spring and early summer. Scholarships will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Apply early, as positions fill quickly. If the Session is filled, you will be placed on a waiting list as cancellations do occur.
Application Instructions – Percussion & Steel Band (printable pdf)
ADMISSION APPLICATION
SENIOR TRACK Percussion & Steel Band applicants must submit placement video recordings within the Application OR after you are accepted by emailing links to registrar@birchcreek.org.
• Videos are for ensemble placement only and not for acceptance into Birch Creek
Snare Drum
Required: One concert snare drum solo from Portraits in Rhythm by Anthony Cirone or a similar collection (all-state or all-region audition music is acceptable). Optional: One contrasting solo in a rudimental or contemporary style.
Keyboard Percussion
Required: One two-mallet solo or etude such as all-state or all-region audition music or from books such as Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba, and Vibraphone by Morris Goldenberg or Masterpieces for Marimba by Thomas McMillan. Optional: One four-mallet marimba or vibraphone solo of your choice.
You may also include additional videos.
Students are encouraged to include video performances of other percussion interests you have such as drumset, steel pan, jazz vibes/marimba, hand drums, piano, or other instruments. Do you sing, tap dance, play bagpipes, or have you composed your own music? If so, share it with us.
JUNIOR TRACK Percussion & Steel Band Applicants — No placement video is required, unless applying for a scholarship.
Tuition: $2,100 for Senior Track; $900 for Junior Track
Need-based and merit scholarships are available.
Apply Now – Percussion & Steel Band JUNIOR Track
Apply Now – Percussion & Steel Band SENIOR Track
SYMPHONY
June 27-July 10, 2021
Completed applications will be reviewed for acceptance on a rolling basis beginning on FEBURARY 1. Applications will continue to be reviewed through spring and early summer. Scholarships will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Apply early, as positions fill quickly. If the Session is filled, you will be placed on a waiting list as cancellations do occur.
Application Instructions – Symphony (printable pdf)
ADMISSION APPLICATION
You can also schedule a live audition with one of our Symphony faculty members in place of submitting an Audition Recording.
Tuition: $2,100
The Birch Creek Symphony Session curriculum is being revised in accordance with COVID-19 protocols. We expect to confirm a final format by March 1, 2021. Tuition cost for the two-week Symphony Session may be adjusted, based on the final program format.
Due to capacity restrictions at this time, we will not be accepting any trombone, piano or harp students for the Symphony Session in the 2021 summer academy. However, if you play trombone, piano or harp, you may still apply online and will be placed on a wait list in case we are able to add these instruments back into the session before the summer session begins.
Need-based and merit scholarships are available.
JAZZ I
July 11-24, 2021
Completed applications will be reviewed for acceptance on a rolling basis beginning on FEBURARY 1. Applications will continue to be reviewed through spring and early summer. Scholarships will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Apply early, as positions fill quickly. If the Session is filled, you will be placed on a waiting list as cancellations do occur.
Application Instructions – Big Band Jazz (printable pdf)
ADMISSION APPLICATION
Tuition: $2,100
Need-based and merit scholarships are available.
JAZZ II
July 25-August 7, 2021
Completed applications will be reviewed for acceptance on a rolling basis beginning on FEBURARY 1. Applications will continue to be reviewed through spring and early summer. Scholarships will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Apply early, as positions fill quickly. If the Session is filled, you will be placed on a waiting list as cancellations do occur.
Application Instructions – Big Band Jazz (printable pdf)
ADMISSION APPLICATION
Tuition: $2,100
Need-based and merit scholarships are available.
Required for new students applying to Percussion & Steel Band, Jazz I and Jazz II.
Teacher Recommendation Form – Online
Teacher Recommendation Form (printable pdf)
For faster processing, please submit the scholarship application online (available January 4, 2021).
Scholarship Application Form (printable pdf)
Scholarship Procedure (printable pdf)
Mail or fax a printed Scholarship Application to:
Birch Creek
Attn: Registrar
PO Box 230
Egg Harbor WI 54209
Eligibility for financial assistance is based solely on the applicant’s personal qualifications without regard to race, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship/immigration status, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability.
Birch Creek is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.
