Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras Summer Chamber Music Camp
1700 Spartan Drive, Room G226/228, Elgin, IL 60123-7193
About
Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras Summer Chamber Music Camp is a week-long immersive program where students grow through collaboration, challenge, and a shared love of chamber music. During the camp, students work in small ensembles with expert coaches and guest artists.
• Ages: 10–18 years old
• Schedule: Week-long session
Summer Chamber Music Camp is part of EYSO’s thriving Chamber Music Institute, which is one of the ways EYSO shapes hundreds of students each year through rigorous methods of inquiry, “expert noticing,” and high standards of musical training. The camp is offered by Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras, whose mission is to create a community of young musicians, enriching their lives and those of their families, schools, communities and beyond, through the study and performance of excellent music. EYSO has built a national reputation as an engaging and challenging experience for young musicians and is one of only a few performing arts and youth organizations never to pause operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming a national leader for safe orchestra performances during that time. The organization’s leadership includes Artistic Director Matthew Sheppard and Executive Director K. Eric Larson, with former Artistic Director Randal Swiggum and former Executive Director Kathy Matthews. EYSO and its leaders have been repeatedly recognized by the Illinois Council of Orchestras, including multiple Youth Orchestra of the Year and Programming of the Year awards, and Conductor of the Year honors for both Randal Swiggum and Matthew Sheppard. EYSO also runs the tuition-free Starter Strings program, which brings violin and viola lessons to local fourth graders and has expanded to Oakhill Elementary School, Ronald D. O’Neal Elementary School, and Dundee Highlands. One EYSO student, Abbie Collins, says, “Music has always meant so much to me, but EYSO enhanced it to a different level. Through EYSO I have met new friends, had new experiences, and have played music that I normally wouldn’t have played.”
Last updated August 11, 2026.
• Ages: 10–18 years old
• Schedule: Week-long session
Summer Chamber Music Camp is part of EYSO’s thriving Chamber Music Institute, which is one of the ways EYSO shapes hundreds of students each year through rigorous methods of inquiry, “expert noticing,” and high standards of musical training. The camp is offered by Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestras, whose mission is to create a community of young musicians, enriching their lives and those of their families, schools, communities and beyond, through the study and performance of excellent music. EYSO has built a national reputation as an engaging and challenging experience for young musicians and is one of only a few performing arts and youth organizations never to pause operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, becoming a national leader for safe orchestra performances during that time. The organization’s leadership includes Artistic Director Matthew Sheppard and Executive Director K. Eric Larson, with former Artistic Director Randal Swiggum and former Executive Director Kathy Matthews. EYSO and its leaders have been repeatedly recognized by the Illinois Council of Orchestras, including multiple Youth Orchestra of the Year and Programming of the Year awards, and Conductor of the Year honors for both Randal Swiggum and Matthew Sheppard. EYSO also runs the tuition-free Starter Strings program, which brings violin and viola lessons to local fourth graders and has expanded to Oakhill Elementary School, Ronald D. O’Neal Elementary School, and Dundee Highlands. One EYSO student, Abbie Collins, says, “Music has always meant so much to me, but EYSO enhanced it to a different level. Through EYSO I have met new friends, had new experiences, and have played music that I normally wouldn’t have played.”
Last updated August 11, 2026.
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