Summer Arts Academy 2024

Our mission is to provide a creative and supportive environment for young adults to grow as artists, writers, dancers, actors, musicians and individuals.

Below is a listing of the the academies that are being offered.

All academies take place at the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts located at 7 South Potomac Street, Hagerstown.

Doors open at 8:30 AM for daily drop-off.  Academies begin at 9:00 AM.

Full Day Academies will need to pack lunch daily. Students can bring a water bottle to refill in water stations throughout the school. Lunch will be 12:00 to 12:45 daily.

All academies are open to any students meeting grade and experience requirements.

Participants do not have to be WCPS Students!

2D Animation Academy      JUNE 24-27, 2024

(Class Size Limit 12)   

CLASS IS FULL as of 5/15/24  PLEASE CALL FOR WAIT LIST!

This academy will start at the beginner’s level and steadily but quickly provide the information and experience needed to create animations. During the week, we will explore the world of 2D animation, learn different styles and techniques, use graphics and audio software, then finally put students’ knowledge to the test and create an animation scene by the end of class. The only equipment needed is willingness to learn, a healthy dose of motivation, and imagination. We’ll provide the hardware. A perfect Academy for incoming Freshman!

Tuition: $200 

Instructors:  Keon Billings; BISFA Computer Game Design & Animation Faculty 

Time: 9 am – 4 pm 

Grades: Rising 6-12 Grades 

Experience:  No Experience needed!

Dance Academy     JUNE 24-27, 2024

(Class Size Limit 30) 

This program is designed to give students the opportunity to study a wide range of dance styles. The diverse styles of dance will include jazz, hip-hop, modern, ballet, lyrical, improvisation and composition. On the first day of class, students will be evaluated and placed in the appropriate level of study. Students will perform a short showcase on the last day for family and friends.  A perfect Academy for incoming Freshman!

Tuition: $200 

Instructors: Andrea Masciocchi and Keleah Barr; BISFA Dance Department Faculty

Academy: 9 am – 4 pm  

Grades: Rising 6-12 Grades 

Experience:  At least 2 years of Dance classes

Film and Darkroom Photography Academy     JUNE 24-27, 2024

(Class Size Limit 10) 

This Academy is for all those interested in learning the history of photography and composition in photography. Students will learn basic photography operation, shutter speed, and F-stop. Students will participate in a variety of photo walks, taking photos and learning camera use. They will also learn how to print film by working in the darkroom. Each student will finish the class with some prints of their best photos. A perfect Academy for incoming Freshman!

Tuition: $200 

Instructor: Mark Youngblood 

Academy 9 am – 4 pm 

Grades: Rising 8-10 Grades 

Experience:  No Experience needed!

Becoming an Actor Academy      JULY 8-11, 2024

(Class Size Limit 12) 

This will teach the many skills an actor uses to perform onstage with confidence and creativity. Students will learn these fundamentals through exercises, improvisation, and script study. A rehearsed program (live or recorded; safety guidelines pending) on the last day of the Academy will showcase the students’ achievements. A perfect Academy for incoming Freshman!

Tuition: $200 

Instructor: Dale Stein BISFA Adjuct Faculty

Academy: 9 am – 4 pm  

Grades: Rising 5-9 Grades

Experience:  No Experience needed!

Ceramics Academy Week #1      JULY 8-11, 2024      BRAND NEW ACADEMY!

(Class Size Limit 12) 

In this two week long academy, students will explore the art of ceramics! They will try out the pottery wheel, handbuilding techniques, glazing, and learn about the firing process through the ceramics facilities at the school.  At the end of the two weeks, students can expect to have multiple fully fired works of ceramic art to present and then take home after the art show we will prepare and hold on the final day of camp.

Tuition: $200 EACH WEEK

Instructors:  Bradley Powers; BISFA Alumni Class of 2021 

Time: 9 am – 4 pm 

Grades: Rising 6-12 Grades 

Experience:  No Experience needed!

Cardboard Sculpting Academy       JULY 8-11, 2024

(Class Size Limit 12) 

Students will be creating a sculpture out of an abundant “found material” called cardboard. Students will explore the variety of forms and textures this simple material has to offer. The subject matter will focus on everyday objects. We will be seeking the “magic/beauty in the mundane.” Students will explore their talent and be able to have pieces to take home at the end of the week.  A perfect Academy for incoming Freshman!

Tuition: $200 

Instructor: Jason Durham, WCPS Visual Arts Teacher

Academy 9 am – 4 pm 

Grades: Rising 5-12 Grades 

Experience:  No Experience needed!

 

Dancing for the Camera      JULY 8-11, 2024      BRAND NEW ACADEMY!

(Class Size Limit 15)

During this camp students will experience what it is like to dance on film. Dancing on film is a necessary tool used in the dance world.  Having this knowledge will help dancers in creating self tape reels, auditions footage and photos for major summer intensives, college auditions and portfolios.  During this academy students will take classes (Ballet and Jazz), learn solo variations/combinations to be able to film later in the week. Students will also have photographs taken to use in their portfolios. At the end of the week students will have multiple solo reels and still shots for future use.

Tuition: $200 

Instructors:  Michaela Smallwood; BISFA Alumni Class of 2019

Time: 9 am – 4 pm  

Grades: Rising 6-12 Grades 

Experience:  At least three years of Dance.  This academy is designed for students seeking higher dance education.

Filmmaking 101 Academy     JULY 8-11, 2024

(Class Size Limit 15) 

CLASS IS FULL as of 5/8/24  PLEASE CALL FOR WAIT LIST!

Learn the basics of making a short film from the pre-production process to the final product! Students will use supplied cameras to create a short film by the end of the week. A perfect Academy for incoming Freshman!

Tuition: $200 

Instructors: Kristen Green; BISFA Cinema & Photography Faculty

Academy: 9 am – 4pm 

Grades: Rising 6-9 Grades

Experience:  No Experience needed!

 

“Rock On Musicians” A Pop Song Academy      JULY 8-11, 2024

 (Class Size Limit 12) 

Come experience the thrill of playing music in a band.  Jam, get personal one on one mentorship and group coaching, and be guided in learning and performing some of the best pop songs!  Instruments:  Piano/Keyboard   Guitar and Bass (Acoustic or Electric)  Percussion (Drum set and auxiliary percussion*)  saxophone, horns, flute, violin, and other strings.  Vocals: Sing and play or just sing.  *Drum set and some percussion instruments will be provided.  All other musicians please bring your own instruments, amplifiers and microphones if applicable.  Pianists without a keyboard will be accommodated.  Contact the instructor with questions.What we will do: Play pop songs, some chosen by the instructor, more chosen by students!*

What we will learn:

•       Musical Form
•       Chart Reading and basic note reading, too!
•       “Music Mindfulness”
•       Musician Communication
•       Scales, chords and improvisation
•       Teamwork

 Each day we will harness these skills and more to build confidence and open you to a new world of possibilities of what is possible for what can be done in music and what you can achieve. Everyone’s hard work will culminate on Thursday with a performance and reception for the families.  

*We want to make this camp exciting everyday.  About a month before camp begins we will reach out to the students to get to know you, your musician character, and the songs you want to learn and perform.  We will compile a list of the student’s songs they want to learn and decide together which songs will be included in our camp setlist!   A perfect Academy for incoming Freshman!

Tuition: $200 

Instructor: Michael Tyson; BISFA Adjunct Staff  and Will Turney; BISFA Alumni Class of 2023 

Academy: 9 am – 4 pm 

Grades: Rising 6-12 Grades 

Experience: Levels: instrumentalists—at least two years in school or private lessons preferred.  Vocalists—at least 1 year in choir or voice lessons preferred. Levels: instrumentalists—at least two years in school or private lessons preferred.  Vocalists—at least 1 year in choir or voice lessons preferred. Basic music reading skills preferred:  tempo, meter, note values, familiarity with the staff

“Climbing the Charts” A Pop Song Academy        JULY 15-18, 2024

(Class Size Limit 12) 

Part II to the Rock on Musicians Academy.  Have you ever thought to yourself recently, “I know I can write a hit song.”? Do you want people to listen to your music?  In this Arts Academy Class we continue to build our skills and finesse our style playing pop music AND compose our own pop songs, too!  Taking the knowledge we gained in musical form, harmonies, rhythm and collaboration, we will set out to write one, or two or even three original pop songs! Maybe you have a way with words, or you can hear tunes in your head. Maybe you can feel the beat. Maybe you’re ready to add a groovin’ guitar, horn, or other instrument solo. Keep learning, growing and add your strength to the mix to create the next hit to Climb the Charts!  As in the previous week, we will jam, get personal one-on-one mentorship and group coaching, and be guided in composing and performing your own pop songs!

Instruments: Piano/Keyboard Guitar and Bass (Acoustic or Electric) Percussion (Drum set and auxiliary percussion*) saxophone, horns, flute, violin, other strings. Vocals: Sing and play or just sing.  *Drum set and some percussion instruments will be provided. All other musicians please bring your own instruments, amplifiers and microphones if applicable. Pianists without a keyboard will be accommodated. Contact the instructor with questions.

What we will do:

Play our favorite pop songs, compose our own pop songs!*

We will keep exercising our skills of:

• Musical Form
• Chart and basic note reading
• “Music Mindfulness”
• Musician Communication
• Scales, chords and improvisation
• Teamwork

and song writing tips such as

• Rhyming patterns
• Harmony and emotion
• The top three keys to writing a good hook

And more!

Are you ready to put your efforts, skill, and passion into creating a product that will delight and tantalize the ears around you? Each day we will rehearse and polish our skills, to open doors of creativity and take a stand in the world of music with our own unique voice!

Everyone’s hard work will culminate on Thursday with a performance and reception for the families.

*We want to make this camp exciting everyday. About a month before camp begins we will reach out to the students to get to know you, your musician character, and the songs you want to learn and to compose. We will assign a pre-camp activity of creative writing (pros and/or poetry), survey important themes for the students to write about so we can hit the ground running when camp begins!  A perfect Academy for incoming Freshman!

Tuition: $200 

Instructor: Michael Tyson; BISFA Adjunct Staff  and Will Turney; BISFA Alumni Class of 2023  

Academy: 9 am – 4 pm 

Grades: Rising 6-10 Grades 

Experience: IMPORTANT NOTE: The previous week (Pop Song Camp) is recommended but not required to enroll in the Climbing the Charts Camp.  Levels: instrumentalists—at least two years in school or private lessons preferred.  Vocalists—at least 1 year in choir or voice lessons preferred. Levels: instrumentalists—at least two years in school or private lessons preferred.  Vocalists—at least 1 year in choir or voice lessons preferred. Basic music reading skills preferred:  tempo, meter, note values, familiarity with the staff.

 

Ceramics Academy Week #2      JULY 15-18, 2024      BRAND NEW ACADEMY!

(Class Size Limit 12) 

In this two week long academy, students will explore the art of ceramics! They will try out the pottery wheel, handbuilding techniques, glazing, and learn about the firing process through the ceramics facilities at the school.  At the end of the two weeks, students can expect to have multiple fully fired works of ceramic art to present and then take home after the art show we will prepare and hold on the final day of camp.

Tuition: $200 EACH WEEK

Instructors:  Bradley Powers; BISFA Alumni Class of 2021 

Time:  9 am – 4 pm 

Grades: Rising 6-12 Grades 

Experience:  No Experience needed!

 

 

Creative Writing Academy     JULY 15-18, 2024 

(Class Size Limit 15) 

This Academy is designed to give beginning writers an introduction to the conventions of effective creative writing. Taught by a BISFA Alumni students will learn how to craft impacting poetry and fiction and have fun doing it! Using a number of different stimulating writing prompts and activities, this academy will provide young writers with the start of a writing portfolio and open their eyes to the power of words. This academy will culminate with a public reading of student work (if the student is comfortable sharing). A perfect Academy for incoming Freshman!

Tuition: $200 

Instructor: Rebecca Strunk; BISFA Alumni Class of 2015

Academy:  9 am – 4 pm

Grades: Rising 5-9 Grades 

Experience:  No Experience needed!

Piano Academy Beginner/Intermediate Level      JULY 22-25, 2024

(Class Size Limit 10) 

Join us for this fun week related to all things piano!!! Our intent is to maintain interest, stimulate imagination, and provide attainable challenges for piano students. Students should be proficient with basic music reading skills. Activities include music and movement, repertoire; master classes, ensembles, piano technique, sight reading, ear training, effective practice strategies, and use of the electronic keyboard lab. 

Tuition: $100 

Instructor: Melissa Mackley; BISFA Vocal and Piano Faculty  

Academy:  9 am – Noon

Grades: Rising 5-9 Grades

Experience:  At least two years of traditional piano study

Piano Academy Intermediate/Advanced Level      JULY 22-25, 2024

(Class Size Limit 10) 

Join us for this fun week related to all things piano!!! Our intent is to maintain interest, stimulate imagination, and provide attainable challenges for piano students. Students should be proficient with basic music reading skills. Activities include music and movement, repertoire; master classes, ensembles, piano technique, sight reading, ear training, effective practice strategies, and use of the electronic keyboard lab. 

Tuition: $100 

Instructor: Melissa Mackley; BISFA Vocal and Piano Faculty 

Academy: 1pm – 4 pm

Grades: Rising 5-9 Grades

Experience:  At least three years of traditional piano study

 

Strings Academy    JULY 22-25, 2024                  BRAND NEW ACADEMY!

(Class Size Limit 30) 

The students will participate in full string orchestra rehearsals, chamber music rehearsals and coaching (duets, trios, quartets etc.), work with other students in sectional rehearsals, learn basic music theory, history, and have a chance to take private lessons and participate in master classes. The week will end with a grand finale concert of all the music we have worked on during the week.”

Tuition: $200 

Instructor: Petr Skopek; BISFA Instrumental Department Faculty and MSO Member

Academy: 9 am – 4 pm

Grades: Rising 5-10 Grades

Experience: minimum 1-2 years of experience on a violin, viola, cello or bass

Visual Arts Academy      JULY 22-25, 2024

(Class Size Limit 15)

The Visual Arts Academy is intended to allow students to explore various mediums and techniques in drawing, painting and print-making. Emphasis will be placed on individual creative expression. Students will also explore the use of the principles and elements of design while learning to create a portfolio.  A perfect Academy for incoming Freshman! 

Tuition: $200 

Instructor: Jason Durham; WCPS Visual Arts Staff 

Academy: 9 am – 4 pm 

Grades: Rising 5-10 Grades 

Experience:  No experience needed!

Vocal Academy      JULY 29- August 1, 2024

(Class Size Limit 12) 

The Vocal Academy provides students with a comprehensive experience in all facets of the vocal art. This academy emphasizes choral singing as well as experiences in solo vocal performance. Singers will have the opportunity to study with Barbara Ingram Vocal Faculty in private lessons and master class settings, as well as sing in a choral setting. In an effort to create an authentic Barbara Ingram experience, students will receive instruction in music theory, audition preparation, and other electives. Singers will have numerous opportunities to perform during the academy and should come to class with at least one solo selection learned (with accompanying sheet music for the accompanist).  A perfect Academy for incoming Freshman!

Tuition: $200 

Instructor: Elizabeth Anderson; BISFA Alumni Class of 2016

Academy: 9 am – 4pm

Grades: Rising 5-9 Grades

Experience:  At least 1 year of Choral Classes