Summer Arts Academy 2025
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 academies 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 to attend our summer academy programs. Homeschool and private school students are welcome to attend!
Grades are based on what grade the student will attend the next school year 2025-2026. Please read the description and the experience requirement.
Please reach out to Rachel at 240-347-4934 or at rachel@barbaraingramfoundation.org if you have any questions or need additional information.
Dance Academy – JUNE 16-19, 2025
(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 6th-12th Grades
Experience: At least 2 years of Dance classes
Becoming an Actor Academy – JUNE 23-26, 2025
(Class Size Limit 15)
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
Academy: 9 am – 4 pm
Grades: Rising 5th-9th Grades
Experience: No Experience needed!
String Orchestra Academy I – JUNE 23-26, 2025
(Class Size Limit 15)
The students will participate in full string orchestra rehearsals, chamber music rehearsals and coachings (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 5th and 6th Grades
Experience: At least 2 years of lessons on a string instrument
Dancing for the Camera – JULY 7-10, 2025
(Class Size Limit 15)
During this 4-day dance intensive 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. A perfect Academy for incoming Freshman!
Tuition: $200
Instructors: Michaela Smallwood; BISFA Alumni Class of 2019, Theatre Dance Adjunct Faculty
Time: 9 am – 4 pm
Grades: Rising 8th-12th Grades
Experience: At least four years of Dance. This academy is designed for students seeking higher dance education and wanting to have current photos and reels to use for college auditions, summer dance intensives and company auditions.
Strings Academy II – JULY 7-10, 2025
(Class Size Limit 15)
The students will participate in full string orchestra rehearsals, chamber music rehearsals and coachings (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. A perfect Academy for incoming Freshman!
Tuition: $200
Instructor: Petr Skopek; BISFA Instrumental Department Faculty and MSO Member
Academy: 9 am – 4 pm
Grades: Rising 7th-12th Grades
Experience: At least 4 years of lessons
Instrumental Chamber Music – JULY 14-17, 2025
(Class Size Limit 15)
Students will form small chamber music ensembles such as duets, trios, quartets and quintets (based on instrumentation). Students will work with a coach as well as independently and learn how to work in a one-on-a-part setting, how to lead and follow, how to interpret scores, manage rehearsal time efficiently, and perform in a group without a conductor. A perfect Academy for incoming Freshman!
Tuition: $200
Instructor: Petr Skopek; BISFA Instrumental Department Faculty and MSO Member
Academy: 9 am – 4 pm
Grades: Rising 8-12 Grades
Experience: At least 4 years of lessons on a string instrument
Acting For Film – JULY 14-17, 2025 BRAND NEW ACADEMY THIS YEAR!!
(Class Size Limit 15)
Tuition: $200
Instructor: Dale Stein, Actor/Writer, Barbara Ingram Theatre Adjunct, will teach acting skills and technique with emphasis on adjusting performance for the camera. Shelly Strong, Film Producer, will provide insights into the filmmaking process. Kristen Green, Photo and Cinema Lead Teacher at Barbara Ingram.
Academy: 9 am – 4 pm
Grades: Rising 10th-12th Grades
Experience: Prior acting experience is encouraged
Intermediate/Advanced Piano Academy – July 28-31, 2025
(Class Size Limit 10)
Tuition: $200
Instructor: Melissa Mackley; BISFA Piano/Vocal Lead Department Faculty
Academy: 9 am – 4 pm THIS IS A FULL DAY ACAEMY THIS YEAR!!!
Grades: Rising 5th-9th Grades
Experience: At least 2 years of lessons, and access to a Piano at home