Kneisel Hall Program for Maine Students is a day camp open to young musicians ages 9 to 19.
With a chamber music intensive curriculum, what began as a small camp for local Blue Hill students has blossomed into a state-wide program with a growing reputation.
Every day consists of various instructional rehearsals, master classes, and workshops that culminate in final student performances. Daily activities also include fun sight-reading sessions, picnic, and talent show. In addition to working with our excellent faculty, the students are also mentored by young artists from Kneisel Hall’s famed Young Artist Chamber Music Program.
The opportunity to delve deep into chamber music and playing with peers who share the love of music makes our camp a memorable chamber music experience!
Eligibility & Session Dates
Our chamber groups are primarily strings and piano, but wind players are encouraged to apply. Students participate in either Session I or Session II according to their age and playing level.
Session I
June 14-15, 2025
Advanced beginning to intermediate students ages 9-12
Free performance, Friday, June 15 at 4pm
Session II
June 16-20, 2025
Intermediate to advanced students ages 13-19, up to high school seniors.
Free performance, Sunday, June 20 at 4pm
Students can indicate, in the application form, which Session they wish to participate in. Students from the younger age group may be invited to participate in Session II, if their playing level is compatible with the advanced students. Applications from program alumni in college may also be considered.
Application requirement includes uploading video recordings: two excerpts of contrasting styles (one lyrical, one faster tempo).
This program is a day program, with activities from 9am to 5pm each day. Lodging at Kneisel Hall is not provided. Students coming from out of town are responsible for their own housing.
Faculty
- Marisa Solomon, the Program for Maine Students Director, received performance degrees from the Oberlin College and San Francisco Conservatories. She is adjunct faculty at the University of Maine, serves on the Chamber Music Society board at the Collins Center for the Arts, and is a member of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra. Marisa is a 2023 recipient of the Director’s Award from the Collins Center for the Arts, and the founder and director of Shelter Music Maine.
- Patricia Stowell is the previous Program for Maine Students Director and is well known in the Bangor region where she resides as an independent performing artist, chamber musician, and teacher. She is a year-round faculty member at the Bay Chamber Community Music School in Rockport, Maine. In addition to her two degrees from Indiana University and a doctorate from Northwestern University, Patricia also studied in Vienna, Austria, and Stuttgart, Germany. She has taught at Husson University in addition to performing on their Kilgore Kenduskeag Series numerous times. Patricia presents master classes and adjudicates competitions in New England, and is also a founding member of the Chamber Music Society at the Collins Center for the Arts. Her European appearances include performances in Bulgaria, Austria, Germany, Poland, and Russia, where she lectured on composer Alexander Scriabin and the Russian Symbolist Movement
- Rebecca Benjamin is a violinist and member of the Abeo Quartet. She regularly performs with Symphony in C, the Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players, and New York Classical Players. Rebecca holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in violin from the Cleveland Institute of Music as well as a Master of Music in viola from the University of Delaware, and an MMA degree in violin from the Yale School of Music where she was awarded the Broadus Erle Prize.
- Scott Woolweaver, viola, graduated with distinction from the University of Michigan School of Music where he won the Joseph Knitzer and Earl V. Moore awards for outstanding participation in chamber music. After moving to Boston for graduate studies with Walter Trampler, he founded the Boston Composers String Quartet, which won the silver medal at the 1993 String Quartet Competition and Chamber Music Festa in Osaka, Japan. He also founded the Vaener String Trio, which won the Grand Prize at the Joseph Fischoff Chamber Music Competition. From 1999–2006 he was a member of the Ives Quartet, based in San Francisco, CA, and for over 25 years he was a member of the New England Piano Quartette. A champion of the music of our time, Scott has premiered many new works, including pieces written especially for him. Since 1980 he has been a member of Alea III, a contemporary music ensemble in residence at Boston University. Current affiliations also include the Chameleon Arts Ensemble. Scott is Lecturer in Viola and Chamber Music at Tufts University. He is a regular guest of the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Society and the Meetinghouse Chamber Music Series on Cape Cod. Scott plays a Johan Georg Thir viola made in Vienna, 1737.
Health & Safety Protocols
Eligible students are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to attending our camp. COVID vaccination is required for faculty and staff. All students, faculty, and staff will be required to provide proof of negative test result on their first day. Health and safety protocols are subject to change, and may be relaxed or made more stringent as public health conditions evolve.
Questions?
If you have questions regarding eligibility, audition requirement, or other program related questions, please contact our faculty at khmainestudents@gmail.com.
“Whether planning a career in music or not, our students will have the ability to pursue music with future circles of friends. They will make music a permanent feature of their lives and carry on a centuries-old tradition.”