Community Programs
From intimate workshops to large ensembles, there's a program for you at the University of Minnesota School of Music. Throughout the year we offer programs open to members of the music communit
School-Year Programs
High School Bands are invited to join the Minnesota Marching Band and perform in Huntington Bank Stadium during a Gopher Football Game! Read about the High School Band, Cheer, and Dance Day.
The University of Minnesota High School Honor Band Weekend is held on the Twin Cities campus in late January. Musicians in grades 10, 11, and 12 will get the opportunity to work with music faculty and perform on the Ted Mann Concert Hall stage.
The University of Minnesota Concert Band Festival is held on the Minneapolis campus in Ted Mann Concert Hall. This non-competitive event offers an experience for high school concert band students and conductors to enhance their growth as ensemble musicians.
The University of Minnesota Jazz Festival is a non-competitive educational festival. Visiting school groups perform for clinicians and each other. Each ensemble performs a 20 minute set, and then move to a rehearsal space where they will work with two clinicians on improving ensemble performance.
Summer Programs
At the International Summer Institute for Reggae Studies, participants are immersed in Jamaican music history, instrumental/vocal conception, and ensemble performance. Featuring seminars from distinguished researchers, workshops with acclaimed artists, and faculty/student concerts.
Each year, the Summer Chorus invites community members of all ages and experience levels to participate. The chorus is under the direction of Professor Matthew Mehaffey.
The Summer Orchestra program brings together adult musicians of all backgrounds to rehearse and perform a compelling program of orchestral works. There is no audition required to be a part of the Summer Orchestra but some orchestral experience is recommended before joining.
Experience the Alexander Technique Workshops, a delightful method of re-educating the kinesthetic sense. This workshop, for adult musicians and educators, is a condensed version of the popular Alexander Technique class at the University of Minnesota School of Music. Learn how to achieve optimal performance and reduce musculoskeletal discomfort.
Cancelled for 2025. Check back for 2026 information. The Crossover Marimba Workshop is an intensive workshop for creative marimbists. Program includes workshops and masterclasses on improvisation, genre-crossing, arranging for marimba, practice approaches, career and artistic development.
The Twin Cities Saxophone Camp is an intensive program of chamber music, master classes, and lessons for students in grades 6 - 12. All styles are welcome as the course will focus on intermediate and advanced fundamentals of saxophone performance.
The UMN Band Alumni Summer Band is a community concert band-style ensemble that performs several outdoor concerts in the Twin Cities area each summer. The band is composed of approximately 125 people, including current U of M students, alumni, and others that may or may not have previous affiliation with the U of M.
The International Choral Academy at the University of Minnesota is an intensive summer residency program aimed at delivering professional training to emerging conductors (up to 5 Fellows and 12 Observers) and singers (16 Young Artists) who aspire to excel in the field of professional choral music.
Music educators and conductors can join nationally recognized master educators for demonstrations, discussions, and hands-on constructive feedback related to the art and pedagogy of conducting and ensemble teaching at the Wind Band Conducting Workshop. Held on the stage of Ted Mann Concert Hall, this five-day in-person workshop is an opportunity to hone conducting skills in a concert band setting.