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Crane Youth Music

CYM 2025: July 6 - 12, 2025

For Middle School and High School musicians ages 12-18

CYM is an open enrollment camp for young musicians who have completed 2 years of instrumental or voice study through their school programs and/or private lessons. There are no entrance auditions for CYM - campers will audition for ensemble placement upon arrival.

The registration link will be available in January 2025...please check back!

The Shape of Music

Fifty years of Crane Youth Music has left a lasting imprint on the lives of many young musicians. From the first note to the latest camp, this enduring symbol of passion and purpose has shaped countless futures. Led by the talented faculty and alumni educators, campers have learned valued skills and forged lifelong friendships—many choosing to return to Crane to pursue their undergraduate degrees after high school.

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A Musical Feast
After getting his degree in music education from Crane, Kyle Peters ’15 has continued to excel as a composer, educator and professional percussionist. He now holds the position of percussion instructor at the Eastman Community Music School where he leads a studio of 45 students, while staying sharp in his free time as a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Every summer he returns to SUNY Potsdam as a leader and instructor at Crane Youth Music.

Summer 2024 information: 

  • Resident Camper Tuition/Room&Board - $875
  • Commuter Camper Tuition: $550 (Includes daily lunch)
  • Lessons (limit to 1 per camper pending faculty availability): $35

The daily schedule will include Master Classes with Crane Faculty, Ensemble Rehearsals, Elective courses and recreational time - a detailed schedule will be sent out to families closer to camp.

  • One lesson is 30 minutes in duration costing the camper $35, to be paid to the CYM online registration system prior to the lesson.
  • Campers will receive a voucher to present to the instructor at the time of lesson. No
    voucher = no lesson.
  • Campers are responsible for scheduling their lessons with the faculty member. If a camper forgets/misses a scheduled lesson, their fee/voucher is forfeit unless the faculty member is willing to make up the lesson.
  • If campers do not schedule a lesson with faculty member, no refund will be issued.
  • If participants are studying one instrument during camp and want lessons on another instrument of which they also study, they may do so contingent upon faculty availability. No beginning lessons are offered.
  • Participants can register for 1 lesson pending faculty availability. Any additional lessons need to be approved by the CYM Director in consultation with the faculty member schedule.
  • CYM Faculty do not give beginning lessons and Crane does not provide instruments for beginning study during CYM.
  • Arrange lessons with faculty member in your first master class OR find the faculty office and sign up on their board.

Summer 2024 information: Scholarship Applications will be due May 1, 2024. There are three scholarships available, including the new Julianne Kirk Doyle scholarship, which provides partial assistance specifically to a clarinet or viola participant with financial need. Scholarships are partial awards ($200-$300) and there is an application process requiring the following:

  • Financial statement of need from parents – including AGI and family size is helpful
  • Letter from music teacher/private teacher stating student’s achievements and abilities
  • Copies of most recent NYSSMA or Solo and Ensemble scores/evaluations (DO NOT SEND ORIGINALS)
  • Incomplete applications will not be considered nor will CYM notify if an application is complete/incomplete
  • Scholarship notifications will be made by May 15
  • All scholarship decisions are final
  • A wait list will be kept and if someone declines an award, it will go to the next candidate on the list
  • Campers with financial need are encouraged to reach out to local booster clubs, arts councils and church organizations for additional support

View Scholarships

Summer 2024 information:

  • All students have a daily master class with an applied faculty member. These classes will focus on pedagogy, fundamentals and occasionally serve as a performance class.
  • Students will have master classes with many of the Crane Faculty during CYM: (Lists below are taken from 2021 CYM faculty - we will announce 2023 faculty soon!)

Brass

  • Dr. Brianne Borden, trumpet
  • Dr. Lauren Becker, horn
  • Dr. Christopher Hernacki
  • Dr. Charles Guy, tuba/euphonium

Harp

  • Dr. Jessica Suchy-Pilalis

Percussion

  • Kyle Peters

Piano

  • Dr. Kathryn Sherman

Voice

  • Dr. Kathleen Miller

Strings

  • Dr. Liesl Doty, violin
  • Dr. Shelly Tramposh, viola
  • Dr. Marie-Elaine Gagnon, cello

Woodwinds

  • Dr. Brian Dunbar
  • Dr. Anna Hendrickson, oboe
  • Dr. Julianne Kirk Doyle, clarinet
  • Ms. Christine Hoerning, clarinet
  • Dr. Carol Lowe, bassoon
  • Dr. Casey Grev, saxophone
  • All Wind, Brass and Percussion Instrumentalists will also be part of a Like Ensemble or chamber music.
  • All Wind, Brass and Percussion Instrumentalists will play in one of the bands during CYM.
  • All String Instrumentalists will be in a chamber ensemble and chamber orchestra.
  • Ensemble Assignments are final and not subject to appeal. The faculty who hear auditions are professionals of the highest caliber and will place campers in the position that best suits their experience.

2024 Instrumental Ensemble Conductors 

  • Dr. Brian Doyle, Wind Ensemble
  • Liesl Doty, String Orchestra

2024 Jazz faculty

  • Michael Dudley
  • Robert Bickford

2024 Choral Conductor

  • Mr. Shawn Hebert
  • During recreational time students can also use this as practice time, chamber/jazz combo rehearsal time, or lesson time with faculty.
  • Recreational activities are supervised and led by counselors who are Crane students or professional educators
  • Activities can include:
    • Outdoor recreation/sports
    • Trips downtown (limited to 20 participants per trip)
    • If weather is bad, movies in Crane
    • Other activities and crafts as directed by counseling staff
  • The New York State Department of Health requires that we maintain strict supervision and ratios during all times participants are in our charge. We are required to maintain a 10:1 ratio with participants during a traveling activity and 25:1 ratio during a stationary activity (Classes/rehearsals).
  • No participants can wander alone around campus, they must be part of a group or 2:1 with another camper/counselor.

Lodging Information for Parents

Plan ahead on lodging if you plan to stay over Friday or Saturday evening  (note all events will conclude by Saturday afternoon and campers need to check out of the dorm prior to all final concerts.). You might need to book lodging outside Potsdam or through Airbnb. Massena is 35 minutes, Malone is 40 minutes, Lake Placid and Watertown are around 90 minutes away, Syracuse is 2.5 hours, Albany and Rochester are 4 hours. We are also 90 minutes from Ottawa, ON and around 2 hours from Montreal, QC (but allow border time).

Please direct any further questions to the camp director at cym@potsdam.edu.

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FAQ

Contact Us:

CYM Phone: (315) 267-2616
CYM Fax: (315) 267-2413
Email: cym@potsdam.edu