About

The Great American Songbook Camp at the Cleveland Institute of Music is a six-day summer camp providing singers ages 14-19 the opportunity to explore the timeless and sophisticated songs that form America’s cultural heritage. Students will learn how to develop their own personal interpretations of this repertoire through coaching and masterclasses with top-notch vocal and theatre educators and collaborative pianists.

The Great American Songbook Camp will be held July 22-26, 2024 (move-in on July 21).

Topics covered will include: 

  • Healthy vocal production that serves musical expression and varied musical styles
  • Song interpretation, physicalization, and phrasing
  • Mic technique
  • Physical warm-ups and conditioning for singers
  • Introduction to audio-recording skills
  • A crash course in "What is the Great American Songbook?" 

The experience will culminate in a video-recorded performance in CIM’s Mixon Hall, with every student singing a solo song that they have honed during the week.  

Tuition & Fees

Application Fee: $35 (non-refundable)
Tuition: $1250
Housing: $450*
Dining: $300

Deposit: $300 non-refundable enrollment deposit is due upon accepting your admission offer. This deposit will be applied toward the total tuition due.

All travel expenses are the responsibility of the participant.

*Note: If you are local to Cleveland and don't need housing, this charge can be removed, but everyone is required to pay dining costs to cover meals provided during the program.

Faculty and Guest Artists

  • Joan Ellison, program director and voice faculty
  • Rock Wehrman, piano and arranging faculty 
  • Cassie Goldbach, guest faculty
    • Rep Class - standards repertoire options for students based on voice type
    • Technique Class - learning the ins and outs of “healthy belting” 
  • Jennifer Call, voice faculty 
  • Graham Rosen, Eurhythmics and production faculty
    • Eurhythmics
    • Vocal Recording and Production
    • Self-Recording Techniques
  • Scott Hanenberg, guest faculty
    • "What is the Great American Songbook?"

Special Guests
Evelyn Wright
Barbara Rosene
Don Carrier

Application Requirements

The application for Summer 2024 is now open!

Applicants are required to submit CIM's online application, the application fee, and the accompanied materials listed below by Wednesday, May 15.

Video Submission

Two contrasting songs (for example, up-tempo and ballad) chosen from the repertoire known as the “Great American Songbook,” written for Broadway, film, radio, and stage from the 1920s through the 1960s. 

  • If you are new to this repertoire, you may, instead, choose to submit two songs that best demonstrate your vocal and interpretive abilities (e.g. pop, classical, and/or musical theatre). 
  • You may use live or recorded accompaniment. 
  • A resource for song ideas and how to find sheet music
Previous Experience

Please provide a short summary of your musical and/or theatrical experience. This can be in the form of a formal resume or a paragraph.

If you are relatively new to singing, don't fear! We would love to hear about why you are interested in the American Songbook genre.