Thank you for your interest in The Walden School
Young Musicians Program (YMP) 2025

Thank you for expressing your interest in YMP as a prospective applicant. We will send you admissions updates and the application when they are available in fall 2024.

The Walden School Young Musicians Program (YMP), for musically inclined students ages 9-18, is a 5-week summer camp (with a 3-week option for students who have not yet completed 8th grade) focused on musicianship training, composition, improvisation, choral singing, outdoor recreation, and creative community-building. This year’s YMP dates are June 28-August 3, 2025.

YMP Overview

YMP Frequently Asked Questions

New applicants: In addition to short answer questions about you, your interests, and your musical background, the following items will be requested on the application.

Please note: The program application must be completed by the student and a parent/guardian together.

  • Teacher Recommendation
  • Applicant Essay: Applicants are asked to submit a short essay (approximately 200-500 words) that will help the admissions committee develop a broader picture of your personality, talents and interests. Topics for this brief personal statement could be autobiographical in nature, provide more information about your musical and creative interests, and/or can answer questions such as why you want to attend YMP.
  • Parent/Guardian Statements: The applicant’s parents or guardians are asked to submit two statements addressing the student’s ability to live and thrive in a summer camp community away from their home.
  • Supplementary Materials: The Walden School welcomes any additional materials you would like to send with your application. These might include recordings or scores of original music, certificates of merit or awards, samples of non-music related projects (poetry, photography, artwork, other creative work).
  • Application Fee (non-refundable)

Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at applicants@waldenschool.org or at (415) 587-8157. You can also stay in touch with Walden by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and hear music from past Walden programs on our Bandcamp page.