Camp FAQ’s

Clearly label ALL personal and school possessions!

• Be sure that the Health Form and PBS Wisconsin release form is completed and submitted to WSMA.
• Photo order form completed with payment (optional)
• Personal Items:
  • Sheets for twin size bed, blanket or a sleeping bag, pillow, pillowcase, towels, and washcloths
  • Toiletries: soap, hand soap, deodorant, toothpaste, etc.
  • Snacks for free time and/or evenings
• Fan (optional)
  • Dorm rooms are NOT air conditioned, so you may want to bring a small fan.
• Clothing
  • Casual and comfortable clothing (covered midriffs when seated and standing)
  • No spaghetti straps, halter tops or tube tops
  • No hats in rehearsal
  • Sweater or sweatshirt
  • Comfortable shoes
  • Concert clothes (see concert attire below)

• Picture Day
  • Honors t-shirts will be worn by the entire group. You will receive your t-shirt at camp.
• Work-in-Progress Concert attire
  • Ladies Summer Honors Concert Attire
    • Camp T-Shirt
    • Black dress pants or skirt. No leggings, jeans, shorts or cropped pants. Skirt hemline at the knee or below with no high slit.
    • Black nylons/tights/socks with black shoes.
  • Gentlemen’s Summer Honors Concert Attire
    • Camp t-Shirt tucked in.
    • Long  black dress pants (no jeans or shorts) and black belt.
    • Black dress shoes and black socks.

Please Note: On the last day of camp you will be carrying your luggage from the dorms to the Haas Fine Arts Center, so pack light.

All instruments should be checked, cleaned and in excellent working condition before camp. Check your instrument now.

Everyone Should Bring:

• 2 Pencils for rehearsal
• Yellow Highlighter
• Water Bottle

Instrumentalists

• Your Instrument
• Wire Music Stand – with your name clearly marked on all parts.
• All necessary items to make your instrument play properly.
  • Strings: A spare set of strings, rosin, mutes and recently haired bow.
  • Brass: All mutes and enough valve/slide oil to last for all of camp.
  • Woodwinds: Enough reeds and cork grease to last for all of camp.
  • Percussion: Concert snare drum (and stand), a variety of mallets and sticks.

Percussion:

• Concert Snare Drum and Stand
• Assorted Mallets
• Wire Music Stand – with your name clearly marked on all parts
• 2 Pencils, 1 Yellow Highlighter
• Water Bottle

All instruments should be checked, cleaned and in excellent working condition before camp.  Please check your instrument before coming to camp.

Yes. Please bring along appropriate free time activities. (Cards, games, ball, etc.) Various free recreation options will also be available to all students during free time.

Wisconsin High School State Honors Project t-shirts will be given to students and staff at camp. Please keep your shirt with you at camp for the group photo and the concert.

If you drive your car to Honors Camp, you will be allowed to park in the dorm parking lot for the duration of camp. Parking by the Haas Fine Arts Center is not permitted and there is a cost. Remember that you are not allowed to drive your car during camp and are required to turn in your car keys to a designated administrative staff member.

When you arrive on campus, report to the Haas Fine Arts Center lounge area found outside Gantner Concert Hall to check in. (Do NOT bring luggage into registration) Dorms are a short distance from registration. Band and orchestra students may register before or after their assigned audition time. As we know, summer is construction season in Wisconsin.  Please plan extra travel time.

After the concert, please meet your child in the Gantner Concert Hall lobby. If possible, please pick up your child’s luggage before their concert in the Cofrin Family Hall Lobby.  All luggage will be labeled and sorted by instrument.

No. Part of the Honors experience is getting to know someone from a different part of the state. Roommates are assigned with this in mind. Most Honors students do not know anyone else when they arrive on campus, but by the end of camp have a new set of friends and a broader perspective on life.

No. All High School State Honors students sight-read their music at camp. You’ll learn together with the best high school musicians in our state, highly skilled section coaches and nationally recognized conductors. The Work-In-Progress concert is exactly that, and all will be well prepared for that concert and polished for the October concert.

No. Schedules often need to be adjusted to meet conductor needs and facility requirements. Plan on being in rehearsal morning, afternoon and evening. You’ll have some free time most late afternoons. Someone from the Honors staff will make announcements at the end of every rehearsal. Listen carefully during announcements, ask questions when needed and prepare to have an amazing musical experience!