The Walden School Young Musicians Program (YMP) provides an unparalleled creative summer experience for musically inclined students ages 9 to 18. Part school, part sleepaway camp, and part festival, the program convenes each summer for five weeks in the beautiful Monadnock region in Dublin, New Hampshire. Through rigorous and innovative daily instruction, students hone their musical fluency and creative skills within a supportive community of like-minded peers and mentors, with a goal of improvising and composing original works.
The application for the Young Musicians Program consists of an online application, a one-page personal statement, a statement from the parents/guardians, and a teacher recommendation. We welcome supplementary materials (scores, recordings, evidence of creative work) as well. There are three application rounds:
This year’s program will be held June 28-August 3, 2025 in Dublin, New Hampshire.
Early Application Deadline: December 16
Winter Application Deadline: February 3
Spring Application Deadline: April 1
Students who have not yet completed 8th grade prior to the start of the program can participate in the abbreviated, 3-week program, June 28-July 20. Students who have entered college or university, regardless of age, are no longer eligible to participate as students in our Young Musicians Program but may be excellent candidates for Walden’s Creative Musicians Retreat.
Full tuition, room & board for the Young Musicians Program in 2025 is $10,100 ($6,800 for 3-week students). Tuition includes instruction and supervision, a recording of the student’s festival piece, a group photo, and the camp t-shirt; it does not include travel to and from camp.
Need-based financial aid is available.
Applicants may be located anywhere in the world. No visa support is available.
Applicants can reach out to applicants@waldenschool.org for a fee waiver if the $60 application fee poses a financial barrier to their application.